The conversation around systemic oppression often focuses on hiring practices, business opportunities or access to housing. These issues, while critical, are symptoms of a deeper, more entrenched problem. To truly dismantle systemic oppression, we must address its roots. And those roots are buried deep in our education system.
For decades, students in marginalized communities have been underserved by schools that fail to provide the foundation necessary for upward mobility. Inadequate educational opportunities for Black and Hispanic students perpetuate cycles of poverty and inequality. The current system, dominated by teachers’ unions and bureaucratic policies, leaves families with little say in how and where their children are educated. This must change.
The solution lies in empowering families with choice. Charter schools and school voucher programs can offer alternatives to the failing status quo. Families, not the government, should decide what is best for their children. Education should be a ladder of opportunity, not a dead end.
The numbers tell a sobering story. In Maryland, only 12.1% of Black students and 11.9% of Hispanic students are proficient in math. Baltimore City, where systemic oppression is most acute, had the lowest overall math proficiency rate in the state at just 10.2%. While some herald the modest improvement from last year’s 8.8%, the reality is grim — 90% of Baltimore’s students who took the state math exam are not proficient. This is not just a statistic; it is a crisis that limits the potential of an entire generation.
When children are not given the tools to succeed in school, their options as adults become bleak. Many are left to face futures marked by low-wage jobs or involvement in crime. Without intervention, the cycle of systemic oppression continues. Families in Baltimore City — and across the country — deserve better.
While Maryland’s math proficiency rates are improving statewide, Baltimore City continues to lag behind its regional neighbors like Anne Arundel and Baltimore County. This disparity is not just a failure of governance; it is a betrayal of the children who depend on public education to unlock their potential.
We must demand accountability from those who oversee these systems. In 2022, Jovani Patterson, a former City Council candidate and Baltimore public school parent, took the district to court, alleging mismanagement, false reporting of enrollment and a failure to enforce truancy rules. Patterson’s lawsuit highlights what many families have long known: The system is broken, and those in power are not delivering on their promises.
As we move forward into a Trump era, there is hope for transformative change. A federal push for school choice could empower families nationwide, providing the flexibility and resources necessary to escape failing schools. Should national leaders, including a future president, take up this cause, they could spark a revolution in education.
Baltimore’s children cannot wait for incremental progress. They deserve bold, immediate action. By investing in school choice, holding educational institutions accountable and prioritizing student success over politics, we can finally begin to dismantle the systemic oppression that has held so many back for so long.
The fight for equality starts in the classroom. Let’s give families the tools they need to succeed and ensure every child has the opportunity to thrive. The time to act is now.
Christopher Anderson is a third-generation Baltimorean, a U.S. Coast Guard veteran and a community advocate. He is chairman of the Maryland Black Republican Council and a member of the Baltimore City Republican Central Committee. He has run for Congress and the Baltimore City Council.
