If you’ve never experienced the sound and feel of a Holiness Revival in a tent in the American South, you have yet to witness something that, for an 8-year-old, was both terrifying and fascinating. During those late-night revivals, I experienced an instantaneous conversion from sleep to alertness.
I’d begin peeling back the blanket and shuffling across the hardwood floors to the window to get a glimpse of what I was hearing. Outside my window, I could see a large white tent with a soft yellow glow of lamps inside casting shadows of people jumping up and down against the sides of the tent. These revival camps intended to bring about instantaneous conversions and resurrection of the spirit.
America is undergoing its awakening and revival that is both terrifying and fascinating.
America is undergoing its awakening and revival that is both terrifying and fascinating. The country is begrudgingly awakening to an awareness of the deep crevices in our democracy that have been salient in the lives of Black people for decades, if not centuries, in this country.
Political disenfranchisement and police brutality are not new issues for us. We’ve shouted, wailed, sang, and marched in hopes that there would be an instantaneous conversion of our communities, schools and society.
Could it have taken the shuttering of our schools and an incompetent presidency to bring us to the point of looking out the window to see what’s happening?
One struggles when looking through American history to find a point when our democracy was equally “great” for all peoples. Miles Davis once said, “It’s not the note you play that’s the wrong note—it’s the note you play afterward that makes it right or wrong.”
Our challenge is to determine what notes to play next in our classrooms and schools.
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU PLAY THE WRONG NOTE
When school closings began in the Spring of 2020, it felt as though the education profession was virtually lost, left to find its way with no guidance from the top levels of the educational bureaucracy. We did not look to Betsy Devos for direction because her lack of concern for public education had already been proven. Her missteps included threatening to withhold federal funding from schools if they refused to reopen during the early days of the pandemic. She also rescinded the guidance enacted by the Obama administration intended to address disparities in discipline for students of color, suggesting alternatives to suspension.
Dizzy Gillespie once said, “The sign of a mature musician is to know what not to play.” Betsy DeVos was seemingly unable to determine what notes to play during her tenure because she could neither see nor hear her audience. We are a profession that is present, but unseen and unacknowledged, like the invisible man in Ralph Ellison’s 1947 novel of the same name. Now that we’ve served the tertiary purpose of housing children away from the home, educators have been cast aside.
It is in these finite moments that leaders both find and define themselves.
If schools reopen, who will outfit classrooms with the necessary modifications required to keep students and teachers safe? Who will redesign the funding model to allow for smaller class sizes, which we’ve demanded all along, to ensure that social distancing is possible? It is in these finite moments that leaders both find and define themselves.
FINDING THE MAGIC
Leaders and teachers must master the art of being the best versions of themselves in this moment so it comes through in a powerful way for scholars. Throughout his career, Miles Davis reinvented himself, resisting the ever-present pull of becoming a prisoner of any given era as Jazz evolved. The familiar becomes unfamiliar with an approach that is uniquely Sinatra, Ella or Armstrong. Though the words on the page are identical, the way it is delivered is where the magic lies.
On February 18, 1969, in CBS’s 30th Street Studio, Miles Davis sat in a studio with a set of musicians and began recording his album “In a Silent Way”. This album and the title song were a shift from his previous work in that it marked his move to electric instrumentation. It was a point where he was integrating more technology into his recordings.
As the details of the title track were being worked out, Miles was trying to describe how he wanted John McLaughlin to lead into the piece on the guitar. He told him to “play like he didn’t know how to play.” What we hear is a slow, deliberate, hesitant style of play that pulls the listener into the tune with anticipation for what the other musicians will add to the tune. It is unorthodox. It is counter-intuitive given the sound we have come to know as Miles on previous albums.
We must always leave room for changing lanes. In doing so, we leave those who work with us room to grow and improvise.
Miles has taught us, with his horn and with his style of leadership, that we must always leave room for changing lanes. In doing so, we leave those who work with us room to grow and improvise. Boxing people in with sheet music can be restrictive and stifling. Change always makes us uncomfortable. It is inevitable and necessary. The album “In a Silent Way” broke barriers. Rolling Stone described it as “the kind of album that gives you faith in the future of music.” Perhaps this moment is just what needed to happen to bring our attention to the many needed changes in the field of public education.
Understanding Face Shapes
Before delving into sunglasses styles, it’s important to identify your face shape. Here are the main face shapes and their distinctive characteristics:
Oval
Oval faces are well-balanced and versatile, featuring balanced proportions and gently rounded contours.
Round
Round faces have softer, curved lines with equal width and length. They lack prominent angles and often have full cheeks.
Square
Square faces have strong, angular features with a prominent jawline and a forehead of similar width.
Heart
Heart-shaped faces have a broader forehead that tapers down to a narrower chin, often accompanied by high cheekbones.
Diamond
Diamond faces have narrow foreheads and chins, with wide cheekbones as the most prominent feature.
Oblong
Oblong faces are elongated with more length than width, often characterized by straight cheekbones and a tall forehead.
Triangle
Triangle faces have a narrow forehead and wider cheekbones and jawline, resembling an inverted triangle.
Choosing Sunglasses for Your Face Shape
Now that you have identified your face shape, let’s explore sunglasses styles that can complement and accentuate your unique features:
Oval Face
Congratulations! Oval faces can pull off various sunglass styles. Experiment with oversized frames, aviators, wayfarers, and cat-eye sunglasses. Focus on maintaining the natural balance of your face.
Round Face
To add definition and angles, opt for sunglasses with rectangular or square frames. Look for frames that are wider than your face to create the illusion of length. Avoid round frames, which can further emphasize the roundness of your face.
Square Face
Softening your angular features is key. Consider round or oval-shaped frames to add some curves and balance to your face. Look for frames that are slightly wider than your jawline. Avoid square or geometric frames that mimic your face shape.
Heart Face
To balance the wider forehead, choose sunglasses with bottom-heavy frames, such as aviators or cat-eye styles. Look for frames that are wider at the bottom and have lighter colors or embellishments on the lower portion. Steer clear of oversized frames that overpower your delicate chin.
Diamond Face
Highlight your cheekbones while softening your angles. Choose sunglasses with oval or cat-eye frames. Look for frames that are wider than your cheekbones but narrower than your forehead. Avoid overly narrow frames or boxy shapes that can exaggerate your face’s diamond shape.
Oblong Face
Create the illusion of width and break up the length of your face with oversized frames, aviators, or sunglasses with embellished temples. Look for frames that are wider and have more depth. Avoid narrow frames that can elongate your face further.
Triangle Face
Balance your wider jawline with sunglasses that draw attention upward. Choose frames with detailing on the upper portion, such as cat-eye or semi-rimless styles. Look for frames that are wider at the top and narrower at the bottom. Avoid heavily embellished or oversized frames that can weigh down your lower face.
Conclusion
Sunglasses are more than a fashion accessory; they are an opportunity to enhance your facial features and express your personal style. By understanding your face shape and choosing sunglasses
DEF-ED! 
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