Why do our
children need healing?
00:00:01.36\00:00:03.00
Tune in to meet one of
the Country's top educators
00:00:03.03\00:00:06.33
and motivational speakers
00:00:06.37\00:00:07.70
who'll give us some insight
into this and so much more.
00:00:07.74\00:00:11.07
My name is Yvonne Lewis
00:00:11.11\00:00:12.77
and you're
watching Urban Report.
00:00:12.81\00:00:14.64
Hello and
welcome to Urban Report
00:00:37.37\00:00:39.93
my guest today
is Dr. Chandra Gill,
00:00:39.97\00:00:42.47
Educator, Author
00:00:42.50\00:00:43.91
and Founder of
Blackademically Speaking,
00:00:43.94\00:00:46.64
a company dedicated
to the development of
00:00:46.68\00:00:49.28
motivational
content, products and services
00:00:49.31\00:00:51.85
innovative philosophies
and cutting-edge theories
00:00:51.91\00:00:55.42
specific to
education and schooling.
00:00:55.48\00:00:57.49
Dr. Gill is the recipient
of numerous awards and honors
00:00:57.52\00:01:01.92
she was recently selected
for NBC's The Grio's 100 List
00:01:01.96\00:01:06.33
and Today's
Chicago Woman Magazine
00:01:06.39\00:01:09.30
recently tagged her as
one of 100 women to watch
00:01:09.33\00:01:13.00
she is passionate
about our children
00:01:13.03\00:01:15.50
welcome to Urban
Report, Dr. Gill.
00:01:15.54\00:01:17.91
Thank you for having me,
happy afternoon, good afternoon,
00:01:17.94\00:01:21.78
great afternoon, all of that.
00:01:21.81\00:01:23.51
Thank you so much,
00:01:23.55\00:01:24.88
happy... great
afternoon to you too.
00:01:24.91\00:01:27.42
Absolutely.
00:01:27.45\00:01:29.48
So, what is
Blackademically Speaking?
00:01:29.52\00:01:32.05
Tell us what that is.
00:01:32.09\00:01:33.42
Well, in short, and again...
thank you for having me.
00:01:33.46\00:01:36.42
Blackademically is a
company that is dedicated to
00:01:36.46\00:01:39.46
inspiring and
empowering our children
00:01:39.49\00:01:42.06
as an educator,
00:01:42.10\00:01:43.83
I've spent more
than half my life,
00:01:43.87\00:01:46.50
I come from a family of
those interested in education,
00:01:46.53\00:01:50.01
and as a company, what we do is
00:01:50.04\00:01:52.14
educate and empower
and inspire our children
00:01:52.17\00:01:54.48
throughout the globe and
we believe, quite frankly,
00:01:54.54\00:01:57.48
that to literally
educate today's children
00:01:57.51\00:02:00.48
you have to motivate them...
you have to motivate them,
00:02:00.52\00:02:03.12
so that's what
we predicate upon.
00:02:03.15\00:02:05.02
That's great, what
are some of the challenges
00:02:05.05\00:02:07.42
confronting today's children?
00:02:07.46\00:02:09.19
Oh my gosh!
00:02:09.22\00:02:10.66
Specifically, if I
may just delve into it,
00:02:10.69\00:02:13.80
generally speaking,
America, right now, is literally
00:02:13.83\00:02:17.83
trailing the world... globally,
00:02:17.90\00:02:20.44
we're not leading in
any of the subject matters,
00:02:20.47\00:02:23.10
in any of the
disciplines that matter,
00:02:23.14\00:02:24.67
I mean, we're trailing
most developed countries,
00:02:24.71\00:02:27.84
and when we're zoning
in our children in America,
00:02:27.88\00:02:30.81
that are Black
and Brown children,
00:02:30.85\00:02:32.55
the statistics
are even more dire,
00:02:32.58\00:02:34.22
when we take it a little further
and go to Black children,
00:02:34.25\00:02:36.89
then we're looking at children
that are four and five years
00:02:36.92\00:02:39.55
behind in reading
and let me be clear,
00:02:39.59\00:02:41.06
all of our
children are not struggling,
00:02:41.12\00:02:42.56
or they're not in strife, or
they're great, they're genius
00:02:42.62\00:02:45.89
but to the
heart of your question
00:02:45.93\00:02:47.66
the violence... that
is not just physical,
00:02:47.70\00:02:49.60
that's just not
happening on the streets
00:02:49.63\00:02:51.53
but that's ripping apart our
00:02:51.57\00:02:52.90
children's hearts
and minds everyday,
00:02:52.93\00:02:55.04
we have now...
school to prison pipeline,
00:02:55.07\00:02:57.24
if you could just stop and
think about that for a moment
00:02:57.27\00:03:00.28
the inner connectedness between
education and incarceration
00:03:00.31\00:03:03.28
those issues amongst
many other societal ills
00:03:03.31\00:03:05.81
when we look at what's
going on in our Country,
00:03:05.85\00:03:08.32
we're experiencing wars,
00:03:08.35\00:03:10.09
the Entertainment
Industry right now,
00:03:10.12\00:03:12.32
I told everyone all the time
00:03:12.35\00:03:13.76
what I saw on
television as an adult,
00:03:13.79\00:03:15.72
I have the choice to
watch it if I so desire,
00:03:15.76\00:03:18.19
and we can deem it entertainment
but as an academic,
00:03:18.23\00:03:21.73
the question becomes
00:03:21.76\00:03:23.10
how does that
entertainment for my pleasure
00:03:23.13\00:03:24.80
potentially inhibit the
child that's watching...
00:03:24.83\00:03:27.70
in their educational experience,
00:03:27.77\00:03:29.10
so, there are a plethora of
challenges before our children.
00:03:29.14\00:03:31.37
Well, you know what?
