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Free Webinars from The National Equity Project

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Free Webinars from The National Equity Project

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The National Equity Project Center for Equity Leadership offers a variety of free equity-focused webinars for leaders at every level. Access our webinars now.

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Tools for being antiracist from the National Museum of African American History & Culture

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Tools for being antiracist from the National Museum of African American History & Culture

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National Museum of African American History and Culture

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Race does not biologically exist, yet how we identify with race is so powerful, it influences our experiences and shapes our lives. In a society that privileges white people and whiteness, racist ideas are considered normal throughout our media, culture, social systems, and institutions. Historically, racist views justified the unfair treatment and oppression of people of color (including enslavement, segregation, internment, etc.). We can be led to believe that racism is only about individual mindsets and actions, yet racist policies also contribute to our polarization. While individual choices are damaging, racist ideas in policy have a wide-spread impact by threatening the equity of our systems and the fairness of our institutions. To create an equal society, we must commit to making unbiased choices and being antiracist in all aspects of our lives.

Being antiracist is fighting against racism. Racism takes several forms and works most often in tandem with at least one other form to reinforce racist ideas, behavior, and policy. Types of racism are:

Individual racism​ refers to the beliefs, attitudes, and actions of individuals that support or perpetuate racism in conscious and unconscious ways. The U.S. cultural narrative about racism typically focuses on individual racism and fails to recognize systemic racism.
Examples include believing in the superiority of white people, not hiring a person of color because "something doesn't feel right," or telling a racist joke.

Interpersonal racism​ occurs between individuals. These are public expressions of racism, often involving slurs, biases, or hateful words or actions.

Institutional racism​ occurs in an organization. These are discriminatory treatments, unfair policies, or biased practices based on race that result in inequitable outcomes for whites over people of color and extend considerably beyond prejudice. These institutional policies often never mention any racial group, but the intent is to create advantages.
Example: A school system where students of color are more frequently distributed into the most crowded classrooms and underfunded schools and out of the higher-resourced schools.

Structural racism​ is the overarching system of racial bias across institutions and society. These systems give privileges to white people resulting in disadvantages to people of color.
Example: Stereotypes of people of color as criminals in mainstream movies and media. ​

No one is born racist or antiracist; these result from the choices we make. Being antiracist results from a conscious decision to make frequent, consistent, equitable choices daily. These choices require ongoing self-awareness and self-reflection as we move through life. In the absence of making antiracist choices, we (un)consciously uphold aspects of white supremacy, white-dominant culture, and unequal institutions and society. Being racist or antiracist is not about who you are; it is about what you do.

To be antiracist is a radical choice in the face of history, requiring a radical reorientation of our consciousness. Ibram Kendi "How to be an Antiracist"

The quality or state of being aware especially of something within oneself.

Being Antiracist at the Individual and Interpersonal Level
When we choose to be antiracist, we become actively conscious about race and racism and take actions to end racial inequities in our daily lives. Being antiracist is believing that racism is everyone's problem, and we all have a role to play in stopping it. In " The Racial Healing Handbook," Dr. Anneliese A. Singh reminds us of the importance of being purposeful: "You need the intentional mindset of Yep, this racism thing is everyone's problem-including mine, and I'm going to do something about it."

Being antiracist is different for white people than it is for people of color. For white people, being antiracist evolves with their racial identity development. They must acknowledge and understand their privilege, work to change their internalized racism, and interrupt racism when they see it. For people of color, it means recognizing how race and racism have been internalized, and whether it has been applied to other people of color.

All racial groups struggle under white supremacy. People of color groups are not always united in solidarity. People of color can act by challenging internalized white supremacy and interrupting patterns of prejudice against other racial groups. For everyone, it is an ongoing practice and process.
As a White Person or a Person of Color, Read More About Becoming Antiracist

Stop and Think!

Why do you want to be antiracist? Considering the breadth and depth of racism, committing to being antiracist may feel overwhelming yet small choices made daily can add up to big changes. Reflect on choices you make in your daily life (i.e., who you build relationships with, what media you follow, where you shop). How do these choices reflect being antiracist?

A Questioning Frame of Mind
A commitment to being antiracist manifests in our choices. When we encounter interpersonal racism, whether obvious or covert, there are ways to respond and interrupt it. Asking questions is a powerful tool to seek clarity or offer a new perspective. Below are some suggestions to use in conversations when racist behavior occurs:

Seek clarity: "Tell me more about __________."

Offer an alternative perspective: "Have you ever considered __________."

Speak your truth: "I don't see it the way you do. I see it as __________."

Find common ground: "We don't agree on __________ but we can agree on __________."

Give yourself the time and space you need: "Could we revisit the conversation about __________ tomorrow."

Set boundaries. "Please do not say __________ again to me or around me.

A trigger is something that causes an emotional and or physical reaction which impacts how you respond and or interact with another person or group of people.

As you practice, take note of your responses and ask: How am I processing the experience? What body sensations do I have? What is my emotional reaction? Notice what triggers your response and how it manifests in your body.

Another practical step is to uncover your own bias. In the video below, Verna Myers talks about acknowledging your biases in her Ted Talk:

Being antiracist on the individual and interpersonal levels is only part of the work. To end racism, we must also work to dismantle racist policies at the structural and institutional levels.

