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Nerissa Reaves, an accomplished educator and college professor, recently went viral on Wednesday, but it wasn’t over a handshake or an unorthodox teaching method, but because of her body.

In the video, which was clipped from Reaves’ live feed, Reaves is shown as she gives a standard lesson to a group of college students.

But people in the comments quickly tagged The ShadeRoom which re-posted the video to its millions of followers.

On both Reaves page and on TheShadeRoom, commentators went back and forth over whether Reaves was “dressed appropriately,” even though she was fully clothed wearing a sweater or jeans.

“Forgive me for not wearing baggy jeans from the 90’s. Where would I even buy those?Tons of professors at my school [wear] jeans and heels,” she wrote. “Yes, I understand that my shape causes a lot of attention on social media but in real life it’s a bit different,” she continued.

Along with teaching, Reaves is also a model who uses her social media platforms to promote her life and brand. She also is the founder of an online school named Northeastern Ascension Academy, according to her website.

“It is is a bit different that I’m a teacher who also has a social media presence and models? Sure. I’m sure that’s quite unique because that’s not something you see often,” Reaves wrote. “However, that’s what makes me who I am-my range, depth and multi-faceted capabilities. I think it’s awesome that I’m not like every other teacher and that I can’t be boxed into categories traditionally defined by society.”

As we know, policing women’s bodies is still alive and well, especially when it comes to full figured, full body women. Reaves took to her personal page to address the “controversy” with her followers. And the criticism that follows Reaves has definitely sprung up on several different occasions in regards to Black female teachers.

Does a teacher’s capabilities in the classroom have anything to do with her abilities in her personal life?

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