You have just given me
00:03:31.41\00:03:34.24
oh! so much to chew on
just in that statement,
00:03:34.28\00:03:37.01
so much to chew on because...
let's go back for a second,
00:03:37.05\00:03:41.12
this whole idea of the
school to prison pipeline,
00:03:41.15\00:03:46.25
this is a very
profound thing to me
00:03:46.29\00:03:49.36
because it's a systemic issue.
00:03:49.39\00:03:52.13
Years ago, if a kid
was in the classroom,
00:03:52.16\00:03:55.76
acting out,
00:03:55.80\00:03:57.17
you to go to the Principal,
or you go to Detention,
00:03:57.20\00:03:59.73
you don't get arrested and now,
00:03:59.77\00:04:03.67
there's this whole thing of...
00:04:03.71\00:04:05.51
and I understand
00:04:05.54\00:04:07.58
that violence has increased,
00:04:07.64\00:04:09.34
I understand that
there are some situations
00:04:09.38\00:04:12.08
in which there has to
be some kind of really...
00:04:12.11\00:04:14.78
kind of harsh... but not...
I mean... not deadly force...
00:04:14.85\00:04:20.42
but some kind of
intervention that can stop
00:04:20.46\00:04:24.56
whatever is going
on, I understand that,
00:04:24.59\00:04:28.66
I'm not talking about that,
00:04:28.70\00:04:30.03
I'm talking about the
fact that in so many cases,
00:04:30.07\00:04:33.54
in schools in the inner cities,
00:04:33.60\00:04:35.10
we find that the
children are getting arrested
00:04:35.14\00:04:39.34
instead of having...
just a visit to the Principal
00:04:39.37\00:04:43.55
or detention, and
what happens after that is
00:04:43.58\00:04:46.21
now, the child has a record
and now, doors begin to close,
00:04:46.25\00:04:50.92
tell us a little bit
about that if you would Doc
00:04:50.95\00:04:53.29
because I think that that is...
that school to prison pipeline,
00:04:53.32\00:04:57.36
I think a lot of our Viewers
need to know more about that
00:04:57.39\00:05:00.36
can you unpack that
a little bit for us?
00:05:00.40\00:05:02.16
Absolutely, and
that's a great lead-in,
00:05:02.20\00:05:04.00
you kind of counted in the
most prophetic and profound way,
00:05:04.03\00:05:07.77
if I may say,
what's happening right now
00:05:07.80\00:05:10.47
from the academic
standpoint you know,
00:05:10.51\00:05:13.24
we had about a decade and a half
00:05:13.27\00:05:14.78
of all this
readership and this research
00:05:14.81\00:05:17.85
that was stating that
at the third-grade level
00:05:17.88\00:05:19.98
we could then determine
how and where the children,
00:05:20.02\00:05:22.88
our children
oddly... will end up
00:05:22.92\00:05:25.42
where were their reading levels,
00:05:25.45\00:05:27.86
the literacy rates and the
reading levels would determine
00:05:27.89\00:05:31.16
a child's educational
success, so unpacking that...
00:05:31.19\00:05:34.86
this is something that
is very critical for us
00:05:34.90\00:05:37.93
and we often and too
often do not want to utilize
00:05:37.97\00:05:40.97
terms like
redemption and healing,
00:05:41.00\00:05:43.30
so this is my
belief, academically speaking
00:05:43.34\00:05:45.91
and we're talking
about healing and redemption.
00:05:45.94\00:05:48.24
We have a young
lady in South Carolina,
00:05:48.31\00:05:50.28
that everyone knows
that was grabbed, choked,
00:05:50.31\00:05:52.68
dragged by the Officer,
00:05:52.71\00:05:54.08
I could not look at
it through the lens of
00:05:54.12\00:05:56.45
what she did to deserve that,
00:05:56.48\00:05:58.35
and even if you want
to go to the level of
00:05:58.39\00:06:00.89
children that are not
most respectable to us
00:06:00.92\00:06:03.36
and so... here's the truth,
the truth is... as an educator,
00:06:03.39\00:06:06.93
I am responsible for
believing that a child
00:06:06.96\00:06:10.27
can learn and live beyond their
situations and circumstances,
00:06:10.30\00:06:14.27
I am responsible for
Blackademically Speaking,
00:06:14.30\00:06:16.91
for redemptive
forces in the classroom
00:06:16.94\00:06:19.47
so the question is not just,
"What did she do to deserve it?"
00:06:19.54\00:06:22.91
Or what did the
Officer's behavior do to invoke
00:06:22.94\00:06:25.68
a different
spirit in that school,
00:06:25.71\00:06:27.28
it really comes down to
00:06:27.32\00:06:28.78
what we believe a
schooling experience should be
00:06:28.82\00:06:31.29
I feel it should be redemptive,
00:06:31.32\00:06:33.79
I believe that
it should be loving,
00:06:33.82\00:06:35.46
I believe that it
should be nurturing and caring,
00:06:35.52\00:06:37.73
I believe that at
the end of the day,
00:06:37.76\00:06:39.89
that daughter,
that granddaughter,
00:06:39.93\00:06:42.00
that niece, that child,
did deserve another opportunity
00:06:42.03\00:06:46.03
obviously beyond
the volatile abuse,
00:06:46.07\00:06:48.54
here I believe this
question needs to be asked,
00:06:48.57\00:06:51.14
do we believe that
every child should,
00:06:51.17\00:06:54.61
can and deserve to learn?
00:06:54.64\00:06:57.25
Yes.
00:06:57.28\00:06:58.61
When we answer that question,
00:06:58.65\00:07:00.02
we chose not to relegate
our children particularly
00:07:00.05\00:07:04.25
to jail systems,
I'm writing a piece now,
00:07:04.29\00:07:07.26
"Do we want our girls in
classrooms or courtrooms?"
