As a poet and educator who has researched the history of teacher education, turn of the century textbook for an erasure poem seemed appropriate. But as a Black man, I wondered how often references to people who look like me appeared in its pages. Both the dearth and context of those references were eye opening. I see them as instructive for how the past can predict a not wholly impossible future.

Matthew E. Henry (MEH) is an educator, editor, and the author of six poetry collections, including The Colored page (Sundress Publications, 2022) and The Third Renunciation (NYQ Books, 2023). MEH writes about education, race, religion, and burning oppressive systems to the ground at www.MEHPoeting.com

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