The Importance of Recognizing the Past

My mother was born with a natural wit and a thirst for knowledge. But she grew up in the South in the 1940s and 50s, so the opportunities for learning weren’t always there. She never made it past the sixth grade, but she didn’t let that impact the strength and wisdom that she imparted on a daily basis.

My mother raised me and my 11 siblings amidst extremely challenging circumstances. When I was a teenager, we were forced to move from Chicago’s West Side after we lost everything in a fire. But she did not let that deter her. She continued to lead our family the best that she could.

Now, I have six children of my own, and I’ve tried to raise them with the same qualities that my mom raised me. I’ve also been a third-grade teacher for decades now, and I bring a unique perspective to the classroom because I’m used to having kids of all ages at my dinner table.

History is my favorite subject, and I wish that I could learn more about my heritage. When someone asks me where I’m from, I wish I could say more than that I was born in Arkansas. I want to know more about my African roots. I’m so proud to be Black because wherever we come from and whatever our background, we have the power to make the world a better place.

I’ve been at Monroe Elementary for a long time, and I’ve developed a reputation as one who uses her voice when silence will not suffice. I’m not proud or arrogant, but I’m not afraid to use my voice. I do so as an encourager and as someone who speaks truth to power.

I want my students to understand that they, too, have a voice. They should try to be upstanders rather than bystanders and speak up for what they believe in.

In my classroom, we celebrate Black History Month from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday all the way through the end of February. I try to inspire my students through a combination of the familiar and the unfamiliar; we’ve studied everyone from Michael Jordan to Mary McLeod Bethune to Alice Coachman—the first Black woman to win a gold medal at the Olympics.

These heroes of the past embody many of the same qualities that I expect to see in my students. I want them to look at challenges with a growth mindset. I want them to try again when they fail. And I want them to develop a strong sense of self.

I always tell them this: “If you know who you are, then you have a better chance of getting to where you want to go.”

My charge to my students and to all of us is to never lose sight of where you came from and the obstacles that you overcame to get to where you are. You don’t have to live in the past, but there’s a danger in closing the door on it. Because if you lose your past, you risk repeating your mistakes, and this inhibits the growth needed to grasp your future.

When our students get to know who they are and inspire others to do the same, they can change the world. Even if they have to stand alone, they can still change the world because who they are is enough.

Five of Ms. Harris’ children also attended Monroe Elementary. She’s been at the school for nearly 25 years.