00:07:07.29\00:07:10.89
And my belief is
00:07:10.93\00:07:12.69
just the other day we read
00:07:12.76\00:07:14.60
two 12-year-olds in the
school district in Texas,
00:07:14.63\00:07:17.23
the girls were
brought up on charges,
00:07:17.27\00:07:19.83
and potentially
facing a 30-day suspension
00:07:19.87\00:07:21.80
and relegated to
an alternative school
00:07:21.87\00:07:23.47
and you want to know why?
00:07:23.51\00:07:24.84
One girl had an Asthma attack,
00:07:24.87\00:07:26.84
her friend,
12-years-old witnessed it
00:07:26.88\00:07:29.24
she gave her
inhaler to her in haste
00:07:29.28\00:07:31.38
so that she
wouldn't potentially die,
00:07:31.41\00:07:33.45
the school charged them
with controlled substance use.
00:07:33.48\00:07:37.35
No...
00:07:37.39\00:07:39.19
They suspended the
girls for three days
00:07:39.22\00:07:41.76
with the option of
a 30-day suspension
00:07:41.79\00:07:44.26
in an alternative school,
00:07:44.29\00:07:46.19
where is the common
sense in legislation?
00:07:46.23\00:07:48.36
I'll leave you
with this other thing,
00:07:48.40\00:07:51.00
if I'm on the
way to the hospital
00:07:51.03\00:07:53.54
pregnant, my husband sees me
and says, "Oh, she's in labor"
00:07:53.57\00:07:57.27
he jumps in the car to
hurry me to the hospital
00:07:57.31\00:08:00.58
at 80 miles an hour,
00:08:00.61\00:08:01.94
what we've known in Society
00:08:01.98\00:08:03.78
of course you don't
drive 80 miles an hour,
00:08:03.81\00:08:05.71
you don't drive
50 on a regular road,
00:08:05.78\00:08:07.62
he may or may not have
a seatbelt on, in haste,
00:08:07.65\00:08:10.59
do you punish him for trying
to get his wife to the hospital
00:08:10.62\00:08:14.72
to give birth to their child,
00:08:14.76\00:08:16.09
or is there some common
sense in the legislation?
00:08:16.12\00:08:18.83
I believe... to the
school and prison pipeline,
00:08:18.86\00:08:21.66
there are some discussions
that we really need to have
00:08:21.70\00:08:24.33
about cultural sensitivity,
cultural competence,
00:08:24.37\00:08:28.47
who is teaching our children
00:08:28.50\00:08:30.14
and do they care
about every child
00:08:30.17\00:08:32.44
that crosses the
threshold of their door
00:08:32.47\00:08:33.88
as a the quality
of life experience,
00:08:33.91\00:08:35.58
education is just not a buzzword
00:08:35.64\00:08:37.71
it should be an experience
00:08:37.75\00:08:39.31
worthy of every
child in America.
00:08:39.35\00:08:41.25
Yes, yes, oh that's
so rich, that is so rich,
00:08:41.28\00:08:45.19
you know, that
incident that you cited
00:08:45.22\00:08:48.02
with the two girls
and one giving her...
00:08:48.06\00:08:50.79
giving the other her inhaler,
00:08:50.83\00:08:53.03
who wouldn't do that, I mean...
00:08:53.06\00:08:55.23
Absolutely...
00:08:55.26\00:08:56.60
I just... I don't know all
the ins and outs of the case
00:08:56.63\00:08:58.57
I can't really comment on it,
00:08:58.60\00:09:00.14
but just from what
you're saying to me,
00:09:00.17\00:09:02.57
who wouldn't,
00:09:02.60\00:09:03.94
out of the sense
of humanity, do that?
00:09:03.97\00:09:06.41
And to get suspended...
I'm just not getting that,
00:09:06.44\00:09:10.05
was this an inner-city school?
00:09:10.11\00:09:12.08
I don't know if it
was an inner-city school,
00:09:12.11\00:09:14.08
that's a great
question but let's be clear,
00:09:14.12\00:09:15.78
I mean, as an educator,
00:09:15.82\00:09:17.15
if I could contextualize
it and package it differently,
00:09:17.19\00:09:19.72
I can't just go into a school
00:09:19.75\00:09:21.59
and all of the schools
I'm in throughout America,
00:09:21.62\00:09:23.46
I call myself a
traveling teacher,
00:09:23.53\00:09:25.09
healing throughout the
Country as much as I can
00:09:25.13\00:09:27.76
and in school
assemblies, classrooms,
00:09:27.80\00:09:29.63
if a student comes
to me and she says,
00:09:29.66\00:09:32.43
"Hey, I'm thinking
about killing myself"
00:09:32.47\00:09:35.17
I'm responsible for
reporting that to the Counselor,
00:09:35.20\00:09:37.87
if another child comes and
says, "Hey, I have a headache,
00:09:37.91\00:09:40.34
do you happen to have an
Ibuprofen or an Aspirin on you?"
00:09:40.38\00:09:42.78
I am not able to
give that child that,
00:09:42.81\00:09:45.71
so we understand
"controlled substances"
00:09:45.78\00:09:48.65
we can't account
for and vouch for
00:09:48.68\00:09:50.52
adverse conditions for
medical history so we get that,
00:09:50.55\00:09:54.22
but to the heart of
what you're pointing to,
00:09:54.26\00:09:57.46
which is my point,
remember now, as we unpack this,
00:09:57.49\00:10:00.66
we have legislation
like "zero tolerance,"
00:10:00.70\00:10:03.06
"three strikes you're out"
00:10:03.13\00:10:04.73
well, I'm a believer,
00:10:04.80\00:10:06.50
and I believe that... that
fourth strike may not happen
00:10:06.53\00:10:10.04
but maybe that
fourth time that takes me
00:10:10.07\00:10:11.97
to the level of faith and
allows God to take me from
00:10:12.01\00:10:15.18
the valley to the mountain top,
00:10:15.21\00:10:17.15
I believe that
educators are the epitome
00:10:17.18\00:10:20.02
of Leadership, if I
may, Jesus was a Teacher.
00:10:20.05\00:10:22.45
Yes...
