Growing up, I always loved a good game of Monopoly. It teaches strategy, patience, and the importance of managing resources. But what if you sat down to play and discovered that others had been playing for hours before you got there? What if all the properties were bought up, and all you had left were a few unlucky rolls—"Chance," "Community Chest," or "Go Directly to Jail"?
That’s the reality many Black Americans have faced for generations. And in many ways, our students today are stepping into a system just as rigged, where the rules have never truly been fair.
A System Built on Inequality
Education should be the great equalizer, but we know that’s not the case. Much like how Black Americans were historically locked out of economic opportunity, many students today—especially those from marginalized communities—are locked out of quality education, resources, and opportunities that their wealthier peers take for granted.
- School Funding Disparities – Public schools are funded largely by property taxes, meaning wealthier neighborhoods have better-funded schools. Lower-income areas—often with higher percentages of students of color—struggle with outdated textbooks, underpaid teachers, and fewer extracurricular opportunities.
- The "Go Directly to Jail" Pipeline – Harsh disciplinary policies, such as zero-tolerance rules, disproportionately push Black and brown students into the criminal justice system. Instead of receiving support, they’re suspended, expelled, or funneled into alternative programs that limit their future prospects.
- Access to Advanced Programs – AP courses, gifted programs, and college-prep resources are often harder to access for students in underfunded schools, widening the gap between those who are prepared for higher education and those who are not.
Rewriting the Rules for the Future
If we want to create a fair game board for students—my grandchildren, your children, and all future generations—we need to change the system, not just expect kids to "play smarter" within an unfair one.
1. Equitable School Funding
Every child should have access to a high-quality education, regardless of their ZIP code. We need policies that ensure schools in lower-income areas receive the same resources, teacher support, and facility improvements as those in wealthier neighborhoods.
2. Support Over Punishment
We must move away from punitive discipline and invest in counselors, mental health services, and restorative justice practices that help students navigate challenges without pushing them out of school.
3. Access to Opportunity
From universal pre-K to STEM programs, we need to make sure every child has access to high-quality education from the start. College and career readiness should not depend on family income or school district resources.
4. Parent and Community Involvement
We can't wait for politicians or bureaucracies to fix the system alone. Families, churches, and community organizations must advocate for policy changes, mentor students, and support local schools.
Time to Flip the Board
Monopoly has one saving grace: at the end of the game, we put the pieces back in the box and start fresh. But in real life, we don’t get to reset. Generational disadvantages don’t disappear, and without systemic change, the cycle repeats.
We have a moral responsibility to build an educational system where all students have a chance to succeed—not just those born into privilege. As a grandmother, an educator, and an engaged citizen, I refuse to accept a future where my grandchildren and their peers inherit the same inequities that have plagued us for generations.
The question isn’t whether the game is fair. We know it’s not. The real question is: What are we willing to do to fix it?
Let’s make the game fair. Not just for some, but for all.
— Leta Covington
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