The Power of Black Male Educators

Recent studies show that Black men often support students in schools in ways that reflect their culture and personal experiences. In Black Male Leaders Care Too, published in Educational Administration Quarterly and written by L.R. Bass, Black male school leaders show care by taking action, building strong relationships, and drawing from their own life stories. Their way of caring and leading challenges the ideas about what care and leadership should look like in schools—and gives a strong new example of the unique qualities of a male teacher.

Here are 8 ways Black male educators show care in schools:

• High Expectations with Support – Pushing students to do well, while helping them reach their goals

• Relational Accountability – Building strong relationships and expecting students to show up for themselves and others

• Culturally Relevant Leadership – Making space for students’ identities in the classroom and school culture

• Visible Emotional Investment – Showing pride, concern, and encouragement through open expression

• Community Engagement and Advocacy – Building trust with families and standing up for student needs

• Discipline as Care – Using discipline to teach and support growth, not just to punish

• Protection and Shielding – Looking out for students and helping them navigate unfair systems

• Mentorship and Role Modeling – Being visible examples and guides, especially for Black boys

Bass argues that recognizing these caring practices expands how we understand leadership—especially in schools serving Black and Brown communities. It also affirms that care, when grounded in culture and community, is a powerful act of leadership. This research is a clear example of why Black male teachers are important, especially as their presence often offers more than Instagram influencers, more than fashion, and connects directly to how social media platforms like TikTok are reshaping what young people see as leadership, representation, and care.

 

Historic Black Male Educators Who Paved the Way
The legacy of Black male educators stretches far beyond the classroom. Here are five historic leaders who shaped education and civil rights:

• Booker T. Washington – Founder of Tuskegee Institute and a national advocate for Black vocational education

• Carter G. Woodson – Known as the "Father of Black History" and founder of Negro History Week

• Benjamin Mays – President of Morehouse College and mentor to Martin Luther King Jr.

• Charles Hamilton Houston – Legal educator who trained civil rights lawyers and architect of the legal strategy behind Brown v. Board

• Horace Mann Bond – Historian and first Black president of Lincoln University, a champion of equitable education

These leaders helped define the role of Black male educators as cultural leaders, advocates, and changemakers.

 

Citation: Bass, L. R. (2019). Black Male Leaders Care Too: An Introduction to Black Masculine Caring in Educational Leadership. Educational Administration Quarterly, 56(3), 353–395. https://lnkd.in/emJv9kkf