When do we show up for the kids? For the community? For each other? When do the conditions of what we've been given in Rochester make us so uncomfortable that we cannot turn a blind eye to it ?
As y’all know, I work in education, specifically in the Rochester City School District.
It confuses and saddens me to see the current state of education, the youth, and our city. But make no mistake this didn’t happen overnight. In little ways, that have been compounding, we’ve lost some sense of community, of stepping up, speaking out, really challenging ourselves to make an effort to do better and be better.
This morning my building had a visitor, one I won’t name- but very important to the city. They walked in and spoke to several people before making their way over to me. Now this person looked right past me and wasn’t going to speak until I did. However, when they got to the designated spot they lit up and said hello to all of the other people over there.
It might sound like this is about a hello but it’s about much more than that. Because if I as a grown person, working, living, in this city do not even feel welcomed by someone in charge then imagine -what these students might feel?
I’ve been working in education since I was 23, and everyone let me know how much of a baby I was then. Many years later and still there is this level of trying to little girl me that happens often, and not only in the workplace.
I’ve seen firsthand the ways these youth are treated like they don’t matter. Like their problems aren’t actually deserving of care or attention.
Why should it feel like pulling teeth to get people to even acknowledge you?? When you work with real people why is human interaction such a strain???
I’ve noticed that wearing a mask in public on top of being a Black Woman, very few people make the effort to look me in my face or even acknowledge me.
People will literally look past you like you don’t exist and then call for your assistance. I’m very good at what I do, but what I won’t be is disregarded until someone needs something. Something I’ve been coming to terms with a lot these days.
And I know that this isn’t just a Rochester issue, but as a born and raised Rochesterian, I can see the issues so clearly in our city and I want better for us.
You can see people, as they are, and offer a hello. It doesn’t cost a thing! But some common decency.
Peace 🤍
Talk yo ish, Ma’am!!