As An Early Educator, I Held Up My End of the Bargain; the Wealthy Did Not

I wrote an article that reimagines an American patriotic song to highlight the stark reality that, for many, poverty and not prosperity is the shared experience. Drawing on my 30 years as an early educator, I shared how the entire child care system was designed to fail families. I pointed out that the idea of community has always been a key reason why many low-wage earners remain in their workforce. But people in positions of authority use this as a tactic to keep hardworking individuals in place, feeding a sense that workers in childcare are committed to remaining in a field that underpays them, and society uses their love and passion for the work to keep them “held captive.”

Watching the new administration erase the footprints that Black people have left in the success of this country, I had to do my part in keeping the legacy alive. I am a “straight shooter,” and I never shy away from telling the truth about any situation.

But I always present space to work on solutions to the problems at hand. The “Together We Thrive” narrative made that possible. In the face of unfair labor practices and low wages, collective action has enabled our economy to thrive. We are proof that together, we can thrive. However, the outcomes and the return on investments are not in sync, nor representative of how we reached this point in the fourth wealthiest country in the world.

Takeaways

• My audience appreciated that my story was relatable and honest. They were glad to see that someone spoke up on their behalf, as well as my own.
• I will never shy away from or sugarcoat my experience in this country. How I see disparities and systemic challenges is not make-believe.