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About the Author and Creator of this Website
Greetings!
This website was created by me, Miranda J. Gardner. To comprehend Critical Race Theory and its implications, being aware of my background is essential. I grew up in Seattle's Rainier Beach neighborhood, which at the time was largely an African American neighborhood. Mary Clark, an African American girl, was my first best friend I met when she and I were about eight years old. My family did not know her family. I used to take my bike and our family dog “Lucy” around the neighborhood, and one summer day I was on a ride and I met Mary. We were fast friends. I saw her by a plum tree near the neighborhood church and I introduced myself. We would be friends throughout childhood losing touch as teenagers and reunited when I taught a variety of English and Study Skills classes at Green River College. She was a student there at the time.
Childhood Best Friends Circa 2016 at Green River College
My brother Jason and I spent our early years from the age of five years old and up with the Jackson family, an African American household. Even now, we remain in contact with them. Shawndra, Sharain, Michelle, and Quinton Jackson, the Jackson kids, were our childhood playmates. The family's matriarch, "Angela," became my second mother when I attended church with them. Rebecca, my mother, was always there for me, but Angela filled in when she needed a break. Unfortunately, my mom did not receive much assistance from my father back then because he was an alcoholic. Even if he has improved as a person since then, several adults in our community filled in for him, and one of the most consistent was Angela.
Jamie, my oldest brother is in the center and 12 yrs old. To his right is Jason at 6 yrs old, me in the middle at 4 yrs old and my mother Rebecca, circa 1985.
Angela and Miranda Circa 2015
My brothers Jason, Jamie, and I frequently were the only white students in our K–12 classes while growing up in Rainier Beach. I belonged to an all Black cheerleading squad in Seattle’s Cleveland High School. (except for me). Can you locate me in the picture?
CHS Eagles Cheer Squad
Circa Winter 2000
I don't believe that living in an all-Black area is necessary for someone to understand the need for Critical Race Theory. I will attest that throughout my K–12 education, I was exposed to works of fiction and non-fiction, dialogues, shared experiences, activities, and more that educated me about Critical Race Theory. I am grateful to have acquired a wealth of knowledge about other cultures, notably everything I knew about CRT and its effects on society, while also celebrating a wide variety of cultures. Everybody who believes in equality in our society, in the classroom, and elsewhere should consider this theory. Understanding my background, in my opinion, lends validity & authenticity to my argument for CRT's necessity on this page.
Seattle's Cleveland H.S Graduation Circa June 2000
Prom at Seattle's Space Needle Circa May 2000
Finally, CRT allowed me to look back on my past. I used ancestry.com to determine my ethnicity. Ninety-five percent of my ancestry is European, including England, and the Scandinavian nations of Finland, Sweden, and Denmark, but I also have five percent Nigerian ancestry. More investigation led me to the conclusion that my father's side ancestor David Crockett enslaved human beings. Sadly, this is a part of my past. I am able to comprehend my privilege and my past because of CRT. With this knowledge, I enter composition classes prepared to explain my identity, ethnic origin, family history, and upbringing. All of this gives me more confidence to work with students of all backgrounds as we all learn about society and the benefits that CRT can have for both people and society as a whole.
David Crocket Circa 1835
Miranda Gardner Circa 2018
Education and Work:
I currently hold a Master of Education (Specialization Literacy) from Washington State University (2012). My Bachelors is in English/Minor in Non-fiction Writing from the University of San Diego (2009). I currently work for a college readiness program (that assists low-income and first generation high school students) called Upward Bound at the University of Washington, where I am the full-time Writing instructor. Here is a link to that website: https://www.washington.edu/omad/upward-bound/staff/
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