5 Black Educators You Should Follow on Social Media

Education shouldn’t be a privilege that only a few can access. Being educated comes in different shapes and forms, languages and cultures, techniques and approaches. In 20 years, I’ve explored the impacts some educators had on me.

In Europe, specifically in Italy, having a diverse students body is a luxury that very few can afford to witness in their scholastic years. No matter the type of institution you’re part of, private or public, schools in Italy do not offer multiple curricula that serve different communities other than the main (White, privileged) one, and if they do exist they don’t hold the same importance nor dignity as the secular ones (like humanistic studies - liceo classico, scientific studies - liceo scientifico, or even linguistic studies - liceo linguistico).

I can say that I happened to enjoy my cycle of studies because of the nature of the topics I was focused on (Ancient Greek, Latin, Italian Literature, and English), but I never had the chance to explore these topics under a modern lens nor with a Black instructor. I was lucky to have my parents that made me look beyond the possibilities the Italian system could offer me, but what about the other kids who looked like me? This made a difference in the way I used to perceive the world and the interests Black and White people can or can’t have.

In my 20 years of attending schools, I have found both good and rotten apples when it comes to teachers. Except for the African American English teacher I had during my SAT training in Florence back in 2016, the other professors I looked up to were people whose interests, knowledge, and career inspired me, but they couldn’t be real-life mentors, because they naturally didn’t know how it is to born Black, mixed, or just in a minority community. They were awesome, but they weren’t enough for me and the schools couldn’t provide other programs or professors who looked like me. For this reason, I do believe that Black educators should be praised and integrated more into our schools, no matter the geographic location. Black lives do inspire and teach us anywhere.

From time to time I ponder on how my personality would’ve been if I had never been exposed to Black educators. Now I can say that I have met a lot of them whom I consider my friends and peers as well, but I imagine the wonders they can do in the future if they keep up inspiring other students. We’re lucky to have social media to get us educated 24/7. We can surround ourselves with insightful minds at all times.

Here I’ve selected five Black educators you should follow on social media.

Blair Imani

Bestselling author of “Read This To Get Smarter” (2021), Blair Imani is an acclaimed historian, educator, and progressive social activist. Her work focuses on a large spectrum of themes, including LGBTQ+ issues, race, class, and gender. You can find her series “Smarter In Seconds” on her Instagram, where she delivers clear and transparent educational content.

Micheal Anderson

Michael is a Jamaican-American Black excellence in education. Based in Los Angeles, Michael is a college mentor and an expert in the History of Black Education. His interests dive into socialist and progressive politics, that aim for Black Liberation and Black Progress. His YouTube series counts almost 400 subscribers and you can find his work also along with Noname’s organization Noname Book Club.

Tamara Moore

Tamara Moore is a queer Black K-5 SEL educator focused based in Denver, Colorado. Her shop on Etsy features cute and fun apparel and school gadgets. Tamara takes pride in showcasing her products and allyship towards the communities she’s part of and believes in.

Alyssa Gray-Tyghter

Black and Indigenous middle school teacher Alyssa Gray-Tyghter is an avid reader and a Black literature enthusiast. Her platform is a safe space for mothers and children, willing to learn and discover more titles for their personal libraries.

Val Brown

Val Brown is the creator of #ClearTheAir, a community of educators that “believe in the power and responsibility of educators to create a more just and equitable society”. Make sure to check her interactive platform on Twitter.