Using Currere to Process Being on a Profession’s Endangered Species List

A Black Male Educator’s Journey and Pursuit of Well-being

Abstract

Abstract

One might deem using Black male educators in tandem with the terminology of being on an endangered species list to be perhaps an overstatement of the facts or hyperbolic. On the contrary, with Black males comprising approximately 2% of our country’s teacher workforce, school leaders are discussing the implications of this very issue in a serious way. Many questions can be raised regarding the statistic mentioned above. Will the percentage of Black male teachers increase? Will the percentage of Black male teachers simply remain the same? Or, will the percentage of Black male teachers decrease?

 There are no guarantees, and the quantity of 2% can easily trigger notions of extinction. As a Black male educator, that was a tough sentence to type. Black male teacher extinction is indeed a frightening thought to digest. Nevertheless, our country is currently experiencing teacher shortages in many school districts throughout the nation. The reality remains that the quantity of 2% is much closer to 0% even in comparison to a low-ball representational Black male teacher representation of 5%.

 In this paper, I use the currere theoretical method to deeply examine my more than twenty years in the educational field as a Black male educator—who has also been known as one of the 2%.

 Keywords: Currere, Teacher Reform, Qualitative Methods, Black Males Educators, Reconceptualist Theorizing