00:10:22.48\00:10:23.82
And His reality
was predicated upon Him
00:10:23.85\00:10:25.85
and so the question has
to become, as I believe,
00:10:25.89\00:10:28.39
do we believe that all children
deserve the right to learn
00:10:28.42\00:10:31.53
and to the heart of those girls,
00:10:31.56\00:10:32.89
here's the caveat and I
want you to embrace this stuff,
00:10:32.93\00:10:35.23
they were honor roll students.
00:10:35.26\00:10:36.83
Oh my!
00:10:36.87\00:10:38.27
And so, they are
honor roll students
00:10:38.30\00:10:40.24
in present tense,
00:10:40.27\00:10:41.64
so I advise all of the
Viewers to look at these cases
00:10:41.67\00:10:45.24
we had a six-year-old young
lady who just killed herself,
00:10:45.27\00:10:48.81
hung herself,
according to reports...
00:10:48.84\00:10:50.45
Six years old?
00:10:50.48\00:10:51.81
Six years old, and so
this becomes the question
00:10:51.85\00:10:55.48
on why you ask...
healing... healing...
00:10:55.52\00:10:57.59
because we also know to
the school-and-prison pipeline
00:10:57.65\00:11:00.49
that a lot of our children
are hitting Detention Centers
00:11:00.52\00:11:03.22
at 11-years-old,
00:11:03.26\00:11:04.73
if we could just think
aback... think back on our lives
00:11:04.76\00:11:07.60
and what we were doing
in fifth and sixth grades,
00:11:07.63\00:11:09.80
and today we have
a Society in America
00:11:09.86\00:11:12.87
that is just five
percent of the world,
00:11:12.90\00:11:15.84
yet almost a third of those
incarcerated, if not a half,
00:11:15.90\00:11:20.18
in some reports of those in jail
00:11:20.21\00:11:22.41
so this is an issue
that we have to put together
00:11:22.44\00:11:26.58
and we have to ask ourselves,
00:11:26.61\00:11:28.35
"How is it that
something like the school
00:11:28.38\00:11:31.42
that gives you
quality of life experiences
00:11:31.45\00:11:34.42
and determines what you can,
00:11:34.46\00:11:35.96
shall and will be to some degree
00:11:35.99\00:11:37.93
has a strong interconnection
to a prison system that is not,
00:11:37.96\00:11:41.90
despite reports,
00:11:41.93\00:11:43.40
predicated or built
upon rehabilitation?"
00:11:43.43\00:11:46.20
We have to ask
some serious questions.
00:11:46.23\00:11:48.00
Absolutely, you know,
you also cited the fact that
00:11:48.04\00:11:53.74
by the third grade,
when the results of testing
00:11:53.78\00:11:59.41
are reviewed and analyzed,
00:11:59.45\00:12:01.82
they can know where
that child is going to end up
00:12:01.85\00:12:05.55
just based on those results...
00:12:05.59\00:12:07.79
Sure...
00:12:07.82\00:12:09.16
one of the things
that we need to stress
00:12:09.19\00:12:13.66
is that our
children can learn...
00:12:13.70\00:12:17.50
they are... so many of them
00:12:17.53\00:12:20.94
are beset by these ACEs...
00:12:20.97\00:12:24.31
these Adverse
Childhood Experiences,
00:12:24.34\00:12:26.88
that overwhelm them
00:12:26.91\00:12:29.54
and we don't really...
00:12:29.61\00:12:33.15
and I mentioned
this in another program
00:12:33.18\00:12:35.75
that we had, we
don't really realize that
00:12:35.78\00:12:38.29
we have the school here,
and we have the home here
00:12:38.32\00:12:42.56
the child has to go...
00:12:42.62\00:12:43.96
first of all the
child might be living
00:12:43.99\00:12:45.99
in an abusive situation that
is not conducive to learning,
00:12:46.03\00:12:50.90
and then that
child travels from home
00:12:50.97\00:12:53.94
to school and if
he's in the inner city,
00:12:53.97\00:12:56.67
he could be beset
by all... or she...
00:12:56.71\00:12:59.24
beset by all kinds of violence,
all kinds of gang stuff,
00:12:59.27\00:13:02.98
all... it's a war zone,
00:13:03.01\00:13:04.71
just combat, just
getting from home to school
00:13:04.75\00:13:08.62
then you get to school,
00:13:08.65\00:13:09.98
and you're either labeled ADHD
or Special Ed or you know...
00:13:10.02\00:13:17.09
you're made to feel
as though you can't learn
00:13:17.13\00:13:20.26
but yet we have schools
00:13:20.30\00:13:21.70
that are offering
these nurturing environments
00:13:21.76\00:13:24.67
that you were talking about
where the children are learning,
00:13:24.70\00:13:27.64
so, one of the things to
me... that we need to examine,
00:13:27.67\00:13:33.64
is how we can make that
environment more conducive
00:13:33.68\00:13:39.15
to learning, more
healing, more nurturing,
00:13:39.21\00:13:42.52
especially if you
have kids who are...
00:13:42.55\00:13:45.82
some of them have
behavior problems, we know that,
00:13:45.85\00:13:48.96
so how do we...
as an Educator...
00:13:48.99\00:13:51.79
how do you work with the
child that is a behavior problem
00:13:51.83\00:13:58.30
to reshape the
values of that child?
00:13:58.33\00:14:01.30
Well, here's what we know,
and that's a very good question
00:14:01.37\00:14:04.37
thank you...
here's what we know,
00:14:04.44\00:14:06.11
we know... through research
00:14:06.17\00:14:08.38
that African American
boys in well affluenced areas
00:14:08.41\00:14:13.21
are relegated to a
suspension and expulsion,
00:14:13.25\00:14:16.35
especially at
programs, more than their peers,
00:14:16.38\00:14:19.82
so let me unpack
that... simply... I'm a mother
00:14:19.85\00:14:23.26
a husband... we send our son
00:14:23.29\00:14:25.39
in an affluent neighborhood
to a school... School A...
