How often have you been told that your job as an educator is to take care of your students or staff? To inspire them to do better (whatever “better” actually means)? That the best thing you could do for them is put them first?
That you should put your head down and do the work, that you shouldn’t reach for more than what’s already been “given” to you because you got a good job with benefits.
You should be humble.
Here’s the problem with that word…
Being humble implies you’re supposed to sit there and know your worth quietly, without making waves, without making anyone, god forbid, uncomfortable. When your identity has been marginalized in this country, you do not have the luxury of “being humble”.
You have to tell people who you are and let them know your receipts. And it’s not bragging, it’s stating facts.
I think it is well past time we let that “be humble” narrative go because that sh*t leads to minimizing yourself and playing small. The system was not built to give us money, power, or respect…but it’s ours for the taking.