To be young, gifted, black, and female..teaching in Chicago

Many of my teacher friends, most African-American women, joke about the dangers of working under female principals - especially those principals that are young/middle-aged and black female. In our school districts, principals are becoming more like business managers, and less like instructional leaders - as the public school system now appears to value dollars more than children. Due to this trend, some Black female principals are known to be quiet mean and vicious,  exerting their "power" over their subjects (teachers). Their black female teacher counterparts are usually their first victims.

Intrapersonal relations between black women have been strained since the beginning of time. Simply stated, we have a difficult time getting along with one another. From slavery's house and field slave, the infamous paper bag tests of the 20th century, the good and bad hair of modern times, Black women are left with a fluctuating self-esteem that is largely based on society's norms. Because society wants and needs are dynamic and ever-changing, Black women's standards of beauty (and value - since we are women living in a patriarchy) change constantly also. For example, larger derrieres, for example, is a feature natural to black women. It is now en vogue to have a "donkey", so women of all races are running in droves for butt injections. One hundred years ago, you were an outcast and viewed to be lascivious if you possessed such a trait.

As a result of this fluctuating self-esteem, many black women view one another as competitors....think of the crabs in the barrel visual. We viciously compete amongst one another for several important, yet limited resources. Respect, because society says that most black women are immoral and are ultimately responsible for their lower caste; Black male mates, because society says that we are so argumentative and difficult to get along with Black men don't want to marry us; Power, because we live in a racist patriarchy which makes us virtually powerless in the eyes of the real people in charge. A Black woman who appears to have a solid or somewhat stable self-esteem is threatening to their Black female counterparts. A threat as she might get to and take those limited resources before they are able to.

Fast forward to Chicago's school system, where administrators have been given the edict to dismantle and destroy institutions for the sake of saving a dollar or two. I find it interesting that many schools are led by Black female heads. I often wonder if this is by design. Often times, when these women interface with Black female teachers with a somewhat stable teacher identity, problems are bound to arise. These are typically silent battles, enlisted only because the teacher appears to be knowledgeable about their craft and just might successfully educate a student or two. Principals are instructed to covertly destroy their teacher counterpart, since they might stand in the way of the "status quo".

My teacher friends and I often laugh, sharing stories of our experiences with Black female principals, understanding that it was not funny but quite painful while we were experiencing this treatment. Being overlooked for advancement opportunities, being mistreated by the school administration and students, not being paid or recognized for work done, being misjudged, misrecognized and discriminated against daily at the hands of someone that should understand your experience is quite difficult and heart wrenching. My friend lost her ex-mate, the father of her then twelve year old daughter. She took funeral leave (5 days in CPS) as her and her daughter were charged with taking care of his arrangements. Upon her return, her principal, a black woman brought her up on charges and disciplined her for using funeral leave for a man she was not married to. This woman went so far as to find his current girlfriend and have her write a statement discussing my friend's relationship with "her man". Really? Was it that serious? I don't think so but this speaks to the viciousness that we can sometimes have for one another...pulling a sister down in fear of her getting to desired resources.