“Teach Black Children Everything”

Ms. Tialyr (Pronounced Ty-lur) Winters

Foreign Language Instructor, Global Traveler

“We are everywhere but yet we don’t know our story. We don’t know our history. We don’t know our place. And I’m here to give it back.”

“The world is yours. It’s bigger than Chicago. It’s bigger than the west side. It’s bigger than the south side. It’s bigger than your block. It’s bigger than your friends.”

Hailing from the #WestSide of Chicago, Tialyr Winters began her education at a magnet school. While other students were reciting their family’s heritage, Tialyr was denied her princess tiara and told that she was Nigerian – because aren’t all Black people? She went on to learn French and Spanish, get degrees from UIUC in English and French, and then another in Culinary Arts. As she was traveling the world, becoming a formal teacher wasn’t her plan, but every job she had involved kids. And had it not been for a meddling friend, she may have missed her calling.

“They know we’re brilliant so they have to keep us from knowing we’re brilliant.”

Ms. Winters and her high school students didn’t immediately connect. They were shocked that someone who grew up in similar, humble beginnings from Chicago knew multiple languages and traveled the world. They’d soon learn that Black people are everywhere and breaking language barriers was just the beginning. Including geography, sociology and history from the black perspective, her curriculum allowed students to see themselves in other places throughout the world. 

Understanding that the mandatory history courses purposefully exclude our story from history, she’s doing her part to give her students an honest, global view.