00:14:25.43\00:14:29.10
what research has been telling
us for nearly two decades
00:14:29.13\00:14:32.63
pluses... he's still relegated
to Special Ed Programming
00:14:32.67\00:14:36.14
statistically
more than his peers,
00:14:36.17\00:14:38.71
so I could be making
more than my neighbors
00:14:38.74\00:14:41.14
who may not look like me
00:14:41.18\00:14:42.54
and my child can be relegated
to a Special Ed classroom
00:14:42.58\00:14:46.31
more than my
neighbor's children,
00:14:46.35\00:14:48.58
we have to
begin to discuss this,
00:14:48.62\00:14:50.79
the issue of race
and racism in the schools
00:14:50.82\00:14:52.65
we cannot ignore it,
00:14:52.69\00:14:54.36
in Society we love
the post racial Discourse
00:14:54.42\00:14:57.43
I understand the conversation,
but this is what I say,
00:14:57.46\00:15:00.60
and it's important that
we understand that everybody
00:15:00.63\00:15:04.27
who is teaching...
be it a White teacher
00:15:04.30\00:15:06.84
who may not or may
like Black students,
00:15:06.87\00:15:09.34
the story in the
situation is greater than that
00:15:09.40\00:15:11.14
here's why, if I
may, Race and Racism...
00:15:11.17\00:15:14.01
these are not just vocabulary
words that you write five times
00:15:14.04\00:15:17.31
you put in a
sentence and define...
00:15:17.35\00:15:19.41
it's bigger than that,
we're dealing with, right now,
00:15:19.45\00:15:22.18
one of the
largest book distributors
00:15:22.22\00:15:24.72
in America, who
just published a book
00:15:24.75\00:15:27.22
where... and this is known,
00:15:27.26\00:15:28.89
we have several books now,
00:15:28.92\00:15:30.49
where you have slaves
who are happily baking
00:15:30.53\00:15:33.83
pies and cakes for the
President of the United States
00:15:33.86\00:15:37.10
we've taken the truth
00:15:37.13\00:15:39.17
of what has
happened to our culture
00:15:39.20\00:15:42.27
and our history, not
just Black people in America
00:15:42.30\00:15:45.07
in history, and we
have altered that history
00:15:45.11\00:15:48.44
to favor a group of
people, we can no longer do this
00:15:48.48\00:15:52.58
and so when you're talking about
00:15:52.61\00:15:54.58
how to speak to this experience
and teachers and how to heal,
00:15:54.65\00:15:58.39
if I may just
quote from my grandmother
00:15:58.42\00:16:00.86
it's as simple
as, "Do you care?"
00:16:00.89\00:16:03.22
People don't
care how much you know
00:16:03.26\00:16:05.06
until they know
how much you care,
00:16:05.09\00:16:06.83
I'll bet you any money
I ask in every interview
00:16:06.90\00:16:09.36
if I ask you right now
who was your favorite teacher?
00:16:09.40\00:16:11.87
It was not based
upon what color she was,
00:16:11.90\00:16:14.70
what race she was,
00:16:14.77\00:16:16.10
I'm sure there was a cultural
significance and relevance
00:16:16.14\00:16:18.81
when you see a
professional Black woman
00:16:18.84\00:16:20.48
as a Black child, of course,
00:16:20.51\00:16:21.94
but what we know is
when you care as a teacher,
00:16:21.98\00:16:25.91
children... they flock
to that, they understand it
00:16:25.95\00:16:29.88
and here is the
reality of the reverse
00:16:29.92\00:16:31.65
when you don't care, a
child knows that as well
00:16:31.69\00:16:35.16
so how do we heal?
00:16:35.19\00:16:37.03
Number one, we
have to understand
00:16:37.06\00:16:39.59
that you have to
teach children who they are
00:16:39.63\00:16:42.30
let them know
that they're great,
00:16:42.33\00:16:44.33
if you relegate
them to the ground
00:16:44.37\00:16:46.27
and tell them that
they're a bird, they can't fly,
00:16:46.30\00:16:48.44
they'll move like chickens
for the rest of their lives
00:16:48.47\00:16:51.07
but if you introduce them
to the eagle, they'll soar
00:16:51.11\00:16:53.44
and their quality of
life will be different
00:16:53.48\00:16:55.51
both birds... one soars,
one sticks to the ground,
00:16:55.54\00:16:58.71
both have a
calling and a purpose
00:16:58.75\00:17:00.15
one is eating a whole
lot more than the other,
00:17:00.18\00:17:02.65
and so what we
have to understand
00:17:02.68\00:17:04.69
is that we have to
first teach our children
00:17:04.72\00:17:06.96
all children... who
they are and then Number two,
00:17:06.99\00:17:09.89
we have to do this
in a very serious way,
00:17:09.92\00:17:12.23
Johnnetta B. Cole, I
quote her all the time,
00:17:12.26\00:17:14.53
she's said,
"I've met many teachers
00:17:14.56\00:17:16.80
who couldn't teach, but
I've yet to meet a child
00:17:16.87\00:17:19.00
that could not learn"
00:17:19.03\00:17:20.60
you said it clear,
00:17:20.64\00:17:21.97
every child... if
you're in my classroom
00:17:22.00\00:17:25.07
I don't care if you're
Latino, Chicano, Puerto Rican,
00:17:25.11\00:17:28.34
African American, Caucasian,
I have a responsibility
00:17:28.38\00:17:31.55
to teach, and what is teaching?
00:17:31.61\00:17:33.88
I have to care about
you, "How are you today?"
00:17:33.92\00:17:36.38
"No, you're not going
to get a D in my class,
00:17:36.42\00:17:38.89
I can't make
you do your homework
00:17:38.92\00:17:40.26
but I can inspire you to do it,"
00:17:40.32\00:17:42.82
we're dealing with a lot
of challenges in our schools
00:17:42.86\00:17:46.03
and I think that we have to
begin to unlayer and unpack this
00:17:46.06\00:17:48.83
through talking about
cultural significance.