Example of Being Antiracist at the Institutional Level
Institutional racism is the policies and practices within institutions that benefit white people to the disadvantage of people of color. An example of institutional racism is how children of color are treated within the U.S. education system. On average, children of color are disciplined more harshly than their white peers. They are also less likely to be identified as gifted and have less access to quality teachers. Racism in schools can and does have severe consequences for students and our future.

When I say antiracist education, I am talking about equipping students, parents, and teachers with the tools needed to combat racism and ethnic discrimination, and to find ways to build a society that includes all people on an equal footing.

Antiracist education is a theory of learning and action to help us do the important work of dismantling racism in schools. It explicitly highlights, critiques, and challenges institutional racism. It addresses how racist beliefs and ideologies structure one-on-one interactions and personal relationships. It also examines and challenges how institutions support and maintain disadvantages and advantages along racial lines.

Antiracist education, while considering class, race, and gender inequity, places race at the center of its analysis. Focusing on race exposes direct links to unequal power, a system of oppression and privilege, and institutional practices.

One of the early formulations of antiracist education was developed by social science researchers, Carol Tator and Frances Henry, in Canada. It lists nine key traits.

Developing routines to make antiracist choices is a daily commitment that must be carried out with intention. The continued efforts of each of us individually can add up to a lasting change in our society. Since racism operates at multiple levels, we have to make antiracist choices at the various levels - individual, interpersonal, and institutional - to eradicate racism from the structures and fabric of our society. In "How to Be an Antiracist," Dr. Ibram Kendi writes, "[We must] believe in the possibility that we can strive to be antiracist from this day forward. Believe in the possibility that we can transform our societies to be antiracist from this day forward. Racist power is not godly. Racist policies are not indestructible. Racial inequities are not inevitable. Racist ideas are not natural to the human mind."

Let's Think

How have racist ideas impacted your daily life? Reflect and process - you may choose to sit in quiet reflection or write in your journal.

EDUCATORS: Read "The Urgent Need for Anti-Racist Education," by Christina Torres. She writes that antiracist education has an important role to play in fighting against hatred and violence. What benefits do you think could result from having discussions with young people about current events involving race and racism?

Let's Talk

The Antiracist Research and Policy Center at American University contends that racist policies fuel racist beliefs and behaviors and keep us divided in society.

By yourself, divide two pieces of paper into 4 sections. Write the following categories, one in each section, on the page: Education, Healthcare Treatment, Neighborhoods/Housing, Criminal Justice. Do this for both pages.

On the first sheet, jot down 2-3 racial groups of people you think get the best service/experience/outcomes in America for each category. You can repeat groups.

On the second sheet, jot down 2-3 racial groups of people you think get the worst service/experience/outcomes in America for each category. You can repeat groups.

Now, with a partner discuss what old and newer, you believe might account for these groups' experiences.

With your partner, return to each racial group you've listed, one at a time. Search the internet, look up the racial group, one of the four categories, and the word "policy" (limit your search to U.S. policies and seek out fact-based sources). Browse through the results for things that strike you.

Discuss with your partner:

Was it easy or difficult to find useful information on policies in these categories having to do with race? Why do you think that was?

For those racial groups that you thought had the best service/experience/outcomes, were you able to identify specific policies that helped them? Why yes? Or why not?

How do you think policies can be hidden or difficult to see in operation?

What did you discover that was new to you?

Were you wrong about anything you thought? How did you find out?

Was there anything uncomfortable about this exercise? Why yes? Or why not?

How can our learning about policies, racial groups, and outcomes help support anti-racism efforts?

Let's Act

Watch these two videos on Implicit Bias:

How can you hang out authentically with folks of some common interest, across racial lines?

EDUCATORS: Consider your current classroom or academic space. What one small shift can you do to strive to be more antiracist?

Visit the "Antiracism and America" web series developed by American University's Antiracist Research and Policy Center and The Guardian news outlet.

Pick a story to read. As you reflect on the story, think about what you learned that was new, how the story made you feel, how race shaped the experience of the storyteller and your response. You may choose to process this mentally, with a friend or in writing.

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No one is born racist or antiracist; these result from the choices we make. Being antiracist results from a conscious decision to make frequent, consistent, equitable choices daily. These choices require ongoing self-awareness and self-reflection as we move through life.

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For educators: explicit advice from Dena Simmons

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For educators: explicit advice from Dena Simmons

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1. Engage in Vigilant Self-Awareness

People who are white or perceived as white have more privilege and fewer barriers to resources than Black people and other people of color. If we do not know our power, we can abuse it unintentionally or fail to leverage it toward antiracism. Constant self-reflection enhances our ability to disrupt white privilege when we see or enact it. Some questions to ask yourself include

How does your identity provide or prevent access to necessary resources?

How does your power and privilege show up in your work with students, take up space, or silence others?

What single narratives are you telling yourself about students, and how does that affect grading, behavior management, and other interactions?

Do you and the academic materials you use uphold whiteness or lift up the voices and experiences of people of color?

2. Acknowledge Racism and the Ideology of White Supremacy

Acknowledging the social construct of race and racism and the ideology of white supremacy recognizes the problem so that we are not harmful in our ignorance and so that, together, we can strive for solutions. For educators of color, the work means continuing to call out racism and recruiting white coconspirators to join in antiracist work.

