#educator

[forever70s]

bell hooks, circa late 1970s

[uwmspeccoll]

Honoring Freedom: Juneteenth

On June 19, 1865, news of emancipation reached the last enslaved person in Galveston, Texas, more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation. Today, Juneteenth is a celebration of freedom, resilience, and Black history and culture.

This Juneteenth, we're highlighting two powerful works by author, educator and activist Booker T. Washington (1856-1915): Up from Slavery and Working with the Hands. Both volumes were published in New York by Doubleday, Page & Company. Originally published in 1901, our copy of Up from Slavery was published in 1902. Our copy of Working with the Hands is a first edition from 1904 and is illustrated with photographs by Frances Benjamin Johnston (1864-1952), an American photographer and photojournalist. 

Booker T. Washington’s landmark autobiography, Up from Slavery, chronicles his journey from slavery in Virginia to becoming one of the most influential Black leaders in the United States. The book details his early life, his education at Hampton Institute, and his founding of the Tuskegee Normal and Industrial Institute (now known as Tuskegee University) in Alabama. Washington advocates for self-reliance, industrial education, and racial uplift through dignity and hard work. This text was widely read and continues to be a foundational work in African American literature and history.

A lesser-known sequel to Up from Slavery, Working with the Hands serves as a practical and philosophical follow-up. In it, Washington elaborates on the day-to-day operations, goals, and educational philosophy of the Tuskegee Institute. The book emphasizes the dignity of manual labor and the importance of vocational training as a means of achieving Black economic empowerment in the post-Reconstruction South.

From emancipation to education, Washington’s life and legacy are deeply tied to the ongoing struggle for Black freedom and self-determination. His writings emphasize resilience, practical knowledge, and the power of building a future by hand and by heart.

-View previous Juneteenth posts

--Melissa, Distinctive Collections Library Assistant

[disast3rtransp0rt]

There has been a lot of discourse surrounding rednote, but overall it's been a very humanity affirming experience for me. Am I getting super involved in the video/posting/following part of the app? No. Not in the slightest. I am not that kind of social media user.

But my inbox is an entirely different story.

I've been trading Lunar New Year recipes and discussing the pros and cons of Linkin Park with a slightly younger college woman, Jia Xuan. I'm especially hype to try her crispy sweet and sour pork recipe. We've discussed philosophy, the pros/cons of our different countries' religious practices, and compared our education styles. She's disappointed in the United States' gun violence but hugely curious about our ability to just say whatever we want online. And our work-life balance (not too different from theirs overall, but she was surprised at the different appearance of 'self motivation' between our cultures; as was I).

This is the kind of learning/socialization experience I was hoping for.

But yeah, I can also see how we both have some serious perspective shifts to make in the long run based on our preconceived understanding of each other’s culture. Are things as strict in China as the United States' education system leads us to believe? No. Are we so awfully dissimilar that we can't find common ground to critique our ways of life? No.

Are we both being overworked for our evil capitalistic overlords? Yeah, for sure.

And that's what a handful of billionaire assholes are terrified of, so keep at it. Keep making friends and discussing games, cosplay, food, and culture. Trade ideas and take notes about the ways we can support each other.

Because, to quote the ancient texts: "We didn't start the fire It was always burning, since the world's been turning We didn't start the fire No, we didn't light it, but we tried to fight it."

[jspark3000]

“You write in order to change the world, knowing perfectly well that you probably can't, but also knowing that literature is indispensable to the world.

“In some way, your aspirations and concern for a single man in fact do begin to change the world. The world changes according to the way people see it, and if you alter, even by a millimeter, the way a person looks or people look at reality, then you can change it.”

— James Baldwin, interview in The New York Times, Sep. 23rd 1979

[m1cahx3]

(Taking a pause from comms for a little) PRESSURE FANART, IT TOOK VERY LONG BUT I LOVE IT VERY MUCH ><

ELEVEN HOURS, BUT I FINISHED IT!! X3

My commissions are free for the time being! I love this drawing so much, and am very proud of it 😼

I enjoy Pressure, it’s very cool. Uhh, art comms are open, I like drawing others’ ocs and requests. :3

[writerformanymuses]

i was giving the SAT to my older kiddos today (we have a program for young adults trying to get into college and allow them to take it for free), and two girls were talking as i was handing out scratch paper.

one of them said, "oh no! ao3 is blocked by the school's internet!"

me, an active ao3 user who has a VPN on her computer to get around that problem while taking my lunch, actively trying to walk faster bc oh no. oh nonononono. not here.

later on they admitted to eachother they're reading dramione fanfictions, and i did recognize some of the names from tiktoks where it's very clear it's porn.

children, let me warn you, your teachers now were around for the mass boom of fanfiction in the early 00's into the 10's. i know what slash is, i know what every rule # means, and, yes, we do judge you for your ship choices.

"it's giving puppy play but like in a good way" out of a 17 year olds mouth makes me want to wash my brain out with bleach.

however, i admit, i was reading far worse far younger. so, to each their own i guess.

[basicallyanotherwitchesthing]

John J. Loeper - Understanding Your Child Through Astrology - Paperback - 1971

[wouldyourecognizethisperson-poll]

[forever70s]

Nikki Giovanni in 1973 🌹

[mimi-0007]

John Wesley Cromwell

September 5, 1846 – April 14, 1927

HAPPY BIRTHDAY - Rest in Peace

a lawyer, teacher, civil servant, journalist, historian, and civil rights activist in Washington, D.C. He was among the founders of the Bethel Literary and Historical Society and the American Negro Academy, both based in the capital. He worked for decades in the administration of the US Post Office.

[lumenveritatis]

Something I think everyone needs to hear. 👍

[prismjiinxdesigns]

Brindleface

[slystark]

Hello everyone, my name is Adam. My ultimate goal is to work to improve the lives of people with autism. My passion is working with and for children who have special educational and behavioral needs. I have a bachelor’s degree in psychology and I’m currently earning my master’s degree in curriculum and instruction, with a focus on accommodating diverse learners.

I am a transman living in the south of the US, so it has been very difficult finding employment in general, let alone my field. There is a program offered through CIEE that would allow me to travel to Spain to assist in classes that teach English to Spanish students. This program would give me the opportunity to gain necessary experience in my field and open up opportunities for me to grow as a human being and an educator.

Finances are tight for me, especially since I can’t find basic employment in the small town I live in. I have started a GoFundMe to help me overcome those financial difficulties and make my way to a better and brighter future. I have already have some amazing people contribute to my GoFundMe and I sincerely thank them from the bottom of my heart. I’m so grateful to anyone who decides to donate or share my GoFundMe link.

The link to my GoFundMe will be listed below. I am raising the fund necessary for getting my visa, purchasing my plane ticket, securing my housing deposit, and float me until I start getting paid for my Spanish program. All of the funds will be used solely to get me in Spain, ready to make a difference in the lives of children. Thank you for taking the time to read this post and I hope you have an amazing week.

Link to Adam’s GoFundMe: https://gofund.me/4df52e74

[yourdailyqueer]

Wazina Zondon

Gender: Female

Sexuality: Queer

DOB: N/A

Ethnicity: Afghan

Nationality: American

Occupation: Educator, public speaker, activist

[wondering-whispers]

What will you be when you grow up?

I cannot say that I have the fig tree analogy injected into my veins. I cannot say that the thought of wasting my potential by not knowing the correct option paralyzes me with fear.

So I simply shrug and say I don't know. Let's see