In my previous blog post, I discussed the importance of pursuing educational equity, inspired by the words of President Obama and Jay-Z. I outlined several concrete steps we could take, such as investing in early childhood education and advocating for more equitable school funding. While those recommendations remain critically important, achieving lasting change requires ongoing effort. As President Obama said, “Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones we’ve been waiting for. We are the change that we seek.”
Now is not the time to become complacent or abandon the fight. Educational inequities persist, and new challenges are emerging, like the impacts of the pandemic, which have exacerbated existing disparities.
To maintain momentum, we need to:
1. Keep elevating student and family voices. Those with lived experience must remain at the forefront, helping shape priorities and solutions. Creating permanent forums for input and engagement is key. As Jay-Z said, “Ain’t no such thing as an ugly truth.”
2. Support educators. The pandemic has been an incredible burden. Educators need robust resources for self-care, training, and peer collaboration to prevent burnout. We cannot lose passionate teachers committed to equity.
3. Share best practices. Equity efforts are underway across districts and networks. We need to disseminate effective programs and interventions better so they can be replicated and expanded. As President Obama emphasized, “We need to internalize this idea of excellence.”
4. Engage local communities. Businesses, religious groups, civic organizations, and more can provide volunteers, services, and advocacy that reinforce school-based initiatives.
5. Elect equity-focused leaders. Progress can only be sustained with officials and policymakers who share these goals. Equity must be a litmus test at the ballot box.
6. Innovate new solutions. We need to apply lessons from fields like behavioral science and use technology thoughtfully to create better systems and tools.
7. Celebrate progress. While much work lies ahead, reflecting on accomplishments made reinforces motivation and inspires others.
The path toward educational equity is long but bright. By learning from the wisdom of leaders like President Obama and Jay-Z, and taking deliberate steps forward together, we can reach greater justice. Our students deserve nothing less. Onward.
Dr. Darryl S. Diggs, Jr.
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