December 2nd 2023.
Dr. Roni Dean-Burren, a Texas mother and advocate for equitable education, has passed away at the age of 46 on Nov. 24. She was a powerhouse in her field, having obtained her doctorate degree in education and taking on roles such as an adjunct professor at the University of Houston, president of the Texas Council of English Language Arts Teachers, and director of Gifted and Talented at the Houston Independent School District.
Dean-Burren gained national attention a decade ago when she criticized McGraw-Hill, the publisher of her son's school history book, for inaccurately referring to Black slaves as “migrants.” Her 15-year-old son, Coby, had texted her a photo of a page out of his history textbook that repeatedly referred to enslaved Africans as migrant workers, implying it was voluntary labor. Dean-Burren took to Facebook to express her outrage, captioning the post: “Many of you asked about my son’s textbook. Here it is. Erasure is real y’all!!! Teach your children the truth!!!”
Her post went viral, and she continued to express her anger to The New York Times, referencing the 100,000 copies of the incorrect textbook that had already been issued to the Pearland Independent School District. She said, “It talked about the U.S.A. being a country of immigration, but mentioning the slave trade in terms of immigration was just off. It’s that nuance of language. This is what erasure looks like.”
McGraw-Hill quickly issued a public apology for the textbook and the language used in it, stating: “[We] did not adequately convey that Africans were both forced into migration and to labor against their will as slaves.”
Dean-Burress was praised by the University of Houston Curriculum and Instruction College clinical professor Margaret Hale for her activism. Hale said, “Roni epitomizes the idea that one person can make a difference. By listening to her son’s concerns and then voicing those publicly, she has affected change with a major textbook publisher and shown not only students but adults as well that words matter. Her advocacy and a passion are a model for all of us in education.”
Though Dr. Roni Dean-Burren's cause of death hasn't been announced, tributes of her legacy to the educational community have been shared on social media over Thanksgiving weekend. Her activism has been praised by many, and her commitment to uplift Black youth's learning will be remembered for years to come.
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