Jean Darnell: Awaken Librarian

Welcome to my final blog post!!! A lot of colleagues, friends and associates have asked my thoughts on the state of society and education right now. You can't even understand my exhaustion...especially after being let-go for "budgetary" reasons, though it is a predominantly white institution that hasn't ever had a BIPOC in a position of leadership, excluding assistant principals for discipline. Initially, my anger blocked my rational writing, but since Covid-19 shut down America, I had to reconcile ending my career in education. Simply put, I loathe the ceilings, the overwhelming racism in education and librarianship. I have nothing left to give a career intentionally excluding me. They couldn't attack my work, but they did attack my person, psyche and peace. For the longest, I didn't answer folks when they asked me about racism. I felt like this article: " I'm your Black friend, but I won't educate you about racism. That's on you. ...

Happy Black History Month! I'm so thankful to highlight the contributions of these Americans! It's everyone's history...with a well deserved emphasis on those marginalized over the years! Now that I'm working at the best magnet arts campus in Houston, Gregory-Lincoln Education Center for the Visual and Performance Arts , I can't stop bragging about all the wonderful extra-curricular opportunities here! On Tuesday, February 28, beginning at 5:30 pm, come celebrate BHM with us! We'll even have our own "Barack and Michelle Obama!" PSA for GLEC's Black History play! from AwakenLibrarian on Vimeo . For those of you that didn't know, I've long wanted to be a playwright! So, for our "Black History" program, I wrote one! Because I secretly wanted to be a dancer as a young girl, and when challenged by a student that I couldn't waltz, I had to make him eat a little "humble pie!" Waltz on over to our #BlackHistor...

Before I begin, I must caution you: This post is for those 12 and up, questioning societal issues!! I overheard some students discussing their rights to protest during their extracurricular events. I didn't reprimand them, because (1) I was eavesdropping and what I heard wasn't dangerous; (2) it's ingrained in my librarian soul for students to exercise their rights to "intellectual freedom," SAFELY; and (3) I was on my way home for the evening. My mind blocked me from educator role; it was focused on leftover, homemade Swedish meatballs! Lol! Nevertheless, I kept tossing and turning that night in bed because I wondered if those students acted on their feelings...and HOW! Before I knew it, I jumped out of my bed looking for resources. I had to teach them how to organize their thoughts and release their emotions in a productive way. In my midnight scurry, I pop outta bed and hurried then obsessively buried my thoughts in Teaching Tolerance's The Soun...

Yesterday was Coretta Scott King's Birthday ...if you're amiss to who she is check this out: Now that you're familiar...on Mrs. King's birthday, I received notification that a LONG-TIME dream of mine came true...beginning this summer, I will be on the Coretta Scott King Book Award Committee! HALLELUJAH! I can't express how excited I am, but you know I had to share with those who've always supported my role as a librarian...YOU! Apr 27- #CorettaScottKing 's bday-I received word that I'm selected to serve in the #CSKbookaward committee! #txlchat pic.twitter.com/PnpugTwnHu — AwakenLibrarian (@awakenlibrarian) April 28, 2016 This "brown girl's dreaming!" Thank you @ALALibrary #CorettaScottKing comm for selecting me! @FBISD_Libraries #FBISD pic.twitter.com/ulTml5P6gH — AwakenLibrarian (@awakenlibrarian) April 28, 2016 @awakenlibrarian OMG! OMG! My LIFE's DREAM ! U GO WITH YOUR BAD SELF pic.twitter.com/1jKVbhUBhy ...

I must begin this month with this tweet: Reminder: Black history doesn't begin with American slavery & doesn't end at the Civil Rights movement. #BlackHistoryMonth — Nichole (@tnwhiskeywoman) February 1, 2016 It's a privilege to celebrate the beauty of my heritage this month! I'm beginning with a Modern Black History Museum on campus: Here's a video explanation: African-American Inventors: *Kiddos, be sure that you pay attention to these videos to participate in our BHM trivia! Your correct response will win this LOVELY gift bag: Now for the solemnity of this celebratory month...in the midst of the fervor via social media #BlackLivesMatter , #OscarsSoWhite , #SmilingSlave , I'm using this post to celebrate history, collectively and individually. However, I will begin with my beloved friend, Vanessa Brantley Newton, singing. She saw past the horrors of slavery (the extremities and limited liberties) to embrace the many smiles of a human...

There are some days that you anticipate and fantasize about: Christmas as a kid, wedding days as adults, birth of children as parents. Yesterday, I had one of those days...better than Christmas, definitely better than my wedding day --as I'm happily divorced, and just shy of the birth of my children! I had the wonderful Vanessa Brantley Newton in my library. Ever since I read her and Thelma Godin's Hula Hoopin' Queen , I've been in love! Less than 24 hrs ago, my dream came true. Miss Vee showed up like a calm sunrise and then shook the heavens with her amazing author/illustrator presentation! I still have wondrous chills when I think about it! Please look below and enjoy the highlights from her visit as it forever changed my and my students' lives! Principal & Vanessa Assistant Principal & Vanessa Me & my Soul Sister Just like myself, Vanessa is passionate about the need for DIVERSE BOOKS and granted me a brief glimpse into her passionate sta...

Americans across the country are celebrating the life and actions of Dr. Martin Luther King. Though I'm proud to take part in the celebration of his, and all Americans' plight, black and white, I'm a little down-trodden. I think Langston Hughes' poem, "Let America Be America, Again" sums my feelings up best! Happy MLK day! Please pick up the torch and carry on his, OUR dream, America! Let America Be America Again by Langston Hughes Let America be America again. Let it be the dream it used to be. Let it be the pioneer on the plain Seeking a home where he himself is free. (America never was America to me.) Let America be the dream the dreamers dreamed— Let it be that great strong land of love Where never kings connive nor tyrants scheme That any man be crushed by one above. (It never was America to me.) O, let my land be a land where Liberty Is crowned with no false patriotic wreath, But opportunity is real, and life is free, Equality is in the ...