Experiencing and seeing racism at NW has pushed ELA teacher Sheila Young to ensure her classroom is a safe space for all students
As ELA teacher Sheila Young was about to leave for the day, a student walked up.
There were some ‘hellos,’ ‘how are you’s,’ and general polite conversation. It was comfortable.
The student quickly blurted out, “Oh my gosh, Ms. Young, I used to think you were so scary.”
Young tried to brush it off. It was just an innocent comment, right?
But she began to ask herself, “Why me? If you don’t know me, and I’ve never done anything to you, why am I ‘scary?”
“I am a Black woman and I’m very outspoken,” Young said. “That can be deemed scary, intimidating or aggressive. However, if I were another race and another sex, it would be praised.”
Young has also seen students experience moments like these. She wants these missteps to open a dialogue that promotes learning.
“[Whether] intentionally or unintentionally, people still get hurt,” Young said. “What matters is when people bring it to your attention and they say, ‘You have hurt me or offended me,’ it shouldn’t be a defense session. It should be: I am so sorry. I did not know that. Now, let me change my behavior so no one else gets hurt.”
Young wants to make sure students find themselves in the books they read. She wants to make sure her classroom is a safe space for all.
It’s important to her that each of her students are ready for life after high school.
“I was brought here for a reason,” Young said. “I pride myself on really being a good teacher [who’s] genuine with students. I’m hoping that I’m meeting some sort of need in your life. I just want you all to be your best. I want you to be good humans and to be safe. I want you to be successful. I want you to get rich and remember me and cut me a check in the future.”
Author's Note: Young was my freshman English teacher and the woman who made me fall in love with writing. She helped me build my confidence and showed me the power in my quiet voice. I hadn't spoken to her much since freshman year (Covid-19, life, etc). I went in to her classroom just to catch up and walked away with a story. Young is one of two Black teachers at Northwest. She told me about how isolated she feels and how she sees racism regularly. I don't think I would be where I am today without her class. She helped me tell my story and I wanted to do the same for her.
photo credit: Kara Simpson