Teaching While Black

Pamela Lewis is a schoolteacher in New York City.

• Introduction Chapter 1: Invisible Woman: A Teacher's Fade to Black Chapter 2: The Honeymoon Song Chapter 3: Chapter 3: Love Don't Live Here Anymore Chapter 4: Chapter 4: I'm Looking for a New Love, Baby Chapter 5: Chapter Five: Caught Out There Chapter 6: Invisible Epilogue

"Pamela Lewis is a brilliant young writer and teacher. In combining these two loves, Ms. Lewis has brought to the world as authentic urban narrative about life as a teacher in public education as we have ever seen. Her story is far more compelling than many other books written by teachers because Ms. Lewis takes us so vividly through an urban young Black woman's journey from the anticipation of going to college and becoming a teacher. Teaching While Black accomplishes all of this with a purposeful mix of street smarts and intellectual observations that far exceed her years. This is a must read for those who want an insider's view on the real day to day inside the classroom. It is especially useful for those who have either forgotten, or never know what it is like to navigate the rough terrain of public school teaching in the 21st century." -- -Stuart Rhoden Arizona State University "A captivating read. Lewis' real, honest, broad yet thorough approach exposes so much of what must be known about the experiences of teaching in an urban public school setting. Lewis opens a door, not just into her classroom, but into her heart." -- -Adam Goldberg Special Needs educator and Apple Distinguished Educator "I am unaware of any book written in a style that is comparable to Teaching While Black, which focuses on public schools in the Bronx from the perspective of a woman of color on the front lines and in the trenches. Lewis provides educators of color with a better sense of how to advocate for themselves and for the children, parents, and communities they serve." -- -Lori Martin author of Big Box Schools: Race, Education, and the Danger of the Wal-Martization of Public Schools in America "Ms. Lewis, in this must read tome, highlights how all people are not one identity." -The Huffington Post "A powerful read. Lewis offers insight as a practitioner, while stroking her pen with the skill of a poet. Teaching While Black makes the case for culturally-relevant pedagogy and diversity in curriculum. Lewis is the student turned educator who is embedded. She brings you into urban school communities in a way that other writers of education simply cannot." -- -Michael Partis Instructor at CUNY BMCC's Center for Ethnic Studies and Director of Research and Policy at Young Movement Inc.