3. Study and Teach Representative History

No matter what subject you teach, history (including African American history, which is U.S. history) is important. Knowing our country's whole history helps us make sense of how our current education system perpetuates inequity.

For too long, we have taught U.S. history devoid of a true depiction of Black excellence and have focused on erasing the truth of racial oppression and uplifting whiteness. Our curriculum superficially talks about slavery and civil rights (notably, textbook provider McGraw-Hill called enslaved Africans "immigrants" and "workers" ), and teaching practices risk traumatizing Black students by enacting mock slave auctions, slave games, and underground railroad games. Alternately, resources such as Henry Louis Gates Jr.'s PBS documentary series on Reconstruction or The New York Times Magazine's 1619 Project provide a comprehensive opportunity to learn and discuss history and race with colleagues and students. The Zinn Education Project and Rethinking Schools also have teaching materials that explore topics like the Tulsa race riots and colonization.

4. Talk About Race with Students

To open up conversations with young people, use stories from history and literature as a starting point, and ask students to take on the perspective of a character about whom they are reading. Reading literature and role-playing enhance empathy and other social cognitive skills. Teaching Tolerance's resource, " Let's Talk: Discussing Race, Racism, and Other Difficult Topics," includes suggestions for working through discomfort. The Educational Leadership article " Helping Students Discuss Race Openly " also has a great list of steps to begin the conversation. (And the September 2019 issue of this newsletter includes guidance from educator Liz Kleinrock on how to lead students through challenging topics like race .)

5. When You See Racism, Do Something

Most important, when we see racism-whether at the individual or policy level-we must have the courage to act. White Fragility author Robin DiAngelo provides guidance for engaging in gentle but firm conversations with offenders that prevents the defensiveness that race conversations inspire. Share data on specific practices and use stories to humanize the data. Build partnerships with racial-justice organizations in your communities to integrate their work in teaching and learning. Form a taskforce to assess data, policies, and practices with an antiracist lens to disrupt systemic decisions that historically have disenfranchised people of color. Be mindful that these efforts should not be carried solely by the people of color in your school, who are living and struggling with racism on a daily basis.

Shape an Antiracist Future

In his book How to Be an Antiracist, Ibram X. Kendi writes, "The opposite of racist isn't 'not racist.' It is 'anti-racist.' ... One either allows racial inequities to persevere, as a racist, or confronts racial inequities, as an anti-racist. There is no in-between safe space of 'not racist'" (p. 9). Teaching for an antiracist future starts with us, the educators. An antiracist educator actively works to dismantle the structures, policies, institutions, and systems that create barriers and perpetuate race-based inequities for people of color. Educating students to see and respect the humanity and dignity of all people should be a national imperative, especially if we want to heal-and have a future-as a nation.

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Educators have an obligation to confront the harm of racism, says one social-emotional learning expert.

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Many amazing 21 Day challenges from the brilliant Dr. Eddie Moore

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Many amazing 21 Day challenges from the brilliant Dr. Eddie Moore

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21-Day Racial Equity Challenge — America & Moore

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In 1996, America & MOORE, LLC was established to provide comprehensive diversity and leadership trainings, workshops, keynotes and consultation for schools, businesses, colleges and universities. After 20 years, our list of challenging and action-oriented sessions includes, but is not limited to White Women Teaching Black Boys, The N!gga(er) Word, America Is Changing: Are You Ready?, The Personal Achievement Gap, #Zero2Hero: An Addiction and Success Story, White Privilege 101, Diversity, Power, Leadership & Moore. Founder, Dr. Moore is recognized as one of the nation’s top motivational speakers, educators and consultants, especially for his work with students K-16.
Dr. Moore is co-founder of the on-line journal Understanding and Dismantling Privilege, co-editor of Everyday White People Confront Racial and Social Injustice: 15 Stories and the forthcoming book, A White Women’s Guide to Teaching Black Boys. Dr. Moore received his Ph.D. from the University of Iowa in Education Leadership. His PhD research is on Black Football Players at D3 Schools in the Midwest. (T): @eddieknowsmoore | (IG): eddiemoorejr

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March 2021; includes a Facebook group, too

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WHAT IS THE 21 DAY RACIAL EQUITY AND SOCIAL JUSTICE CHALLENGE?

The challenge is designed to create dedicated time and space to build more effective social justice habits, particularly those dealing with issues of race, power, privilege, and leadership.

You will be presented with challenges such as reading an article, listening to a podcast, reflecting on personal experience and more. Participation in an activity like this helps us to discover how racial injustice and social injustice impact our community, to connect with one another, and to identify ways to dismantle racism and other forms of discrimination. This is an exciting opportunity to dive deep into racial equity and social justice. We hope you will join us on this journey and we can't wait to get started!

REGISTER FOR THE 2021 21-DAY CHALLENGE TODAY

We are excited to announce the 2021 21-Day Challenge for Racial Equity and Social Justice will launch Monday, March 1st, and run Monday through Friday, ending on March 29th. We hope that you will go into this challenge with an open heart and an open mind, ready to be pushed out of your comfort zone. We know these discussions can be difficult and can bring up powerful emotions, but your commitment to increasing your awareness is what will help move our community forward. Register for the challenge today!

