Christ Temple Missionary Baptist Church, 1711 Simpson St., opened its doors Saturday for a conversation about the importance of supporting Black male students as they navigate the educational system. A panel of Black male educators, all native Evanstonians, shared their personal stories, examined the impact of trauma on identity development and academic outcomes, and discussed how mentors can foster academic resilience and a sense of belonging in the classroom and community.
The panel, led by Bryon Harris, also featured Nathan Norman, Alando “Spud” Massie and Adrian Harries. A summary of Harris’ account of his educational journey and quotes from the panelists appear below.
Bryon Harris
Bryon Harris displayed a photograph of himself at age 5, smiling and wearing a crown. The cheerful image doesn’t reveal the trauma Harris was experiencing at the time. The photo, he said, was taken just months after his mother was killed by domestic violence. In a brief span of time, he was adopted by his maternal aunt and his last name changed from King to Harris. “Some teachers understood. Some didn’t, because they didn’t know what happened,” he said.
Athletics sustained him, helping him get his energy out. But his mind raced in the classroom, and he wondered where he fit in. “I wasn’t focused on learning because I couldn’t pay attention,” he said, adding that clinical and school-based testing to evaluate children for attention deficit disorders was not standard practice at the time.
“I struggled throughout my education, with identity issues and a learning disability compounding the trauma,” Harris said. He was diagnosed with a behavior disorder and placed in special education. He recalled that his third grade teacher made a lasting impact on his life. “She took the time to get to know me and asked me to wipe down the chalkboard after class. She took time to invest in me.”
Harris was in and out of various schools during the roller-coaster of ups and downs that defined his teenage years. “I felt like I was always on a decline,” he said. Yet there were always adults who took the time to build a relationship with him. “I had a couple of individuals who said, ‘I see you — I’m here to help you. I want to hear what you have to say.” And it finally made a difference.
After completing high school, Harris applied to college, and was admitted to Jackson State University on academic probation. “It was a hard lift,” he said, and he thought about leaving. “But something hit me – all the people who actually believed in me. Not the naysayers, but the teachers I had, the adults in the community. I was like, ‘you’re going to be able to do this.’ And I went back to school.”
He got an “A” for the first time in his life when he was a sophomore in college. Two years later, he received his master’s degree.
Harris shared what he’s learned in 30 years of working with area youth. “What I’ve seen is that kids just want to be heard. They want to be seen. They want to be valued.”
Nathan Norman
“ACEs are adverse childhood experiences. Yet there are those of you who will be successful, even when you have those adverse experiences.”
“When I was young, I bucked against opportunity when it approached. I’m here to tell you — don’t be too resistant. Think about what’s being said to you, so you can utilize it. I see a potential in you to do more than you might think you can do.
“Respect goes a long way, and I approach all people with respect whenever I can.”
Alando “Spud” Massie
“I think all of us, as a collective group, live with trauma — man, woman, white, Black, rich, poor — How do you unpack that? You have to find the resources that help your child.”
“This is all about — how can we navigate into a position where we are talking more — and listening more — with our student or our child.”
Adrian Harries
“We’re living in a time when a lot of our kids are looking for belonging. They’re trying to find that group they fit in. The idea of belonging is where you don’t have to change who you are. You have to actually look and search for that.”
“Kids might settle for fitting in, instead to gain access to friends. Here’s the problem with that. In order to fit in, sometimes you’ve got to change your core values in order for that group to accept you.”