00:17:48.86\00:17:50.77
That is so rich...
that is just so rich...
00:17:50.80\00:17:55.90
and I can see and
sense your passion about this
00:17:55.97\00:17:59.57
where did that come from,
00:17:59.61\00:18:01.48
give us a little
hint about your background
00:18:01.51\00:18:04.18
like... how did you get into
00:18:04.25\00:18:06.55
this whole movement
that you've embarked with?
00:18:06.58\00:18:09.72
I tell everyone
that it's a calling,
00:18:09.75\00:18:11.79
and I'm not apologetic, I
know I go into some schools
00:18:11.82\00:18:16.56
and they're like, "I
just felt something. "
00:18:16.59\00:18:18.63
I had a young man, he came to me
00:18:18.66\00:18:20.90
after I did a
Workshop at a school,
00:18:20.93\00:18:23.06
and he said, "I
can't put my finger on it,
00:18:23.13\00:18:25.60
but I feel
something in my heart"
00:18:25.63\00:18:27.90
and he continued to say it
00:18:27.94\00:18:30.07
and I knew he
couldn't explain it,
00:18:30.11\00:18:31.47
I said, "It's a real peace"
00:18:31.51\00:18:34.11
I grew up with both my parents,
00:18:34.14\00:18:36.64
my mother had me in
her first year in college,
00:18:36.68\00:18:39.98
my father didn't get the
opportunity, unfortunately,
00:18:40.02\00:18:43.42
to go to college but
he was a well-educated man
00:18:43.45\00:18:46.09
in the real,
non-traditional way,
00:18:46.12\00:18:48.36
education is... I
literally believe...
00:18:48.42\00:18:50.89
has been in my
blood, I tell everyone,
00:18:50.93\00:18:53.29
my mother having not
received one college degree
00:18:53.36\00:18:56.46
was the epitome of an Educator
00:18:56.50\00:18:58.53
I believe that our
parents are our first educators,
00:18:58.57\00:19:01.10
I believe that the aunty,
the mentor, the surrogate parent
00:19:01.14\00:19:04.57
before I walked into
Kindergarten to learn my colors,
00:19:04.61\00:19:08.41
my mother told me
my color mattered,
00:19:08.44\00:19:10.85
before I walked into
the first and second grades,
00:19:10.88\00:19:13.31
to add and
subtract, my dad made me clear
00:19:13.35\00:19:17.29
that life will add up
00:19:17.32\00:19:18.69
not always in the
way you wanted it to
00:19:18.72\00:19:20.49
but you should
never subtract yourself
00:19:20.56\00:19:22.29
from life, be present,
00:19:22.32\00:19:23.66
so I just came from
a history of educators
00:19:23.69\00:19:26.70
and I would be remiss
to not honestly say it,
00:19:26.73\00:19:29.83
growing up in
inner city Chicago,
00:19:29.86\00:19:31.50
having the experiences,
00:19:31.53\00:19:33.70
I just had to believe
that there was a better way
00:19:33.74\00:19:36.10
and I took offense
and insult to the fact
00:19:36.14\00:19:40.48
that children who look like me
00:19:40.51\00:19:41.94
were relegated to
things that were inferior
00:19:41.98\00:19:45.01
to what I was soon exposed to
00:19:45.05\00:19:46.92
it gave birth to
more of my calling
00:19:46.95\00:19:48.68
and God confirmed it
through His Holy Word.
00:19:48.72\00:19:51.99
Amen, you're
preaching today, I love it,
00:19:52.05\00:19:55.26
I love it because you
know, it's obvious that
00:19:55.29\00:20:00.10
the Lord has
called you to do this,
00:20:00.13\00:20:03.06
because of your
passion, and you're walking...
00:20:03.10\00:20:06.17
on this Program we call it
"Walking in your divine destiny"
00:20:06.23\00:20:10.11
you are walking in
your divine destiny
00:20:10.14\00:20:12.31
you are doing what you
were put on the planet to do
00:20:12.34\00:20:14.81
and that is...
00:20:14.84\00:20:16.18
to help children to
realize who they are,
00:20:16.21\00:20:19.58
who they are and
what they can do,
00:20:19.61\00:20:22.42
I think, you
know, on this Program...
00:20:22.45\00:20:24.79
on Urban Report,
and on Dare to Dream,
00:20:24.82\00:20:27.12
that... even the name itself
00:20:27.16\00:20:28.76
is indicative of
what we're about,
00:20:28.82\00:20:30.63
but it's about the fact that
God has a plan for each of us,
00:20:30.66\00:20:34.66
and no one is
less than anyone else,
00:20:34.70\00:20:36.93
we are all a part
of this great tapestry,
00:20:36.97\00:20:39.90
and God has an individual
plan for each individual
00:20:39.93\00:20:45.34
and when a child
realizes that they are purposed
00:20:45.37\00:20:47.54
and that there is
something for them,
00:20:47.58\00:20:50.68
it's just so life
enhancing and enriching.
00:20:50.71\00:20:53.62
Yes...
00:20:53.65\00:20:55.08
What do you see as
your primary challenge
00:20:55.12\00:20:58.95
in getting this
message of healing to people?
00:20:58.99\00:21:02.92
It's just such
an issue right now
00:21:02.96\00:21:05.56
of... you know, we're
used to the buzz words
00:21:05.59\00:21:08.70
we like the buzz
words, we like meritocracy,
00:21:08.73\00:21:11.83
you get to the next
level based upon your merit
00:21:11.87\00:21:14.54
and we know that's not true,
00:21:14.57\00:21:16.17
we know that over
half of Ivy League Schools
00:21:16.20\00:21:19.41
are... there exists... legacy...
