Ralph Ellison’s Invisible Man revealed racism as being an overall attitude where Black people are unseen. It is subtle. It resides in smiling faces and a facade of kindness. Racism rarely looks like the KKK or saying a racial slur. It is mostly hidden these days and many times happens unconsciously. It’s not one specific action so please stop asking me that, because it reveals a person’s inability to see the issue when it is pretty clear there is still a problem. Growth is not happening.
Most people are not racist but many carry on the racist legacy of those who came before. Some will see the lack of diversity and do NOTHING or say NOTHING. Happily attending another conference with minimal people of color or if there is, it’s only one. Another year of seeing classical education conferences where there are minimal people of color when we all know there are people of color who value and professionally practice, teach and lead in classical schools is beyond disappointing.
How do we come to a place of going along with planning a classical education conference in Africa and not one Black classical educator was asked to participate? I know a woman from AFRICA who is Christian and started a classical school in America. Was she invited? I sure wasn’t. Were others? How are we STILL seeing lists of speakers and workshops where NONE of those speaking and leading are Black or a person of color? Also it seems these events think that the only expertise Black people have is race even though we are teachers, principals, school founders, PARENTS.
People claim to appreciate what Angel and I are trying to share, but it is obviously not bringing real change in the hearts of those leading in classical Christian education. People still think that we do NOT really belong. It was my hope to partner with some of these efforts to welcome my community to the space AND to create space where healing conversations could happen within this beautiful tradition. In these 3 years I have been on this journey in classical education, I do not see progress, because any time a whole classical education conference can be planned in AFRICA and no classical educators are on that list who are either Black or African reveals just how little progress has been made. Any time a conference can be planned for 2024 in the largest and one of the most established Black neighborhoods in America, PG County…National Harbor….literally in the neighborhood I live in and none of us were included in that planning is beyond disappointing.
What has the CCE community learned from The Black Intellectual Tradition? Was this just entertainment? Was it tokenism? When do people actually start practicing what is being shared? This isn’t a political effort. Welcoming all who value this tradition is Biblical. Jesus invites all to come and join in, because he saw Zaccheus. He saw Matthew. He saw Mary Magdalene. He sees ALL of us. We are not invisible to God, so if we claim to know him who sees all of us, we should make every effort to see everyone, especially those who want to be part of this community. All this time spent seeking to reach the CCE community and not only has there been little change here, but HBCUs, my community and other minority populations overall are still resistant and that is because there is no evidence of real change. We are STILL invisible.
Dr. Anika T. Prather 
Dr. Prather – Your work is so important! While our school is more broadly liberal arts than CCE, our team has been so encouraged and strengthened by your articles, speaking engagements, and The Black Intellectual Tradition. We also follow and learn from Dr. Angel Adams Parham and her work with Nayansa, and recommend – have been guided by – the lists curated by the brilliant Amber O’Neal Johnston. Our diverse team of Christian educators and leaders are strengthened by your investment in CCE specifically, and liberal arts education more broadly. Know that the impact of your work is wide and deep, both at the micro level of a specific school like ours, but also in the macro conversations that you so often initiate and lend substance to.
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Dr. Prather,
I am so deeply sorry. We are a multi-racial homeschooling family and have also been disappointed when attempting to address this invisibility that pervades much of homeschool curriculum. It is more profoundly hurtful when these conversations have been with friends who don’t seem to understand what this invisibility means for our family. Our resistance has been to continue what we do in the home, attempting to do what we can to reflect the diverse flowers in God’s garden; to invite others to participate in our diversity; and to find new places where we are welcomed with open arms and can share our gifts.
This morning I am praying that the Comforter, the Holy Spirit, will bring you deep peace, clarity, and wisdom. Sometimes we must bless and release and with no hard feelings move on, hoping in faith that you have planted seeds.
You are amazing. And though we are not Classical homeschoolers, your work is important to our family. Your voice gives this white momma courage to keep reading, learning, and celebrating ALL. Thank you.
Sent from my iPhone
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Oh thank you so much! You have no idea how much this means to me.
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