With February being Black History Month, I decided to sit down with Taylor Wakefield, English teacher and Westmont’s 2025 Teacher of the Year, to get her thoughts.
Can you describe your cultural heritage?
I’m German-American Jamaican. My mom was born in Kingston, Jamaica; my dad was born in Wiesbaden, Germany—he’s half-German, half-Okeus—and I was born in Sacramento, California.
In high school, I was more obsessed with German culture to be white. I struggled with my identities and fitting into different groups. My mom always told me to put down Black on forms and whatnot because mixed wasn’t an option. I’ve never been to Jamaica, but I have been to Germany several times, and might go again this summer.
What was it like growing up with immigrant parents from two very different places?
Growing up with immigrant parents from two very different places shaped a lot of who I am. My mom had grandparents who lived in Massachusetts, but her mom and sisters lived in Jamaica. When she was seven or eight, she was sent to live with her grandparents in the U.S. Jamaica changed the law, right before the rest of her family was going to move, so they couldn’t move anymore, so she grew up without her mom and sisters. Eventually, her sisters moved to Florida, but most of that side of my family is still on the East Coast. I’ve never been to Jamaica, but it’s on the list—my mom has only been twice. There’s also a Jamaican superstition that you can’t take the trash out at night, and I still don’t do it.
My dad’s history is a bit more complicated. He was born on a military base—my grandpa was in the military, and my grandma was a civilian. He lived in Germany until he was about five or six, then went back and forth between Germany and the U.S. until he was around twelve. My grandparents separated, and all that moving made it really hard for him to assimilate into American culture, especially because he spoke a different language.
Who are your role models and why?
One of my role models is, I guess, Virginia Woolf. She’s a feminist and a writer, and she has an essay called A Room of One’s Own. Basically, it argues for women—creative women—to have a space of their own. I really liked that idea of having a space of my own, something I could build for myself.
Other role models would be successful Black women in sports, media, or government. Seeing them makes me feel like, yeah, I could be that if I wanted. And Bob Marley—I really appreciate his music and his easy-going, peaceful attitude.
Are there any characters in fiction that you identify with?
Growing up, I identified with Hermione Granger because I liked school, education, and reading. She was studious, and I was studious. I’m such a nerd—I love school—so in that way, I really connected with Hermione.
Culturally, there aren’t many characters I’ve identified with, but Starr from The Hate U Give really stood out to me. When I read that book, I felt like “I get you, and you get me.” Being Black in a predominantly white setting, struggling with code-switching, and questioning whether it’s necessary or if you can just be your true, authentic self—that really resonated with me.
What obstacles do you face as a teacher or in life because of your culture?
So many. There’s this feeling that I’ve always had to prove society wrong, which honestly isn’t healthy. Growing up, I didn’t want to fit into stereotypes about not graduating or being a troublemaker. I wasn’t going to let anyone put me into those boxes, so I pushed myself really hard.
Even now, I sometimes deal with imposter syndrome, like I don’t deserve what I’ve earned or didn’t really earn it. There aren’t a lot of Black professionals on campus—there are only three of us—so the people who really understand these struggles are limited. Shout out to Gabriela Hopkins, because we get each other. There are certain things you don’t always feel comfortable saying to everyone, or that other people just don’t relate to. If I’m having a bad hair day, she gets it.
There’s also this extra spotlight and higher standard placed on Black people. It’s not just about being good enough; it feels like you have to be perfect. If a white person and a Black person committed the same crime, the Black person would likely face harsher punishment. And being biracial is its own kind of weird. In high school, I didn’t really fit in. I was in the studious crowd, but I was often the only Black person. Then, when I tried to fit into Black communities, it felt like I was part of it but not fully part of it.
What are your favorite foods from your cultures?
As for Jamaican culture, my mom and I would make ackee and saltfish. Saltfish kind of looks like eggs, and is traditionally eaten with a starch, similar to dumplings. I’ve found canned ackee for 14 dollars. My mom and I enjoy making saltfish together, which is nice because now I don’t have to buy it. For German, I like to make sauerkraut with a fermentation jar as well as pretzels.
Are there any questions that I haven’t asked that you think would be good questions?
I really wish there were more conversations about the retention of Black and brown educators. I think a lot about my own experience teaching and whether I still love it and want to keep doing it. One of my brothers was an educator for two years at a continuation school where he was the only person of color and wasn’t in his credential program. My other brother is now teaching at an elementary school—he loves it, but he’s also really frustrated by how much extra time and energy it takes. I wish there were more discussions about how to support Black educators. Maybe it’s environmental—maybe in places with higher Black populations, it’s different.
And I also wish people would ask me what I’m reading right now. I love reading, and I love knowing what my students are reading, too. Right now, I’m reading Wild Dark Shore for book club—it’s a fictional novel that takes place on a desolate island off the coast of Australia. And the 19th book in Jim Butcher’s ‘grown-up Harry Potter’ series comes out on Tuesday.
On the left is a picture of Wakefield and her younger twin brothers; on the right is a picture of her parents on their wedding day with her maternal grandparents.