INVEST $21for21

Challenge yourself to invest in your racial equity and social justice development by joining $21for21. Racial equity work is consistently underfunded. YWCA Greater Cleveland needs your help to provide high quality programming like the 21-Day Challenge. Make a $21 investment in your anti-racist development and encourage 21 other people to take the challenge and match your investment.

GOING NATIONWIDE

Thank you to everyone who already participated in the 2020 challenge! YWCA Cleveland had over 3,500 participants across the country and reached 700 unique ZIP codes. We also had 1,000 members in the 21 Day Challenge Facebook Group.

Sister YWCA's Take the Challenge

Thank you to YWCA Central Alabama, YWCA Central Maine, YWCA Central Virginia, YWCA Dayton, YWCA Hamilton, YWCA Kitsap County, YWCA Knoxville and the Tennessee Valley, YWCA Lower Cape Fear, YWCA Mahoning Valley, YWCA Metropolitan Phoenix, YWCA Nashville & Middle Tennessee, YWCA New Britain, YWCA Northeast Tennessee and Southwest Virginia, YWCA Northwest Ohio, YWCA Richmond, YWCA South Florida, YWCA South Hampton Roads, YWCA St. Paul, and YWCA Utah, for participating in the 2020 challenge!

WHAT INSPIRED YWCA'S 21 DAY CHALLENGE

This challenge was originally developed by Dr. Eddie Moore, Jr. and Debby Irving and has been adapted by many organizations across the country. The challenge is designed to create dedicated time and space to build more effective social justice habits, particularly those dealing with issues of race, power, privilege, and leadership.

We want to thank Food Solutions New England for inspiring this challenge. They were the first to adapt an exercise from Dr. Eddie Moore and Debby Irving's book into the interactive 21-Day Racial Equity Challenge, which they launched in 2014.

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YWCA 21 Day Race Equity and Social Justice Challenge

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Participants will be presented with challenges such as reading an article, listening to a podcast, reflecting on personal experience and more. Participation in an activity like this helps us to discover how racial injustice and social injustice impact our community, to connect with one another, to identify ways to dismantle racism and other forms of discrimination.

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We are sisters-and the great-great-granddaughters of Caroline and Allen, who were born enslaved in the state of Alabama. As African Americans and moms to Black sons, we are heartbroken and sick about the level of anti-Blackness that permeates every aspect of American life. We feel the urgency of the moment and want to help convert this moment into a movement for meaningful change. We believe our voices matter and that we have something to share with the world as a way to offer healing to this crisis.

Between us, we have careers in law and education, and a background in African-American Studies, nonviolent communication, meditation, right speech, and conflict resolution. With those skills, we launched the AntiRacist Table on June 20, 2020. Metaphorically and physically speaking, at the table you learn, celebrate, grieve, fight, and live in community.

We offer a 30-Day Challenge that has been intentionally curated to help you be educated; face and get past shame, anger, and blame; and develop empathy-all key elements of creating an anti-racist America. Each day participants receive a daily lesson consisting of reading, videos, podcasts, journal/reflection prompts, and mindfulness practices. Each week participants work through a subset of our core principles, which we feel are essential aspects of bringing mindful anti-racist practice into daily life.

We provide the tools to help tackle emotionality-shame, guilt, and anger-and translate the seminal works of Dr. Ibram X. Kendi and Dr. Robin DiAngelo, among other academic experts, into 10 core principles: education, intention, courage, individuality, humanity, anti-racist work, equality, empathy, allies, and love. These are the focus of the AntiRacist Table's 30-Day Challenge -an invitation to do the hard work to be anti-racist.

1. Education

Kendi, a leading scholar on anti-racism, argues that the heart of racism is denial. You cannot acknowledge or change that which you deny or choose not to see. Thus, the first step toward dismantling racism is breaking through that denial, by educating oneself about the history of African Americans and the Black experience.

Seeing systemic racism is foundational work. Historical context provides an understanding of the original dehumanization of African Americans that is the foundation upon which American racism is built. It reveals the laws and policies implemented to support white supremacy, and the cultural rules and norms that created anti-Blackness.

Learning about the unconscious and automatic ways racism presents itself will help one recognize it and take steps to stop it. Challenge participants credit "learning lesser-known facts" as helping them not only see and understand, but launch them into action to fight against racism and anti-Blackness.

2. Intention

Anti-racism is a way of life. Like starting any new habit, anti-racism requires a conscious decision to pursue it as a goal and way of being. Intention brings mindful presence and awareness to what we say and what we do.

Setting the intention to have an open heart and open mind in order to be anti-racist affects how one shows up. Present-moment awareness links with our intention to pull us out of autopilot and into conscious pursuit of our goals.

This opens the door to growth. As psychologist Rick Hanson explains, whatever you hold in attention has a special power to change your brain. Attention is like a combination spotlight and vacuum cleaner: It illuminates what it rests upon and then sucks it into your brain-and your self. Setting the intention to pursue anti-racism will help adjust one's life lens, and it will deactivate the trance of autopilot. This will help you tap into your internal motivation to be anti-racist.

And according to studies, being motivated internally is what will most help you to make lasting change. Affirming why you want to be anti-racist as part of your intention will remind you of your goal and help you stick to it. This is why we offer the 30-Day Challenge: It provides participants with a clarity of purpose and helps them commit to action.