00:21:19.44\00:21:22.81
there's a "legacy clause"
00:21:22.84\00:21:24.31
we ask who you know at
this university for a reason
00:21:24.35\00:21:27.65
we want to know if
your granddaddy went here
00:21:27.68\00:21:29.48
we want to give you access
to Harvard and Yale and Brown
00:21:29.52\00:21:33.09
well the problem with that is,
00:21:33.12\00:21:34.86
as a Brown woman, I
didn't get access to Brown
00:21:34.89\00:21:37.59
a hundred years
ago, so what we know,
00:21:37.63\00:21:40.56
what we know, is
that... the reality is...
00:21:40.60\00:21:43.77
an issue of access,
00:21:43.80\00:21:45.37
so we have to quit
it with the buzzwords
00:21:45.40\00:21:47.84
if I must just say it like that,
00:21:47.87\00:21:49.54
and I think that people
are looking for standardization
00:21:49.57\00:21:52.51
so when we're talking
about how do we get in
00:21:52.54\00:21:55.31
and how do we make more
moves and how do we do things,
00:21:55.34\00:21:58.91
my biggest challenge, I believe,
00:21:58.95\00:22:01.22
so far, has been, talking about
00:22:01.28\00:22:03.49
how to deal with the
history of African Americans
00:22:03.52\00:22:07.42
who've been relegated
to inferiority situations,
00:22:07.46\00:22:11.33
denied access,
not given opportunity
00:22:11.36\00:22:14.50
and that being a
welcoming message,
00:22:14.53\00:22:17.23
because when you
come in, and you say,
00:22:17.27\00:22:19.93
"Hey, there's some...
00:22:19.97\00:22:21.57
there's potential some
cultural malpractice here"
00:22:21.60\00:22:23.54
you know, when
we have to be clear
00:22:23.57\00:22:25.54
about what this is, we
have too many, in my belief,
00:22:25.57\00:22:30.35
we have a lot of individuals
who are trapped in bureaucracy
00:22:30.38\00:22:34.75
let's be clear,
there are a lot of teachers
00:22:34.78\00:22:37.82
who stay after work to
6 or 7 o'clock at night
00:22:37.85\00:22:40.66
they take from their
children's budget at home
00:22:40.69\00:22:43.43
to buy crayons for
that student in class,
00:22:43.46\00:22:45.76
there are
Administrators who are entrapped
00:22:45.79\00:22:48.03
through the standardization
federal regulations and laws,
00:22:48.06\00:22:50.77
who are... their
creativity is handicapped
00:22:50.80\00:22:54.67
because the law says,
00:22:54.70\00:22:56.94
they have to
teach... to the text
00:22:57.01\00:22:59.37
so the biggest
obstacles before not just me,
00:22:59.41\00:23:03.04
as us educators, is
the policy that exists
00:23:03.08\00:23:05.51
that continue to
perpetuate standardization
00:23:05.55\00:23:10.09
as a means for matriculation
when we already know
00:23:10.12\00:23:13.56
that standardization is not
a reflection of my intellect
00:23:13.59\00:23:16.83
and my capacity to perform
00:23:16.86\00:23:18.76
so I say that in
a very simple way
00:23:18.79\00:23:21.20
very simply...
"we need creativity"
00:23:21.23\00:23:23.57
it's what's building America
right now, we're on Skype,
00:23:23.60\00:23:26.07
that's creative,
00:23:26.10\00:23:27.70
somebody had to determine
there's a better way to talk
00:23:27.74\00:23:30.31
without having to
be on the telephone
00:23:30.34\00:23:32.17
and being able
to see each other,
00:23:32.24\00:23:34.01
we need the same
operation in classrooms.
00:23:34.04\00:23:35.94
That is great, that is
great, what would you say
00:23:36.01\00:23:38.88
to the person who says,
00:23:38.91\00:23:40.25
"What are you
talking about access...
00:23:40.28\00:23:42.15
I mean, you got all kinds
of scholarships and things
00:23:42.18\00:23:45.89
available for minorities,
00:23:45.92\00:23:47.82
sometimes it seems like
00:23:47.86\00:23:49.69
other kids can't even get in
00:23:49.72\00:23:52.69
because minorities are
taking up the scholarships,
00:23:52.73\00:23:55.76
why is access still an issue
00:23:55.80\00:23:59.40
when a lot of people would say,
00:23:59.43\00:24:01.30
"No, it's not... I mean...
00:24:01.34\00:24:02.67
we're living in... we
have a Black President,
00:24:02.70\00:24:04.51
so, what are you talking about,
00:24:04.57\00:24:07.11
we live in a
post racial America"
00:24:07.14\00:24:08.94
what would you say to that?
00:24:08.98\00:24:10.31
Very simply, me being
in a room and at the table,
00:24:10.35\00:24:13.72
doesn't mean that
I'm not on the menu"
00:24:13.75\00:24:15.08
period, and so what we have
00:24:15.12\00:24:18.12
to understand about "access"
is, me being in the room
00:24:18.15\00:24:21.02
is not giving me the
authority to maneuver the room,
00:24:21.09\00:24:23.93
when I speak of "access"
we're still in the United States
00:24:23.96\00:24:28.90
looking at universities
that have a six percent
00:24:28.93\00:24:31.53
average of minority
faculty, six percent,
00:24:31.60\00:24:35.07
University of
Illinois, my alma mater,
00:24:35.10\00:24:38.54
I loved my experience
but we have yet to cap out at
00:24:38.57\00:24:41.28
more than ten percent
African Americans at the school,
00:24:41.31\00:24:44.01
why is that?
00:24:44.05\00:24:45.38
We have to open
the door a little wider
00:24:45.41\00:24:47.58
and it's not just this...
