At a low point in U.S. race relations, Black teachers are essential — and at risk

Travis J. Bristol, Center for Research on Social Change faculty affiliate, says Black teachers face a complex set of challenges that increasingly drive them from the classroom. This Berkeley News story describes his research showing that in classes led by Black teachers, Black students were more often happier and more academically successful, less likely to be suspended for infractions and more likely to enroll in honors courses. While that’s been a plus for students, he says that classroom conditions, especially at urban schools, are driving Black teachers out of education. Bristol says too often school administrators slotted young Black teachers into the most challenging urban classrooms without sufficient training or support. As a former student and teacher in the New York City public schools, he knows firsthand the conditions that produce success for Black teachers and their students, as well as the potential risks.