True Amazing Dreams Appear!
Pamela Teresa Morgan
Biography
Recognizing diversity and appreciating the richness each culture brings, has been central to Pamela Morgan’s life ever since she was a child. As an adult she has delved deeper into Race and Ethnic Relations with the intention that her work facilitates unity among all people. Pamela has a keen interest in learning and teaching American history from an Pan African worldview. Through this passionate interest, Pamela discovered Kwanzaa and for over 30 years she has dedicated a path of service to celebrate and bring awareness to this African American Cultural celebration and the Nguzo Saba, the seven principles of Kwanzaa. These principles are universal, created for Black people’s empowerment, but can also empower people from all backgrounds.
As a Kwanzaa Educator and Advocate, Pamela presents virtually and in person, the history, principles, and symbols of Kwanzaa. Her audiences have been in school assemblies, community centers, churches, and corporate, and nonprofit organizations. In addition, she offers professional groups toolkits for practical applications of the Nguzo Saba within the organization or greater community. Her course, “Why and How to Celebrate Kwanzaa”, provides the historical background and creation of this modern African American cultural celebration. She also offers curriculum for school age children.
After a casual conversation with an elementary school teacher who wanted to teach her students about Kwanzaa, Pamela was inspired to write her children’s book, “Princess Tada Celebrates Kwanzaa”. This book co-written with her friend Colleen Hendricks, explains the Five Ws of Kwanzaa, written for parents, teachers, and community leaders. Under her brand name Tada Kwanzaa, she created the “Kwanzaa Box”, which provides the items and instructions needed to celebrate a traditional Kwanzaa.
Pamela has a background in Special Education. As a classroom teacher at Manual Arts High School in Los Angeles, CA she interacted with students from North and Central America and the Carribean. She literally displayed the national flags of each student and clocks to distinguish time zones. She is a third-generation educator with a Bachelor of Arts degree in television and film production from California State University of Los Angeles. It was at Cal State LA that she began to understand the consequential role race plays in American media. She believes it is essential that everyone sees their race as important and valued. She believes that communities who learn about and appreciate their neighbors ethnicity and what it brings, is a community that thrives and mulitplies.
Pamela currently lives in Los Angeles, on the land of the Chumash. These Indigenous people inhabited Southern California for over 15,000 years.
"Those who know, do. Those who understand, teach."
The statement, "Those who can do, those who can't teach" is from a George Benard Shaw play which ran in 1905. It was meant to belittle the teaching profession. The phrase is an inaccurate and misleading statement.
"Those who know, do. Those who understand, teach." This statement is attributed to Lee Shulman, an American educational psychologist. From my years in education, this phrase rings true!
My passion is teaching. My paternal grandfather was a teacher, my maternal grandmother was a teacher, my father was a teacher and my mother still teaches.
My other passion is Kwanzaa. I am passionate about practicing the Nguzo Saba, the 7 principles of Kwanzaa, not just at Kwanzaa time but all the time and True Amazing Dreams Appear. TADA!
Courses
- Why and How To Celebrate Kwanzaa
- The History of Kwanzaa
- Practical Applications of the Nguzo Saba
- US History 1960-2010