I received an invitation in February to speak at an educational research symposium at a local university in April 2025. While excited, I was also nervous, given our current social and political climate. During this time of uncertainty, people are more mindful of how they use their voices. Throughout my professional life, I’ve talked about justice, fairness, equity, culturally responsive practices, and leadership. So, I started the talk with a quote from Maggie Kuhn, “Speak the truth, even if your voice shakes.” Maggie, a civil rights advocate for older people, started the Gray Panthers organization. Given our current context, these words certainly ring true today.
I’ll be honest. Whenever I have had the opportunity to speak the truth, I have not always done it. Sometimes, I felt strong, but other times, I felt unsure. Those were the times that my voice trembled, but at least I spoke. Sometimes, my voice moved others to action. Other times, it fell on deaf ears. At times, what I had to say was low stakes, but other times it came with a high price of discomfort and ostracism.
As a former educator, administrator, professor, district equity leader, and now author and consultant, I’ve spent my life trying to reconcile the tension between what is and what could be. My work is grounded in justice, and recently, that justice feels under threat.
In the current climate, there have been efforts to remove the term “woke” from the American lexicon. Critical Race Theory (CRT) has been banned from K-12 education despite never being a part of the K-12 curriculum. The framework is found in higher education and the legal field. Books have been banned. In some states, Advanced Placement Black History has been removed from curricula.
In addition, specific language referencing diversity, equity, and inclusion have been removed from federal websites. Dismantling the federal Department of Education has made K-12 and higher education uncertain as universities, states, and districts seek to make sense of the new normal. Things are happening fast causing panic and defeat.
In these challenging times, the question is: Where is my voice, and how will I use it?
I had been thinking about the complexities in equity work far before we reached our federal administration’s efforts to reverse equity progress. My new book, The Complexities of Equity: Navigating Shades of Gray in Schools and Organizations, grapples with the complex nature of moving forward in the face of resistance.
The Equity Empowerment Continuum (EEC) provides a way to understand the complexities of justice work. It acknowledges that change is non-linear, that resistance will always exist, but that persistence is key. The framework outlines four phases—white, light gray, dark gray, and black—with identifiers that describe actions which either detract or empower more equitable outcomes for all. The white phase of the EEC is classified as avoiding issues of fairness, providing misinformation to disorient people, and dialing back any progress already made. In the gray phase, individuals and organizations may exhibit performative allyship, overanalyze inequities that always existed, or stall actions by “kicking the can down the road.” The dark gray phase is desirable as it provides viable strategies to move forward in the face of resistance to justice. In this phase, you must maximize your spheres of influence and commit to written accountability. Justice lives in the black phase where aspiration always exists, movements are born, and comprehensive codifications provide pathways for justice for ALL.
Maximizing windows of opportunity is critical in advancing justice. Some windows open briefly during moments when people are ready for change. But if we’re not careful, those windows close. In recent months, we’ve seen the metaphorical window slam shut on progress and possibility.
However, we must find our voices. Some voices will be loud and bold, while others may be more quiet and subtle. Either way, if you are truly an advocate for fairness and justice, you won’t be mute in these times.
We must find our voices
In the meantime, here are some tips to incorporate into your practice to help you navigate these trying times.
Embed Equity into Everyday Practice
While specific words are being deleted from public platforms, your actions should exemplify fairness and justice. Labels may define the work, but actions embody the work. Be consistent and thoughtful in your actions.
Speak Through Universal Values
Centering the concepts of dignity, fairness, and opportunity in politically charged environments provides universal impact. Leading with shared values invites dialogue and keeps the work moving, even in tense times.
Prioritize Wellness
Even while there may be more overt resistance, tending to your physical, emotional, and mental needs, as well as the needs of others, can create sustainability. To speak your truth, you need both wellness and the strength to guard your energy. Justice work is demanding, and self-care is part of the work, not a pause from it.
Chronicle Change
Keep personal journals to chronicle what is happening during these times. Reflect on how current restrictions and resistance impact teaching, learning, and leadership. Identify how you and others maintain a commitment to justice. These archived experiences and narratives will be important history to initiate future policy shifts.
Ultimately, keep children at the center. As educators, if we lose sight of them, we’ve lost everything! Justice cannot be legislated away. It might be resisted. It might be delayed. But it is inevitable. So, find your voice. Speak the truth—even if your voice shakes.
