Celebrating Black History Month with Facilitator Roshaé Lowe

Roshaé Lowe, Facilitator

 

Why are you an educator/do you work in education?

As a child, growing up, education was always presented to me as a pathway – a means to an end, a road that leads to all roads. As an adult, I still see education as a pathway — one that allows people to connect, to learn, to grow, to grieve, to be together. I’ve come to realize that our current educational system is a reflection of our larger society. It doesn’t exist in a vacuum. And when we, adults, educators, work to confront and change the issues embedded in the educational system, in how school is done, it puts us on the pathway to what’s better for young people, for families, for all of us. This is my way of moving myself and others toward liberation.

 

What Black educators did you look up to as a youth?

If I had to pick just one, I would say Mrs. Little, but it was really all of my elementary school teachers. Growing up in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, I had the pleasure of being taught by a majority Black staff throughout elementary school and the beginnings of middle school. They were my safe havens, and they showed me that school was a safe place to grow, learn and have fun. I am an educator because of them. I am also a voracious reader because of Mrs. White, my first and favorite librarian.

 

What does it mean to you to be a Black educator in school spaces?

As a Black educator, I get to be an advocate, an ally, and another caring adult for students, and especially Black students!

 

How are you a part of your family/heritage legacy?

Simply being me and existing is emblematic of me being part of my family legacy.

 

What’s one thing you’ll do to celebrate or uplift Black History this year?

Continuing to engage in Root Work and continuing being a learner and lover of all things Black and of Blackness.