3. Courage

Facing facts about racism, white privilege, and white supremacy is hard.

Robin DiAngelo, a sociologist and author, coined the term "white fragility" to describe "the defensive reactions so many white people have when our racial worldviews, positions, or advantages are questioned or challenged." She continues:

For a lot of white people, just suggesting that being white has meaning will trigger a deep, defensive response. And that defensiveness serves to maintain both our comfort and our positions in a racially inequitable society from which we benefit.

Reckoning with shame, blame, guilt, and anger takes courage and vulnerability. As researcher Brené Brown says, vulnerability is when we feel uncertainty, risk, or emotional exposure. Vulnerability takes courage; it takes learning how to be brave and afraid at the exact same time. Courage allows us to be an everyday hero and to inspire collective heroism.

To be anti-racist, you have to sit with the discomfort and put courage, compassion, and vulnerability over comfort. Cultivating an anti-racist mindfulness practice is essential to doing and sustaining this work. Challenge participants say The AntiRacist Table Mindfulness Practices incorporated in the Challenge provided a space for them to face hard emotions and to find compassion.

4. Individuality

Seeing another person's individuality means noticing the details and qualities, both positive and negative, that set them apart from the group. But mental shortcuts that psychologists call heuristics "can lead us to make potentially damaging assumptions about other people," as Zaid Jilani writes in Greater Good. "Racial stereotyping, for instance, comes from the belief that membership in a racial group defines someone on a range of characteristics, including their behavior."

To be anti-racist, it's critical to understand and recognize that Black people have historically been assigned a negative group identity, being labeled lazy, irresponsible, dangerous, and angry. Realizing that these stereotypes can prevent us from seeing Black people as individuals is an important awareness because, according to research, when we view people who are "not like us" in terms of their own individual tastes and preferences, we feel less threatened by them.

5. Humanity

Supporting humanity means rehumanizing African Americans.

As philosopher Michelle Maiese argues, the process of dehumanization demonizes "the enemy, making them seem less than human and hence not worthy of humane treatment." The result is a framing of "good versus evil."

According to Maiese, "dehumanization might be mitigated or reversed through humanization efforts, the development of empathy, the establishment of personal relationships between conflicting parties, and the pursuit of common goals."

Just as denial is the heart of racism, so seeing humanity in others is at the heart of anti-racism. "We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny," wrote Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. "Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly."

6. Anti-racist work

In this context, "anti-racist" is a verb, defined by the action one is taking. An anti-racist is "one who is supporting an anti-racist policy through their actions or expressing an anti-racist idea," writes Ibram X. Kendi.

To be anti-racist, one must actively work to create anti-racist policies. One must engage the world seeing all racial groups as equals and intentionally promote equity. Anti-racists support policies that reduce racial inequity, such as:

Reparations to address the wealth gap between Black families and white created by slavery, Jim Crow segregation, anti-Black practices such as redlining, and other discriminatory public policies in criminal justice and education that have withheld opportunities to build wealth from Black people that have been afforded to whites.

Educating Americans about systemic racism and racist policies and the need to dismantle them.

Holding police with records of excessive force accountable.

7. Equality

"Racial inequity is when two or more racial groups are not standing on approximately equal footing," writes Kendi. One must hold all groups of people-a color, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, religion, ability, age, and any combination of those-as equal. To champion equality is to fight for equity. It is to understand that corrective action is needed to create equity.

8. Empathy

Cultivating empathy is key to rehumanizing the dehumanized. "Empathy is . . . an umbrella term that describes multiple ways people respond to one another, including sharing, thinking about, and caring about others' feelings," writes Jamil Zaki, director of the Stanford Social Neuroscience Laboratory and author of The War for Kindness. The best way to foster empathy, suggests Zaki, is to share experiences, because that's the "closest we come to dissolving the boundary between self and other." It's this empathic concern that motivates us to "improve someone else's well-being."

We know from studies that empathy creates connection and it breaks down the "us and them" divide so that we see outsiders as human beings.

But empathy has another benefit to anti-racists: It helps to build the ability to bounce back from shame, a critical tool in this work. Empathy increases shame resilience because it moves us toward connection, compassion, and courage-the opposite of the fear, blame, and disconnection that result from shame. Staying stuck in shame means one is not working to be anti-racist.

9. Allyship

To be an ally is to take on this struggle as if it is your own. It means that you do what is uncomfortable. You are committed to taking a risk, sharing any privilege you have to center marginalized Black and brown people. When you see something, you say something. You imagine and act as if you do not have a choice. You fight to dismantle injustice.

"Ordinary people with extraordinary vision can redeem the soul of America by getting in what I call good trouble, necessary trouble," wrote Congressman John Lewis just before his death. Allies get into good trouble. As one Challenge participant said, "Coming to terms with and exploring the deeply rooted systems of white supremacy within my own self and the way in which I have worked in the world are critical for me to become a true ally."

10. Love

Choosing love and healing over fear and oppression is a path of courageous vulnerability. Gratitude, joy, and an open heart are all components of love that enable one to do the work to be anti-racist and to bring anti-racism into daily life. Accepting love empowers us to do the hard work. As meditation and communication teacher Oren Jay Sofer says:

The more deeply we feel our own life, the more we experience our interconnectedness with others. This kind of love is a force for change. It bestows the courage to face the suffering in the world and the energy to act for its healing.

