Crowns Curriculum At your school

Designing With Black Boys, Not for Them

Too much of what we call “equity work” is adults designing curriculum and spaces, we believe will level the playing field without truly considering students’ needs or partnering with them in the design process. Let me say this plainly. Black boys are not problems to be solved—they are scholars, brilliant, and innately great. It is the system that fails them.

I have sat with young Kings in Oakland who could clearly name exactly what they needed, long before the adults in the room chose to listen. Co-design means creating space for Black boys to shape the questions, not just answer the ones we hand them.

Our ancestors did not carry us this far for us to build schools that silence our sons. If we truly love Black boys, that love must show up in rigor through reading, writing, critical thinking, and the highest expectations.

Crowns Curriculum is a college-prep elective designed to address a critical gap in education: meeting Black boys where they are while preparing them for where they’re going. Through culturally grounded instruction and real-world learning, it supports Black male achievement and equips educators with academically rigorous, culturally responsive materials that engage students as readers, thinkers, and leaders. Crowns creates not only a learning environment but a safe environment for students to challenge themselves, build confidence, and thrive academically and personally. Learn more: https://bit.ly/4shBr29

So here’s my question for district leaders and principals: When was the last time you sat with a Black boy long enough to be changed by what he told you? Did you build a system around his truth?