Sometimes, learning to read means learning to love the reflection in the mirror.
In “WHY”; When Mandy begins secret lessons under Miss Eleanor Leary, something deeper than literacy unfolds. She starts to unlearn the lies written on her soul since birth—that she is lesser, unworthy, forgettable. Through knowledge, Mandy begins to reclaim her narrative. Her story becomes her own.
The Burden of Internalized Racism
Enslaved people were not only brutalized physically—they were deformed psychologically. When a system constantly tells you you’re inferior, unteachable, subhuman, eventually you start to believe it. This is the seed of internalized racism: the quiet belief that the color of your skin makes you inferior.
Mandy’s transformation highlights how powerfully education can challenge this. With every word she reads, every sentence she writes, she rewrites her self-image.
The Role of Representation in Rebuilding the Self
Today, we understand that what children see in books and classrooms shapes how they see themselves. The erasure of Black heroes, Indigenous leaders, and non-white narratives in education isn’t just academic—it’s emotional.
Mandy’s journey is a cry for culturally reflective learning. We need mirrors, not just windows.
Literacy as Liberation
Frederick Douglass once wrote, “Once you learn to read, you will be forever free.” Mandy’s story is that quote in action. Her literacy isn’t just about words—it’s a reclaiming of identity.
A Modern Reminder
Many students today still grow up feeling “less than.” They face racial bias in classrooms, lack of representation in textbooks, and environments that don’t affirm who they are. Mandy’s story reminds us why education-equity…matters.
A Prompt to Reflect
Have you ever had a moment—through reading, writing, or teaching—where you saw yourself differently?
Drop a comment. Your story just may be; The mirror someone else needs.
Racial Identity and the Mirror of Self-Esteem: Mandy’s Awakening
Sometimes, learning to read means learning to love the reflection in the mirror.