Barbara Fredrickson, director of Positive Emotions and Psychophysiology Laboratory at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, puts it another way: "Love draws you out of your cocoon of self-absorption to attune to others. Love allows you to really see another person, holistically, with care, concern, and compassion."

America is at a critical moment. This is the call of our time. We must do more than put out a sign or read a book-we must come to understand our shared history and work to support our collective humanity by eradicating anti-Blackness in the many forms that it exists. You can begin right now by starting to educate yourself-and the AntiRacist Table 30-Day Challenge is one place to start.

Greater Good wants to know: Do you think this article will influence your opinions or behavior?

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The founders of a new organization, the AntiRacist Table, suggest tools you can use to work against prejudice and inequality.

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The re-named Teaching Tolerance, still bold & intense and filled with knowledge.

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Learning for Justice is a community education program of the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) that centers civic and political action education for everyone.

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Book lists, podcasts, Instagram feed, webinars - Embrace Race content always pushes my learning AND my actions.

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EmbraceRace supports parents to raise children who are brave, informed and thoughtful about race. Join the movement!

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Mark Joseph and the folks at the National Initiative on Mixed-Income Communities have a podcast! 

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Mark Joseph and the folks at the National Initiative on Mixed-Income Communities have a podcast! 

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Episodes "explore the everyday work of creating inclusive, equitable and racially just communities... (and) spotlight bold thinking and action by creative, passionate, experienced thinkers and actors from cities and communities around the US and Canada.

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Bending The Arc explores the everyday work of creating inclusive, equitable and racially just communities. This podcast spotlights bold thinking and action by creative, passionate, experienced thinkers and actors from cities and communities around the US and Canada. Join us to learn about strategies to make communities diverse, vibrant places of well-being and opportunity.

Bending the Arc is produced by the National Initiative on Mixed-Income Communities at the Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences at Case Western Reserve University and co-hosted by Dr. Mark Joseph and Dr. Amy Khare.

Bending The Arc explores the everyday work of creating inclusive, equitable and racially just communities. This podcast spotlights bold thinking and action by creative, passionate, experienced thinkers and actors from cities and communities around the US and Canada. Join us to learn about strategies to make communities diverse, vibrant places of well-being and opportunity.

Bending the Arc is produced by the National Initiative on Mixed-Income Communities at the Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences at Case Western Reserve University and co-hosted by Dr. Mark Joseph and Dr. Amy Khare.

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the national initiative on mixed-income communities

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‎Bending The Arc explores the everyday work of creating inclusive, equitable and racially just communities. This podcast spotlights bold thinking and action by creative, passionate, experienced thinkers and actors from cities and communities around the US and Canada. Join us to learn about strategies...

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Intersection of SEL and racial equity

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Tweets by LiberatED_SEL

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Such powerful learning here, for personal growth AND for taking back to the classroom, too.

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Read about inventive approaches for using Facing History in the classroom, personal stories, news, and insights from educators, scholars, staff, and students who share the goal of creating a better, more informed, and more thoughtful society. Facing Today illuminates our work in schools and communities across the globe while our other two blogs focus on work being done locally in Canada and Southern California.

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Read about inventive approaches for using Facing History in the classroom, personal stories, news, and insights from educators, scholars, staff, and students who share the goal of creating a better, more informed, and more thoughtful society. Facing Today illuminates our work in schools and communities across the globe while our other two blogs focus on work being done locally in Canada and Southern California.

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I'm biased, because he is from Shaker. But his Twitter is a place to read his writing and his recommendations, too.

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Tweets by WesleyLowery

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The Conscious Kid - a support for parenting + teaching

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The Conscious Kid - a support for parenting + teaching

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Instagram is the best way to follow their work closely AND join their Patreon!

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It's hard to stay on top of everything he's doing, but Twitter is a great help.

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Learning + Action. Open up your wallet and subscribe!

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Sonja Cherry-Paul helps us understand the importance of book choices

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Sonja Cherry-Paul helps us understand the importance of book choices

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In this moment in the nation, when anti-Blackness is so widespread, it is especially important for Black children to know that they are precious and brilliant. And one powerful way to affirm Blackness and Black identities is through reading.

Educator and multicultural scholar Rudine Sims Bishop provides a powerful metaphor for reading. She says that, sometimes, books can serve as mirrors, windows, and sliding-glass doors. Books can help us to see ourselves, look out into the world and learn about the experiences of others, and use our imaginations to become part of the world an author captures or creates.

An essential part of that metaphor is the way books can serve as mirrors that reflect the racial and cultural identities of the reader. Yet historically and presently, there have been too few books that mirror Black identities - too fewbooks that center Black joy. This was a particular frustration for me, as a Black parent, when seeking out books for my daughter that were a reflection of her lived-experiences and a celebration of Blackness.

As parents and caregivers, we understand how important it is for children to read. And we also understand how important it is that Black children feel seen, valued, and loved in their reading lives. As Director of Diversity and Equity at the Teachers College Reading and Writing Project at Columbia University, my work in advancing antiracism in education begins by centering and honoring the lived experiences of students of color. So I specifically want to share the kind of books that affirm and celebrate Black identities. These are books that not only belong on bookshelves in our homes, classrooms, and school libraries. They should be an integral part of the curriculum.

