What do I do when I cannot say “equity”?

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Photo by Jon Tyson on Unsplash

Earlier this week, a columnist openly debated as to whether she should follow through with her commitment of writing a book review for The Washington Post.¹

The dilemma is due to Jeff Bezos, the owner of the newspaper (and Amazon), capitulating to the new administration. His most recent move was to announce to staffers that they would be writing about “personal liberties and free markets”, and that any content that countered that narrative should be published elsewhere. Previously, he squashed the newspaper’s decision to endorse Kamala Harris.²

Although not the same situation, school leaders and teachers are facing somewhat similar challenges. They are told by people above them not to use words such as “equity”, “diversity”, and related terms.

How do educators fully engage in their work under these conditions, especially when these topics are at the center of what they do?

Next are some considerations as you navigate the politics of education in uncertain times.