I consider myself to be the guru of diverse books, the culturally diverse library queen, the bomb book lady… but the truth is, my scope and expertise in this area are limited to elementary novels and picture books, depicting illustrations, and working around a school library with preschoolers to 10 year old’s, hoping to open their eyes on who they are, where they came from, and all the potential that lies within. Before I got to this point though, I was a classroom teacher. I taught first, and second grades and I remember one day just sitting there and being frustrated with the basil reader we were mandated to take reading lessons from…Everything felt watered down, inaccurate, and lacked engagement. I was as unmotivated as the kids and looking to do something to change it.
I thought focusing on the curriculum would be all I had to do to solve this issue, but it was and always has been deeper than that. I surveyed my school staff on cultural and racial biases and the results were revealing. It showed that educators lack the training on diversity and cultural literacy in college preparation programs, and also showed that because of that, coupled with their personal experiences and backgrounds, they continued to hold on to certain racial and cultural biases that were directly impacting the way they are educating our children. Directly impacting the materials chosen to be in front of our children. Directly impacting the way our children see themselves, loves themselves, and excel in education.
So, what does one do when they want to learn more and dig deeper? They go back to school. I began my Masters program at USF with an eager passion to learn more about how I could impact our children with more culturally diverse materials, lessons, and experiences throughout school. I combined K6 education courses with Library Media courses to leave USF with a Masters in Elementary Education, a Graduate certificate in Teacher Leadership and a focus on multicultural literature. The more I took library courses that dug deep into literature, it’s short comings, and how we can improve it, I knew what I needed to do. Get into a school library. The chances of me being able to change the entire districts choice for curriculum weren’t very high, but if I could get into a school library, I could transform an entire school. We will get to the school library profession and its lack of diversity in a future blog…
6 years into the Library Media Specialist role in an elementary school, and every day is still a learning experience on how I can reach children. Each generation comes with its differences, each grade level, each age group, each culture.
I’ve learned that literature plays a significant role in the development of cultural awareness and understanding. Up until recently, the last decade or so, we see the increase in cultural turmoil in our world, thus we also find a loud call from authors, illustrators, writers, publishers, librarians, and even teachers to increase the diversity in the materials we are putting in front of everyone, especially our children…We know they are the vulnerable eyes taking in the constant images of racism, cultural appropriation, police brutality, and war. They are the ones we need to ensure we reach…in our schools, our libraries, our textbooks, our media.
Through a recent scholarship essay, I heard from numerous high schoolers who were disappointed in the way their school’s embrace cultural diversity, especially in their libraries. A 12th grader in Maryland said “I reside in a small, predominately white community with small representation of black culture accommodated in the school settings. Culturally relevant literature is not shown or conversated enough throughout my school.” Another student from Tampa, FL said “Having culturally relevant literature in my school is important because there are mostly students of color with little to no representation of themselves in text. This is needed because the students feel unvalued and uninspired.”
This is 2021, today, where students are STILL feeling unrepresented in our schools and books and this must change.
I understand I can’t save the world and I’ve truly found my purpose and focus in advocacy for diverse children’s literature, increasing literacy in the black community, and diversifying our school libraries. Each, with a mission and story of its own, but the foundation, where we start, are our materials. What do we have available for honest insight, non-stereotypical insight, and authentic insight to the cultural melting pot that surrounds our country today?
What we do know about culturally diverse literature is that it heightens respect for the individuals, as well as the contributions and values of cultural minorities. It has been used effectively to help readers identify cultural heritages, understand sociological change, and respect the values of minority groups. Most of all, it can raise aspirations and expand imagination and creativity in our children. Culturally diverse literature that provides mirrors, windows, and sliding glass doors are just one way we can help increase cultural literacy in our children, our students, and our schools. But there is a lot more to be done to reform education in a way that it truly equitable for all.
