May 2, 2021

Dear BIPOC person fighting racism in a predominantly white institution,

Day after day, I watch in awe as you navigate a world that we were never meant to survive. I do not express my appreciation nearly enough, so I am writing today to let you know how much I truly love and admire you and what you do.

You are brilliant when you challenge the systems that seek to destroy us. Like running into a dragon’s mouth to light a match, you place yourself in the crosshairs of white supremacy every day with the radical hope that change can be stoked anywhere. 

You are graceful when you stretch yourself to connect with BIPOC students while navigating your own workplace isolation. When your students see you, even if just through a window or a door, they know they are not alone. You, my love, are not alone either. You’ve got me and 4000 ancestors on your side.

You are most powerful when you define your own success. At times, or all the time, the institution fails to act, respond, prepare, and strategize around racial justice. This failing is not a reflection on you, your work ethic, or your ability. White supremacy is going to do what white supremacy is going to do. You derive your own sense of accomplishment from that which you can control, and make it your goal to speak your truth so that it is spoken. What happens from there is out of your capable hands.

You make an immeasurable impact just by showing up and being you. Your students grow up and move on to higher grades and forever remember your influence. Some of those students come back later and let you know how much you meant to them. Many more students fondly and silently carry your lessons with them. On their behalf, let me tell you that your existence matters immensely to the young people in your care. There is real generational meaning and purpose in the work you are doing.

You are bold when you listen to your gut and follow your instincts. When you resist the structures that seek to quiet your inner voice and make you doubt your own spirit. When you hold a deep love for BIPOC people in the center of all that you do, even when loving BIPOC people means the institution hates you.

You are at your strongest when you center your own wholeness. When you make and take up sacred space that is distinctly separate from your job. When you leave work at work. When you tell yourself what Toni Morrison says: “You are not the work you do; you are the person you are.” And when you hum along to what Abigail Bengson sings: “The world needs you more than it needs what you do.”

You are a divine being worthy of rest. You deeply deserve to leave this dreadful dimension. To exit this atmosphere. And just lay down. Nap. Rock in hammocks. Recline in soft chairs. Snooze on couches. Imagine. Dream. And embody what Tricia Hersey says: “If rest is another dimension, which I think it is, the more we go there, the more we’re going to wake up.” As this world wakes up, you deserve to wake up to yourself.

BIPOC educators change lives. Despite never being taught by BIPOC teachers as a child, my own life has been irreversibly transformed by you, the BIPOC educators who are my colleagues, friends, mentors, and comrades. I want to say thank you for showing up with love, with excellence, with care, with joy, and with authenticity. You are seen. You are valued. You are loved beyond measure. 

Yours most sincerely and truly,

Erica Pernell

This blog post is part of the #31DaysIBPOC Blog Series, a month-long movement to feature the voices of indigenous and teachers of color as writers and scholars. Please CLICK HERE to read yesterday’s blog post by Tricia Ebarvia (and be sure to check out the link at the end of each post to catch up on the rest of the blog series).