Or Equivalent: Milwaukee Mistake
Hey y'all you may have read about my involvement with an ALA accredited equity case in Milwaukee:
Then they rescinded the offer.
I have a string of expletives a mile long. This chaos cost me the roof over my head, the earning potential for my family and provides another example of the high scrutiny Black female leaders endure, where the goal is to wield “an ugly and effective weapon to blunt the power of Black women, to suggest through word and attitude that she will never be enough, that she will never belong in the halls of power.” But let's direct our focus on my response to the utter dumpster fire my life has bloomed into because I chose to lead in my profession...again.
1. Degree biases and inequity. Saying that only ALA accreditation degree holders apply enforces a higher educational expense, shows an outward prejudice against near identical degree coursework and conflicts with an integral belief that librarians embrace intellectual freedom because it amplifies that only select institutions meet their requirements in an elitist fashion. It comes across as a censorship of intellect and snobbish to say the least. These folks in Milwaukee acted like my degree had a virus of some sort. I have CAEP (Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation and Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) because my background is in education. If any one of those council members and/or mayor attended public schools, this is a slap in your former educator's face.
2. The humiliation of not being enough.
One of my joys in the hopes of leading Milwaukee libraries is that it combined many facets of me: a strong arts and music conviction, the love of Black and German cultures and the immense support the city had for its libraries until now. One of my favorite songs right now is Du bist gut genug = You are good enough.
Never in my life did I think I'd be welcomed as an "unqualified outsider" to Milwaukee, which is how I was treated and was informed how the council members viewed me leading up to today's infamous confirmation hearing that I am no longer allowed to participate as a candidate. In this case, my years of experience in the community as a school librarian was for nothing.
Being the sole-information literacy source for thousands of students, faculty and staff didn't mean squat to a city of approximately 700k. We have former teachers that can lead as govenors like in Minnesota or Delaware, but a school librarian administrator becoming a public librarian director is the ultimate insult for the city of Milwaukee? Think about how the Milwaukee resident that saw this position open, recommended I apply for it, celebrated the joy with me when I was chosen just to feel the humiliation that is almost as equitable to my own. That this now regretful experience is associated with my credentials, name and advocacy efforts.
The article that tried to labeled me inexperienced in public librarianship was written by a pundit named Jeramey Jannene. Me a PUBLIC school LIBRARIAN turned library LEADER who eventually became a library ADMINISTRATOR didn't have professional experience in my 13 years as a librarian and almost 25 years as a public school EDUCATOR. Dude, your implication of anything other than qualified reeks of maggot machinations and demonstrates a daftness of inexplicable proportions. Do you even know the requirements to be a school or public librarian? Have a library card?
Quite honestly, and since this writer speaks out of turn about a field they (i.e. journalists, council members, aldermen/alderwomen, etc.) have little to no experience in, they can "kiss my grits."
3. Respecting the law.
I remember, an ALA accredited degree or equivalent was in the original job posting. I did not take a screenshot on June 2, 2026 when I applied for the job, therefore I do not have evidence. But listen up, they had 3 months to investigate, interview and inquire about me.
I would have never applied if "or equivalent" wasn't on the original job posting. I have encountered an infinite amount of library job openings that mandate an ALA-accredited degree. It is like a "whites only" sign but in "literacy code." It's a strong analogy but it aligns with how it feels when you don't have it and are a single-income provider that's already earned the same degree from another university. There's data that supports the costly price of accreditation.
However, my point is this: Wisconsin state law (link) allows 2 pathways to obtain the accreditation public library administrators need to lead the libraries:
Simply put if they wanted me, then all the mayor had to do was follow the law. All Milwaukee council members had to do was follow the law if they wanted to confirm my appointment. All they had to do is accept my years of successful library leadership and Masters of School Library and Information Science degree. Read and follow the law. Simple reading comprehension, civic duty and legal adherence. That's it.
But we live in a society now where laws are not followed; where council members bully or silence voices in their communities; where information doesn't need to be credible; where school librarians are bound in censorship; and where accreditation is used as a weapon.
Du bist nicht gut genug = You are not good enough
Milwaukee you made a mistake. It wasn't me that wasn't good enough. But you.
