I Choose to Stay A Black Teacher Refuses to Desert the Inner City

Not since Lean on Me's Joe Clark, has there been such a compelling true story of a black man determined to change the lives of inner-city children. Teacher, mentor and, in most cases, the only positive male role model in his pupils' lives, Salome Thomas-El brought hope to disadvantaged students in his Philadelphia school, by challenging their minds and imaginations with a most unusual match: The Chess Club.Reviving the Mighty Pawns from nonexistent to competitive, Thomas-El helped his students gain the self-esteem and self-confidence they needed to set their sights high and to aspire to succeed. He taught them to resolve conflict using their heads instead of their fists. The Chess Club competed at nationals -- and the club members defeated competitors three times their age, including Arnold Schwarzenegger. By recognizing the potential and the fundamental goodness of these children, and by enabling them to earn his respect, Salome Thomas-El gave the students the essential tools they would need to compete and win -- not just in chess but in life's many challenges.Thomas-El, Salome is the author of 'I Choose to Stay A Black Teacher Refuses to Desert the Inner City' with ISBN 9780758201867 and ISBN 0758201869.