00:24:47.62\00:24:49.52
again these buzz
words, of affirmative action
00:24:49.55\00:24:52.72
you see... these
things were built because
00:24:52.75\00:24:55.29
deny... thinks of
what we were denied,
00:24:55.32\00:24:57.73
so what will we
say, I would say that
00:24:57.76\00:25:00.10
when we think about the
Fortune 500 Companies today
00:25:00.13\00:25:02.83
how many African
Americans...? Last I checked
00:25:02.86\00:25:05.43
out of 500... there were six,
00:25:05.47\00:25:07.27
in the United States Senate,
00:25:07.30\00:25:09.04
how many African
Americans are there right now?
00:25:09.07\00:25:11.37
Last I checked, there
was one with a possibility
00:25:11.41\00:25:13.68
it was like a gang of spades,
one in impossible... you know...
00:25:13.71\00:25:16.64
so, what we have to do is,
00:25:16.68\00:25:18.81
we have to open the door
00:25:18.85\00:25:20.88
and that's why we here
at Blackademically Speaking,
00:25:20.92\00:25:22.95
we want to give a
child... opportunity,
00:25:22.98\00:25:25.49
I believe, I'll share
this simple story with you
00:25:25.52\00:25:27.99
as we begin to look at
the other portion of this,
00:25:28.02\00:25:30.49
I was in a
classroom with a child...
00:25:30.53\00:25:32.99
and, you know, bottom line is
00:25:33.03\00:25:35.40
I had her daughter to
come to the classroom with her
00:25:35.43\00:25:38.50
while I was
teaching at the University,
00:25:38.53\00:25:39.87
today, this young lady
remembers that experience
00:25:39.90\00:25:43.10
she was eight-years-old then,
00:25:43.14\00:25:45.07
she's now a
Scholar in high school
00:25:45.11\00:25:47.31
and she tells me when
she sees me, "I remember... "
00:25:47.34\00:25:50.31
because the one
thing I did with her,
00:25:50.35\00:25:51.75
I gave her access to the board,
I'm a university professor,
00:25:51.78\00:25:55.45
teaching my university
students, her mother being one,
00:25:55.48\00:25:57.95
her mom couldn't
afford childcare completely,
00:25:58.02\00:26:00.42
I allowed her to bring the child
00:26:00.46\00:26:01.82
and she would do homework
off in another area of the room
00:26:01.86\00:26:05.06
and some days I would
invite her to go to the board
00:26:05.09\00:26:07.70
in front of the
class, as the future...
00:26:07.73\00:26:09.40
she remembers that experience,
00:26:09.43\00:26:11.20
access is
authentic, it's genuine,
00:26:11.23\00:26:13.94
it's not built upon
statistical data that says,
00:26:13.97\00:26:16.40
that you need to be here
because you're African American
00:26:16.44\00:26:19.31
it's authentically
connected to realizing
00:26:19.34\00:26:22.08
that this Country changing,
00:26:22.11\00:26:23.45
and there are a lot of
gifted people in America
00:26:23.48\00:26:26.28
God didn't mix
us based on color,
00:26:26.31\00:26:28.22
He didn't give us
gifts based upon how we look,
00:26:28.28\00:26:30.99
He gifted us because of His love
00:26:31.02\00:26:34.12
and that's what we have to
do when we think about access,
00:26:34.16\00:26:37.16
and it has to be
authentic and genuine.
00:26:37.23\00:26:38.59
In the last minute that we have,
00:26:38.63\00:26:40.93
please tell us
about the healing tour.
00:26:40.96\00:26:43.70
Very simply, our
children are in peril,
00:26:43.73\00:26:46.40
we've discussed
it, I'm the promise,
00:26:46.43\00:26:48.37
we want to be the promise,
00:26:48.40\00:26:49.74
we want to represent the promise
00:26:49.77\00:26:51.11
so schools throughout America
can give us a call 855-651-3337
00:26:51.14\00:26:55.38
and we're
sweeping through America,
00:26:55.41\00:26:56.75
healing our children,
00:26:56.78\00:26:58.11
with Workshops... Professional
Development Sessions
00:26:58.15\00:27:00.02
and our Teachers need healing,
00:27:00.05\00:27:01.38
they're on the brink of
a lot of problems at home,
00:27:01.42\00:27:04.32
and they may
need to be encouraged,
00:27:04.35\00:27:05.75
our Administrators
with whom we're doing
00:27:05.79\00:27:07.89
all school assemblies,
00:27:07.92\00:27:09.26
we're going into
the schools and jails
00:27:09.29\00:27:11.03
to empower our children,
we want to be the promise,
00:27:11.06\00:27:13.90
we want them to know
00:27:13.93\00:27:15.26
that if they're in
unloving situations,
00:27:15.30\00:27:18.17
we want to be the love,
00:27:18.20\00:27:19.60
I believe that we'll give them
everything they need as an aside
00:27:19.63\00:27:22.87
to their high school
and college experience
00:27:22.90\00:27:25.91
so they can give us a call
00:27:25.94\00:27:27.28
we want to heal.
Website: www. drchandragill. com
00:27:27.31\00:27:28.64
That's awesome,
00:27:28.68\00:27:30.01
thank you so
much for being with us
00:27:30.05\00:27:31.41
you have really given
us some amazing insight
00:27:31.45\00:27:34.88
and we appreciate your passion
00:27:34.92\00:27:37.29
and your competence,
00:27:37.32\00:27:38.65
thank you so much
and God bless you.
00:27:38.69\00:27:40.46
Thank you, God bless
you too, thank you so much.
00:27:40.49\00:27:42.82
We need more
educators like Dr. Gill,
00:27:42.86\00:27:45.33
what a blessing she's been.
00:27:45.36\00:27:47.00
Well, we've reached
the end of another Program,
00:27:47.03\00:27:49.16
I can't believe that our time
has just flown by so quickly
00:27:49.20\00:27:53.60
but make sure you
join us next time,
00:27:53.64\00:27:56.10
because you know what?
00:27:56.14\00:27:57.47
It just wouldn't be
the same without you.
00:27:57.51\00:28:00.68