From Juneteenth to justice: Why Rochester must embrace school choice

As we gather to celebrate Juneteenth, our Freedom Day, we commemorate the moment when enslaved Black people in Texas were finally told they were free, two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation. That day, June 19, 1865, reminds us of a deep historical truth: freedom delayed is freedom denied.

Today, our parades, t-shirts, and slogans shout of liberation, yet too often, our children remain shackled. They are bound not by chains, but by zip codes, politics, and broken systems. If Juneteenth is about freedom, then let’s get real: true freedom must include the right to choose a quality education.

“We want a choice, whether we sit in the front or the back of the bus, but some of our folks are not concerned with, and don’t see how important it is for us to have a choice of where our kids go to school.”

That’s my quote. And I meant it.

Education is the new civil rights battlefield

I’ve walked the streets of Rochester and witnessed the brilliance of our Black and Brown children. I’ve also seen the education system fail them repeatedly, predictably, and unapologetically. We scream Black Lives Matter. But what about Black minds?

In Rochester, if you can afford a private school or a house in a suburb with better public schools, you’ve got options. But most Black and Brown families can’t do either. They’re locked into the Rochester City School District, a district that’s seen shrinking enrollment, struggling outcomes, and dwindling hope. And still, many of our local Black and Brown legislators continue to vote against school choice.

They show up to Juneteenth parades but don’t show up to fight for better schools. They wear cultural pride shirts but won’t support education that actually uplifts and empowers our culture.

Let me be clear: Charter schools aren’t perfect, but on average, they’re outperforming traditional public schools four to one locally. That’s not speculation. In Rochester, only 10% of economically disadvantaged students in district-run schools achieve proficiency, while charter schools like Discovery Academy and Rochester Prep Charter report rates as high as 75% — a performance gap of nearly 4 to 1. Statewide data reinforces this trend, with New York charter schools outperforming traditional public schools in both math and ELA, despite serving predominantly low-income, minority students. That’s not bias. That’s data.

So, why the disconnect? Follow the money trail.

The politics of misplaced priorities

In We Need to Do Better and From the Gutter to Greatness, I talk about the systems working exactly as they were designed —  to disenfranchise, disempower, and disconnect us. When our own elected officials side with unions and special interests over children, we must ask: “Who are they serving?”

Unions are not inherently bad. They’ve played a critical role in securing workers’ rights, but it’s important to acknowledge that many early labor unions in America, including the American Federation of Labor (AFL), explicitly excluded Black and Brown workers to preserve jobs for white laborers. So, if today’s unions are using their political power to block school choice for poor Black and Brown families, isn’t that just a modern form of the very oppression we were freed from on Juneteenth?

Freedom isn’t symbolic, it’s structural.

School choice is not about destroying public schools; it’s about empowering parents. When you’re poor, Black, and stuck in a neighborhood with a failing school, choice is liberation. Choice is justice.

And yet, many Black and Brown folks in Rochester, especially the ones in power, refuse to support that choice. They cling to a system that’s proven to fail our kids. Why? Because confronting the wound is harder than ignoring the pain.

Knowing the wound Is the only way to heal it

I’ve written before: “To become whole, you must first acknowledge the broken pieces.” We’re still suffering from the generational effects of systemic oppression. But ignoring the educational trauma our kids endure daily only ensures its continuation.

We need to heal. And healing starts with acknowledging that our children are being left behind.

In my workbook Moving from the Gutter to Greatness, I challenge readers to examine their own wounds. Well, Rochester, here’s ours: children aren’t reading at grade level. They’re not graduating on time. A local business owner recently told me, “Rochester students can’t do 9th grade math well enough to get hired in the skilled trades as an apprentice.” They’re not thriving.

And every time we block a new charter school from opening, or defund an existing one, we push our youth deeper into the gutter.

Why school choice matters

Let’s break it down:

• Personalized Education: Not every child learns the same way. Choice means finding a school that aligns with your child’s strengths and needs.

• Quality & Safety: Parents deserve safe, academically rigorous environments.

• Cultural Alignment: Families should have access to schools that reflect their values and identities.

• Empowerment: When parents choose schools, they get more involved. When schools must compete, they innovate.

• Equity: School choice is not about giving more to those who already have; it’s about giving something to those who have had nothing.

We know that before people buy a home, they ask, “How’s the school district?” But what about the folks who can’t afford to move?

Don’t they deserve a shot at greatness too?

Call to action: Freedom ain’t free

To my people: Juneteenth is more than a day off. It’s a reminder of how long it took for freedom to reach every ear, every family, every soul.

We cannot celebrate Juneteenth while keeping our kids in chains. It’s time to match our celebration with action.

It’s time to demand that local leaders fight for our children, not broken systems. Not divisive politics. Children!

School choice is not the enemy. Ignorance is. And when we know better, we have to do better.

From the gutter to greatness doesn’t just happen. It requires courage, clarity, and CHOICE.

This Juneteenth let’s not just be free. Let’s be wise.

Let’s choose better.

Let’s demand better.

Let’s do better.