Echoed across the research is that there are two things Black children need to further their emotional and academic development. First, is to develop strong racial and cultural identities. Second is opportunities to develop their critical consciousness. When inclusive, culturally responsive books are kept out of or are limited in the curriculum and on library shelves, the message becomes clear to all students about whose lives matter and whose don't. Books offer powerful mirrors for Black children that are joyful to read in school and at home. Here's what to consider.
Choose books that reinforce Black is beautiful.
Because racism is real, it's possible your child has already experienced anti-Blackness directly. When my daughter was 4, she came home from nursery school as asked, "Why am I brown all over?" She asked this question in a way that absolutely let me know that something problematic happened in her pre-K classroom that day. And sure enough, I learned that she was told by a white peer that she could not play with her because she was "brown all over."

Books can help us counter negative messages and provide empowering ones. For young children ages 4-7, reading aloud " Skin Again" by bell hooks, "The Skin You Live In" by Michael Tyler, and " Sulwe" by Lupita N'yongo help young Black children to recognize the beauty of their Black skin.

Similarly, Black hair is beautiful. And yet, the world often tries to tell us otherwise. " Hair Love" by Matthew Cherry, " Crown: An Ode To The Fresh Cut" by Derrick Barnes, and " Bippity Bop Barbershop" by Natasha Anastasia Tarpley are each powerful odes that affirm Black hair.

Reading books like these at home are important. They can help open up opportunities for children to talk to caregivers about any negative messages they're wrestling with. They can give caregivers and parents opportunities to combat those messages with messages of love, affirmation, and joy. And they help to provide Black children with the protective armor they need to develop strong racial and cultural identities.
Find stories that feature dynamic characters.
When selecting books that increase the visibility of Black identities, choose books that present Black characters and people in dynamic ways, experiencing a range of emotions, and taking part in a variety of experiences. Avoid books that lean into stereotypes and, instead, select those that demonstrate the full humanity of Black people. Books that celebrate Blackness and help Black children feel seen include "All Because You Matter" and "Freedom Soup" both by Tami Charles, "I Am Every Good Thing," another incredible book by Derrick Barnes, and "Saturday" by Oge Mora.

Books that feature Black characters riding skateboards, honoring their cultural identities, spending time with a parent enjoying their special bond, and more, validate the various experiences of Black children.

Tips for selecting books centered on Black joy:

Selecting books that center Black joy can help you and your child experience a celebration of Blackness as you read together. Think about:

1. Characters - Look for books that present Black characters in a variety of ways so that Black children can imagine their past, present, and future. As previously mentioned, one thing that's frustrating is the way society often presents Black identity as a singular thing. Select books that recognize the richness and diversity of Black identities.

2. Family Structures - Look for books that are inclusive of many families, such asadoptive families, multiracial families, intergenerational family units, single-parents, and same-sex parents and caregivers.

3. Communities - Select books that represent communities positively; that show the richness of communities, their strength and resilience. It's important that stories do not limit a community's past and present histories to oppression, but instead demonstrate the care and wisdom that exists within communities.

4. Racial/Cultural Identities - Look for books where Black identities and cultures are presented powerfully and authentically. Select books that show the authentic ways Black people speak, where languages and traditions are presented accurately and respectfully.

Keep these resources in mind.
Black authors and illustrators understand the importance of celebrating Black identities. And they bring this nuanced, authentic understanding to the page. There are several ways to locate their work. Check with local libraries and bookstores. The following two websites are also helpful resources. The Brown Bookshelf focuses on raising awareness of the myriad Black voices writing for young readers. AALBC, is the oldest and largest online bookstore "dedicated to African American and Black literature from around the world."

Books about Black characters and Black people are for ALL readers. And they are especially for Black children who deserve to feel seen and valued in the world.
Dr. Sonja Cherry-Paul is an author, consultant, and Director of Diversity and Equity at Teachers College Reading and Writing Project. She is also the co-founder and co-facilitator of the Institute for Racial Equity in Literacy.

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In this moment in the nation, when anti-Blackness is so widespread, it is especially important for Black children to know that they are precious and brilliant. And one powerful way to affirm Blackness and Black identities is through reading. Educator and multicultural scholar Rudine Sims Bishop provides a powerful metaphor for reading.

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To read Stamped by Jason Reynolds and Ibram Kendi is to be invited into Black history. Read & learn. Read & work for change.

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What an amazing time we had with Jason Reynolds and Ibram X. Kendi, hearing from them about their latest novel Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You! The discussion was timely and well received, so thank you for your participation, and a special thank-you to our moderator Sonja Cherry-Paul.

Below we've compiled a list of resources to help you continue the conversation within your communities.

IBRAM X. KENDI www.ibramxkendi.com
Facebook - /ibramxkendi
Twitter -@DrIbram
Instagram -@IbramXK

NEW BOOK COMING JUNE 16!

With bold art and thoughtful yet playful text, Antiracist Baby introduces the youngest readers and the grown-ups in their lives to the concept and power of antiracism. Learn more.

