I thought about attempting a review of #NiceWhiteParents as a teacher at a NON "big-three" middle school in D15, & as a working group member that developed the diversity/integration plan. Then I came across this one, written by @nwquah. 1/ https://www.vulture.com/article/nice-white-parents-podcast-review.html?utm_source=tw

I'll add:
1. For non-white listeners, the design of the podcast itself unintentionally supports its thesis: white parents control the narrative, AND, white parents listen to white parents. So.. 2/

A white liberal reporter can select soundbites from BIPOC people to fit her narrative. I found the few sound bites from BIPOC parents in D15 to be a very limited reflection of who I know them to be, and a blaring reflection of segregation in our majority BIPOC district. 3/

Consequently, a white liberal reporter/parent takes sound bites from Laura Espinoza, whom I had the honor of working alongside to develop our district's integration plan, to tell the story of how white parents struggle to organize inclusive meetings with BIPOC parents. Ironic? 4/

As someone who knows Laura foremost as a fierce advocate for quality public schools, I felt that her full humanity, & those of the other BIPOC parents interviewed, were excluded. 5/

This is not a judgement on the reporter (I've been a supporter of her work for a long time, and it is always brilliant), but in support of her bigger effort to expose blind spots among white people. 6/

2. Shout out to @MiriamNunberg & @_carriemclaren for their undying commitment to school integration and equity here in D15. The podcast described their struggle in organizing across racial lines. As a BIPOC activist here in D15, I can say, their showing up & listening matters. 7/

Without their honesty in that last episode, listeners would be left hanging without actionable steps for white parents. Act upon your shame, rather than be ashamed of your shame. 8/

3. The podcast is severely deprived of educator voice from the majority BIPOC schools in the district. I could go on and on about this one, but more generally, parents get too much air time. This is a systemic issue. 9/

If we really want to challenge the power of white parents, we also need to challenge the DISempowerment of educators, esp educators of color, who have the expertise and insight on how children learn, interact, and how to actually, like logistically, make integration happen. 10/

Desegregation can happen via city/state/federal policy, but integration cannot happen without the meaningful implementation in schools and classrooms. 11/

4. I agree w/Quah re: the discomfort that sits with "the implication that it’s up to the better angels of white people to fix a system that screws over just about everyone else." 12/

But I don't agree that "activism led by nonwhite people will never be as effective as activism led by white people." We cannot let the white framing control this narrative. 13/

Centuries old resistance led by #BIPOC people, especially Black and Indigenous people, are why the SHAME (that drives white parents to integrate schools) exists. The resistance to the racist policies that segregated our communities came FIRST. 14/

With all that said, #NiceWhiteParents communicated a powerful message at a critical time, and via compelling storytelling (as per all @nytimes/ @serial productions). 15/

I learned so much about the history of the Boerum Hill School for International Studies, and got a few laughs and many "mmmhmms" being intimately familiar with the type of struggles it has, and continues to face. 16/

The debate around school reopening has been focused on immediate safety needs. Given that we all agree that those needs to be fulfilled, the debate is starting to sound like a broken record. 17/

I'm so grateful for the activists, esp those @MOREcaucusUFT, who have devoted their entire summers to fighting for our collective protections. It would be an understatement to say I'm eager for the WIN to be behind us.

SO that we can focus on addressing root cause issues. 18/

Nice White Parents gets to some of that. Listen. 19/19 #nicewhiteparentschat 19/19