Photo by Ayiana Davis-Polen 

By: Auzzy Byrdsell, Staff Writer 

The call for Black educators is utterly important in the development and contextualization of minority students in the United States. On January 27, 2023, Morehouse College students attended the panel discussion, Black Education Matters to learn more about the different careers and duty in education for minority students. 

The panel discussion was moderated by Marlon Summers II, Cameron Barrow, Dr. Priscilla Hubbard, Dr. Artesius Miller, and myself in Merrill Hall.

Summers and Barrow are both ‘22 graduates of Morehouse and educators at Guilford County Schools in Greensboro, North Carolina. Summers teaches mathematics while Barrow is a computer science teacher. 

Dr. Hubbard is the assistant director and data manager in the office of career development and engagement for Morehouse. She is also the assistant director of the Maurice Washington Emerges and Leadership Program. Dr. Miller is a ‘09 graduate of the college. He works as founder and CEO of Utopian Academy of the Arts Charter School Network and adjunct professor at Morehouse.

Together we discussed topics ranging from the urgency of minority mentorship, minority student perception, the black educator gap and more. The audience benefited from having the perspectives of several different careers within education to learn from. Afterwards, students asked questions and networked with the panelists. 

“You wouldn’t believe how many conversations  I have with kids to keep them from steering off the wrong path or being able to answer personal questions that sometimes they don’t feel comfortable talking with their mom,” Summers said.

Each panelist emphasized the importance of not only being a teacher, but a place of vulnerability and familiarity for students. They expounded on the fact that children come to school with all the hardships and stresses that their personal life may bring them. 

In the midst of the discussion, Dr. Miller had the students show by a hand count who had Black teachers in kindergarten or first grade. Less than half the room had their hands raised. 

“Each of you on this campus knows the significance in particular of having someone that looks like you and how that motivates you” , he said. “Imagine if we had more of that for our students.”

Teaching at Morehouse for the past five years, he’s been able to contextualize his impact and role for his students that have not had Black teachers at young ages.

Events like these will empower and raise awareness for the Morehouse students looking to pursue education. To learn more about what Morehouse’s education department has to offer, click here.

Copy Edited By Marlon “MJ” Scott