When I was in middle school, I received two detentions. Detentions were reflected on academic records, and three meant a suspension.

Detention No. 1 stemmed from my bringing a cheap digital camera to school. I love photography, and as I’d received the camera for Christmas, I brought it with me to take pictures on the playground. While other students texted on their smartphones despite the strict no-phone policy, I took photos of the swings. Seeing this, my teacher confiscated my camera and gave me my first-ever detention.

I got my second detention for being late to my math class. During the five-minute period between one class and the next, I stayed behind in computer class to help my teacher. She wrote a note so my math teacher would excuse my tardiness. The second I walked into my math classroom, my math teacher rushed to write me a detention. All the while, as I was attempting to explain my situation, a non-Black student also slipped in late, unexcused, and did not receive a detention, demonstrating the need to address racial inequity in schools.

There is a common denominator in both of these stories. When I received these detentions from two different white teachers, I went to the same Black teacher for support. Not only did she not back me up, but she also chastised me, siding with those who punished me. This has stuck with me for years.

As a Black student, I understood at a young age that having Black teachers didn’t necessarily save me from racial discrimination. It wasn’t until high school, after meeting my science teacher who was Black, that I finally felt heard. My high school introduced me to various Black professionals, from all walks of life, in both staff and administrative positions. It was in this environment that I eventually felt safe as a Black student.

For Black and other marginalized children experiencing racism and other forms of discrimination, a teacher who looks like them can aid in their success and comfort, research has shown, demonstrating the importance of addressing racial inequity in schools. However, Black teachers are not the only ones responsible for educating Black students.

Read the full article about the pressure Black educators face by Avery Oliver at Chalkbeat.