Growing up on the South Side of Chicago, the summer meant snowballs and penny candy, camp at the local park district, somebody’s uncle or cousin busting open a fire hydrant to cool us from the sun and big family vacations. The signature end to summertime Chi was the Black family reunion in Washington Park, the Bud Billiken Parade. When the…
Author: Tanesha Peeples
To Get the Schools We Deserve, We Must Tell Our Stories
I have a love/hate relationship with the city of Chicago. I love the city for its beauty, vibrancy, diversity and opportunity. I hate the city for how its underserved communities sometimes gets the short end of the stick—especially when it comes to education. I grew up in Englewood and there were no good school options in my community. Luckily, my…
What Traditional Schools Won’t Teach You About Michelle Obama
Michelle Obama will easily go down as one of the most powerful and influential women in history. Aside from being the first Black FLOTUS, she is intelligent, beautiful, strong, accomplished, and an ideal role model for young girls and women everywhere. So there’s no question as to why artist and Chicago native, Chris Devins, wants to paint a mural of…
This Is Why We Can’t Move Forward
Eight years ago I was working for a small nonprofit organization in Evanston. The work was rewarding and equally stressful, which made is easy to air my frustrations from time to time. So one day, my supervisor/mentor and I were talking about programming and I was complaining about everything that was wrong with the organization, staff, etc. After my rant,…
No Role Models: The Audacity of Lil Wayne
Earlier today I was watching a Nightline clip in which an interviewer was asking famed rapper, Lil Wayne, about his views on the Black Lives Matter movement. Dwayne Michael Carter, Jr. hasn’t really been known for being “woke” but I was extremely shocked and disappointed to hear his responses to the questions, especially considering the influence he has on youth.…
Freedom of Choice: Traditional Public Schools vs. Public Charter Schools
Today I wanted a gyro for lunch. I ran across a list of fast food restaurants in my mind and two stood out—one close to my home with average food and the other a couple of miles away with better food. A decision had to be made—do I choose the restaurant with average food because it’s convenient or the one…
Mo’ Money…No Progress
No one wanted another strike–but many people wondered how and were doubtful that the district could meet the CTU’s financial demands. So when Rahm, Forrest, and Co. were able to make it happen at the eleventh hour, many parents, community members, and even some students were able to breathe a sigh of relief. But how long will it be before…
Parents, Stand Up…Critics, Have a Seat!
Woke parents—I LOVE you guys! Over the past week, there have been a number of you who have publicly voiced your concerns over the impending teacher’s strike. And I, for one, am especially elated that there are more of you who are becoming more aware of the disparities in education in Chicago, inserting yourselves into the conversation, making you more…