PROST.
Then they rescinded the offer.
I have a string of expletives a mile long. This chaos cost me the roof over my head, the earning potential for my family and provides another example of the high scrutiny Black female leaders endure, where the goal is to wield “an ugly and effective weapon to blunt the power of Black women, to suggest through word and attitude that she will never be enough, that she will never belong in the halls of power.” But let's direct our focus on my response to the utter dumpster fire my life has bloomed into because I chose to lead in my profession...again.
1. Degree biases and inequity. Saying that only ALA accreditation degree holders apply enforces a higher educational expense, shows an outward prejudice against near identical degree coursework and conflicts with an integral belief that librarians embrace intellectual freedom because it amplifies that only select institutions meet their requirements in an elitist fashion. It comes across as a censorship of intellect and snobbish to say the least. These folks in Milwaukee acted like my degree had a virus of some sort. I have CAEP (Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation and Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) because my background is in education. If any one of those council members and/or mayor attended public schools, this is a slap in your former educator's face.
2. The humiliation of not being enough.
One of my joys in the hopes of leading Milwaukee libraries is that it combined many facets of me: a strong arts and music conviction, the love of Black and German cultures and the immense support the city had for its libraries until now. One of my favorite songs right now is Du bist gut genug = You are good enough.
Never in my life did I think I'd be welcomed as an "unqualified outsider" to Milwaukee, which is how I was treated and was informed how the council members viewed me leading up to today's infamous confirmation hearing that I am no longer allowed to participate as a candidate. In this case, my years of experience in the community as a school librarian was for nothing.
Being the sole-information literacy source for thousands of students, faculty and staff didn't mean squat to a city of approximately 700k. We have former teachers that can lead as govenors like in Minnesota or Delaware, but a school librarian administrator becoming a public librarian director is the ultimate insult for the city of Milwaukee? Think about how the Milwaukee resident that saw this position open, recommended I apply for it, celebrated the joy with me when I was chosen just to feel the humiliation that is almost as equitable to my own. That this now regretful experience is associated with my credentials, name and advocacy efforts.
The article that tried to labeled me inexperienced in public librarianship was written by a pundit named Jeramey Jannene. Me a PUBLIC school LIBRARIAN turned library LEADER who eventually became a library ADMINISTRATOR didn't have professional experience in my 13 years as a librarian and almost 25 years as a public school EDUCATOR. Dude, your implication of anything other than qualified reeks of maggot machinations and demonstrates a daftness of inexplicable proportions. Do you even know the requirements to be a school or public librarian? Have a library card?
Quite honestly, and since this writer speaks out of turn about a field they (i.e. journalists, council members, aldermen/alderwomen, etc.) have little to no experience in, they can "kiss my grits."
3. Respecting the law.
I remember, an ALA accredited degree or equivalent was in the original job posting. I did not take a screenshot on June 2, 2026 when I applied for the job, therefore I do not have evidence. But listen up, they had 3 months to investigate, interview and inquire about me.
I would have never applied if "or equivalent" wasn't on the original job posting. I have encountered an infinite amount of library job openings that mandate an ALA-accredited degree. It is like a "whites only" sign but in "literacy code." It's a strong analogy but it aligns with how it feels when you don't have it and are a single-income provider that's already earned the same degree from another university. There's data that supports the costly price of accreditation.
However, my point is this: Wisconsin state law (link) allows 2 pathways to obtain the accreditation public library administrators need to lead the libraries:
Simply put if they wanted me, then all the mayor had to do was follow the law. All Milwaukee council members had to do was follow the law if they wanted to confirm my appointment. All they had to do is accept my years of successful library leadership and Masters of School Library and Information Science degree. Read and follow the law. Simple reading comprehension, civic duty and legal adherence. That's it.
But we live in a society now where laws are not followed; where council members bully or silence voices in their communities; where information doesn't need to be credible; where school librarians are bound in censorship; and where accreditation is used as a weapon.
Du bist nicht gut genug = You are not good enough
Milwaukee you made a mistake. It wasn't me that wasn't good enough. But you.
PROST.
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