More than 50% of public school students are students of color, but only 20% of public school teachers are people of color. Such a disproportionate relationship places a greater necessity on retaining Educators of Color in the workforce. As an Educator of Color, you need to ensure you are taking care of your needs because it can be easy to set them aside as you work to fulfill the needs of others. In particular, I encourage all Educators of Color to evaluate and address their mental health needs because Educators of Color can experience unique burdens compared to their white counterparts. When unaddressed, the impacts of these burdens can cause more significant issues like anxiety and depression, potentially leading to an eventual departure from the profession. Addressing mental health as an educator of color can be challenging but highly gratifying when leveraging the right strategies.
Burdens of Educators of Color
Extreme Empathy.
The connection to their community that makes them an asset can also be a liability. Educators of Color can be too connected with their students and the community they serve. They might empathize so much with their students that the responsibility they feel toward their students is overwhelming and all-encompassing.
- For example: When I was a first-year teacher, I felt so duty-bound to help my immigrant students who were struggling in all their classes that I often struggled sleeping.
Hiding Your Identity.
If you’re one of the only Educators of Color in your organization, you can feel pressure to conform to the norms of the organization. When these norms don’t align with who you are or don’t consider your perspective, it can feel suffocating. On the one hand, you want to be in a place where you can be yourself, but on the other hand, you feel like you have to stay for the sake of your students.
- For example: In an extreme example, one of my friends told me about how a white staff member reprimanded her for speaking Spanish to another Spanish-speaking colleague because the white staff member didn’t feel comfortable.
Additional Workloads.
Educators of Color regularly have to perform additional duties due to their backgrounds. When these additional duties aren’t adequately recognized or compensated, it can feel like the Educators of Color are paying a “toll” to fulfill the same role as White Educators who do not have to complete those additional responsibilities.
- For example: Since I started working in the classroom, I always had additional duties related to Spanish translation, which sometimes extended to supporting other non-Spanish-speaking staff members.
Unclear Career Advancement Opportunities.
It’s normal for people to compare their experiences with those in positions above their own to see what might be possible. When there are few to no people of color in those positions, it sends a message to Educators of Color that there isn’t a place for them.
- For example: A client once told me about their hesitation in applying for leadership positions because they would be the first person of color in that role.
Insufficient Mentorship.
When you have questions about how to do things, you might ask somebody who has experienced that situation for advice. If your question is particular to a person of color’s experience and there are no people of color to go to, then you’re stuck having to figure it out on your own.
- For example: In an organization with a limited number of Educators of Color, a quality mentor is a scarce resource that few people would have access to.
Strategies to Address Your Mental Health
Before attempting any of the following strategies, you need to know that any struggles you face aren’t a sign of weakness but an opportunity for growth. Otherwise, your heat won’t be in it, and you will be less likely to achieve the results you’re looking for.
Find Your Locus of Control.
Your locus of control is the area around you that you can control. The further away something is from the center, the less impact you can have. Think about what aspects of any given situation are in your control. Ask yourself what you can reasonably be expected to take. Commit to those actions and know you did your best. It can seem immeasurable and impossible to address an issue when you don’t spend time identifying your locus of control for that issue.
Attend Therapy.
There is so much research on the benefits of therapy, but just as much stigma around it for people. In communities of color, there can be an exceptionally high level of resistance toward therapy and other mental health practices. Men of color, in particular, can receive messages from a young age that therapy and services like it are a sign of weakness. From personal experience, I can tell you that it takes much more strength to face my challenges head-on and actively work to resolve them.
Practice Meditation.
I used to say that meditation wasn’t for me. I was diagnosed with ADHD in college and used that as an excuse to say that my mind wandered way too much to be able to practice meditation. I’ve learned that meditation can help you clear your mind, be more aware of what you’re thinking and feeling, and find a sense of calm amongst the turbulence of your thoughts. It doesn’t come easy, though, and requires persistence and patience.
Work With A Coach.
Whereas a therapist can help you with all your thoughts and feelings, a coach provides you with more targeted support and development around your experiences at work. A coach can provide you with a sounding board you can leverage to determine how to deal with specific situations. Your coach is NOT a therapist!
Establish Allies.
In this case, teamwork really makes the dream work, and four heads are better than one! While many people find allies to vent to, I push you to find allies with whom you can make action plans, so everybody gets ahead. They can give you some time to air your frustrations but shouldn’t encourage you to stay in that mode indefinitely.
Find A Mentor.
It’s extremely powerful to learn from somebody who has been in your shoes and can provide you with a higher-level perspective you can connect with. They can help you avoid obstacles they experienced, show you how to navigate the system, and provide you with tested strategies to get ahead. If you can’t find one in your organization, search externally.
Join An Affinity Group.
While a group of allies in the form of your friends and colleagues can be powerful, another approach is joining a formal affinity group of people with a shared background. Formal affinity groups can have established processes, systems, and connections that can prove valuable to you. A simple google search of a particular type of affinity group you’re looking for can give you some leads.
Make It A Priority
Addressing your mental health needs to take priority in your life. Treat it like you would an open wound – with great care and attention. As an Educator of Color, I know how easy it is to set aside your own needs because of the number of things on your plate. I also know what happens when you allow your needs to go unaddressed. You won’t be able to help anybody if you’re too mentally drained to fully engage or continue in the profession.
