In this episode of Our Classroom, host Roberto Germán explores what it means to boldly serve boys of color—not just academically, but emotionally, culturally, and holistically. Drawing from Roberto’s live session at the NCTE (National Council of Teachers of English) Annual Convention in Denver, Colorado, this conversation centers identity, storytelling, emotional literacy, and high expectations rooted in love.

If you teach, mentor, parent, coach, or work alongside boys of color, this episode offers concrete shifts in mindset and practice that affirm humanity rather than manage behavior.

CHAPTERS

0:00 – Welcome to Our Classroom

1:00 – Why Boys of Color Need Better Support

2:30 – Emotion Is Not Defiance

4:30 – When Boys Are Seen, They Speak

6:00 – Identity Is Complex, Not Confused

7:30 – Commitments for Educators

10:00 – Create Space, Not Silence

11:30 – Teach in Truth, Lead with Courage

Anger as communication, not misbehavior

Storytelling and poetry as emotional containers

Identity as complex, multilingual, whole

High expectations as a form of love

Rewriting deficit narratives in classrooms

Creating space rather than controlling behavior

Teach in truth.

Lead with courage.

Belong to a community that gets it.

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If this message resonated, share it with someone who serves boys of color and help build a culture of love, truth, and accountability.