Published by Dr. Dré Graham
Award-winning and GRAMMY-nominated educator, Dr. Dakeyan Chá Dré Graham, travels throughout the United States as an acclaimed motivational speaker, author, and clinician. He advocates for student, educator, and parent empowerment and opportunity as the Assistant Principal at Talbot Elementary School, formerly holding the position of Director of Educational Equity and Outreach for Alachua County Public Schools and Assistant Principal at Rawlings Elementary School. He also currently serves as musical director and conductor of the Alachua County Youth Orchestra in Gainesville, FL. CEO and Founder of Re-Imagining Equity and Learning (R.E.A.L.), Dr. Graham actively travels the nation delivering keynote speeches, professional development seminars, and workshops in the educational, instructional, musical, and DEIA (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Access) spaces. He is also widely sought out as a music clinician, having worked with band and orchestra students and ensembles across the southeastern United States. The 2019 Hillsborough County Teacher of the Year, Dr. Graham was selected in July 2019 as the 2020 Florida Teacher of the Year, representing 74 school districts and more than 195,000 teachers. During the 2019-2020 school year, Dr. Graham was on sabbatical from teaching and served as the Christa McAuliffe Ambassador for Education. In this role, he toured the state delivering motivational speeches and workshops focused on empowering teachers to create the most impactful learning experience possible for their students.
Following his selection as the 2020 FLTOY, he went on to advocate for all of the students of Florida as a member of the executive cabinet and senior staff at the Florida Department of Education (FLDOE). In 2022, after serving for two years as the Executive Director in the Office of Independent Education and Parental Choice for the Florida Department of Education, Dr. Graham transitioned to support turnaround schools throughout the state as the Executive Director of School Improvement. As an avid equity champion, he also served as the Vice Chair of the Florida Council on the Social Status of Black Men and Boys, as a member of the education committee and chair of the mentorship committee. During this time, he founded the M.M.A.A.N. Up! (Male Mentors of African Americans Network) Statewide mentorship program initiative. He was also appointed by the governor of Florida as a Commissioner for the Florida Commission on Community Service in 2021, where he presently serves as chair of the Volunteer Services Committee and a member of the National Programs Committee. Dr. Graham also serves on a number of boards that directly impact the provision of opportunity for our world’s future leaders, including: University of Florida Alumni Association Board of Directors (Machen Florida Opportunity Scholarship and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committees member and a Regional Director), Instruments of Change Board of Directors (President), Florida Association of Teacher Educators Board of Directors (Regional Director), The University of Florida Association of Black Alumni (President-Elect), the Community Foundation of North Central Florida Equity Task Force, Gentlemen’s Quest Tampa Board of Directors (Vice Chair), King High School Alumni Association, the Florida Music Education association Board of Directors (Emerging Leaders Committee Chair), and the Florida Bandmasters Association (Health and Wellness Chair).
A proud product of Hillsborough County Public Schools, Dr. Graham served as the Director of Instrumental Studies at his alma mater, C. Leon King High School in Tampa, FL, where his teaching responsibilities included leading the KHS Marching Lions, conducting the Wind Ensemble, Symphonic and Concert Bands, Jazz Bands, Symphony Orchestra, Chamber, Symphonic, and Concert Orchestras, Percussion Ensemble, and supervising the Lionettes Dance Team. During his 11 years in HCPS, his students consistently demonstrated determination, focus and tenacity as they earned a performance position in the prestigious Carnegie Hall.
Dr. Graham holds Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees in Music Education (University of Florida), a Master’s in Educational Leadership (Concordia University), a Doctorate of Philosophy in Music Education (University of South Florida), a Doctorate of Education in Learning Design and Performance Technology (Florida State University), and a Doctorate of Musical Arts degree in Instrumental Conducting (University of Florida).
Serving as a past president of the Hillsborough Secondary Music Council and founder of the Eastern Coalition of Music Directors, Dr. Graham travels around the state as an adjudicator for both the Florida Bandmasters and Orchestra Associations. In 2012, Dr. Graham was a finalist for Hillsborough County Teacher of the Year and a semi-finalist and quarterfinalist for Grammy Music Educator of the Year in 2013 and 2020, respectively. He was acknowledged as a 2020 LifeChanger of the Year award recipient by National Life Group. Dr. Graham has been honored as a 2020 USF Outstanding Young Alumni Award Recipient, one of 40 Gators Under 40 in 2021 for his work in the field of education, and was inducted into the C. Leon King High School Hall of Fame as a member of the Wall of Pride for distinguished alumni in 2023.
Dr. Graham is blessed to share life with his wife, Casey (also an educator), and daughter, Aaliyah. His passion is to fight for ALL students to have an equitable educational experience tailored to their unique and individual needs in order for them to purse the best version of themselves, especially those furthest from justice. He works to continue positively impacting the next generation of world changers.
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