DR. SONJA CHERRY-PAUL
Educator's Guide

"This guide suggests a month-long approach to reading and discussing Stamped with middle-school and high-school readers in English, English language arts, social studies, history, and humanities classrooms." Access it here.

Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson

Dying of Whiteness: How the Politics of Racial Resentment Is Killing America's Heartland by Jonathan M. Metzl

Ghost Boys by Jewell Parker Roads

How It Went Down by Kekla Magoon

How to Be an Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi

It's Trevor Noah: Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood (Adapted for Young Readers) by Trevor Noah

Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption by Bryan Stevenson

March by John Lewis and Andrew Aydin

Monster by Walter Dean Myers

We Want to Do More Than Survive: Abolitionist Teaching and the Pursuit of Educational Freedom by Bettina L. Love

White Fragility by Robin DiAngelo

A Black Women's History of the United States by Daina Ramey Berry and Kali N. Gross

Amazons, Abolitionists, and Activists: A Graphic History of Women's Fight for Their Rights by Mikki Kendall

All American Boys by Brendan Kiely and Jason Reynolds

An Indigenous Peoples' History of the United States by Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz

Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates

Black Appetite. White Food.: Issues of Race, Voice, and Justice Within and Beyond the Classroom by Jamila Lyiscott

Black Brother, Black Brother by Jewell Parker Rhodes

Citizen: An American Lyric by Claudia Rankine

Dear Martin by Nic Stone

Dying of Whiteness by Jonathan Metzl

The Fire This Time: A New Generation Speaks about Race by Jesmyn Ward

For White Folks Who Teach in the Hood . . . and the Rest of Y'all Too: Reality Pedagogy and Urban Education by Christopher Emdin

The Gold Cadillac by Mildred D. Taylor

The Guide for White Women Who Teach Black Boys by Eddie Moore, Jr., Ali Michael, and Marguerite W. Penick-Parks

Heart and Soul: The Story of America and African Americans by Kadir Nelson

The History of White People by Nell Irvin Painter

How Fascism Works: The Politics of Us and Them by Jason Stanley

Kindred by Octavia E. Butler

Letting Go of Literary Whiteness: Antiracist Literature Instruction for White Students by Carlin Borsheim-Black and Sophia Tatiana Sarigianides

Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds

Miles Morales: Spider-Man by Jason Reynolds

"Multiplication Is for White People": Raising Expectations for Other People's Children by Lisa Delpit

Murder on the Red River by Marcie Rendon

Not Light, But Fire: How to Lead Meaningful Race Conversations in the Classroom by Matthew R. Kay

Piecing Me Together by Renee Watson

Rising Out of Hatred: The Awakening of a Former White Nationalist by Eli Saslow

So You Want to Talk about Race by Ijeoma Oluo

Stamped: For our Classrooms, Homes, and Communities from Hachette Book Group

Sulwe by Lupita Nyong'o

Surviving Becky(s): Pedagogies for Deconstructing Whiteness and Gender by Cheryl E. Matias

The Teacher Wars: A History of America's Most Embattled Profession by Dana Goldstein

Teaching Race: How to Help Students Unmask and Challenge Racism by Steven Brookfield

There, There by Tommy Orange

This Book Is Anti-Racist: 20 Lessons on How to Wake Up, Take Action, and Do the Work by Tiffany Jewell

What If All the Kids Are White? Anti-bias Multicultural Education with Young Children and Families by Julie Olsen Edwards, Louise Derman-Sparks, and Patricia Ramsey

White Rage by Carol Anderson

*These texts were shared by participants within the chat during the live discussion.

What Antiracist Language Teachers Do

Antiracist language teachers consciously work to create safe learning environments for all students. This poster provides a description of what these teachers do.

Qualities of Antiracist ELA Curricula

Antiracist ELA curricula must celebrate and sustain diversity as part of educational justice in a changing world. This poster describes the qualities of such curricula.

Take a look at what we discussed with Jason Reynolds and Ibram X. Kendi.

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Stamped: Resources for your Classroom - NCTE

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IBRAM X. KENDI www.ibramxkendi.com Facebook - /ibramxkendi Twitter -@DrIbram Instagram -@IbramXK NEW BOOK COMING JUNE 16! With bold art and thoughtful yet playful text, Antiracist Baby introduces the youngest readers and the grown-ups in their lives to the concept and power of antiracism. Learn more.

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Former kindergarten teacher in Brooklyn, NY, now providing a ton of kids lit resources (and creating them, too!)

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Former high school teacher in Cambridge, MA, now providing a ton of kids lit resources

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Tweets by TchKimPossible

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Black Lives Matter - Children's Non-Fiction books - Santa Clara County Library

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Black Lives Matter - Children's Non-Fiction books by SCCLD LIBRARIANS FOR KIDS - a staff-created list

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Find people you trust and follow them, learn from them.

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The Children's Book Review
How is it that we have not yet learned the mistakes of our history's past? How is it that we are so technologically advanced that we are working towards sending humans to Mars, but we are not yet able to love each other equally? Why does respecting one another as equals have to feel so darn hard?

Enough is enough! Black Lives Matter!

No one person's life is worth a higher value than another. It's time to get uncomfortable, it's time to immerse ourselves in the stories of others so that we may know and love our neighbors as we love ourselves.

"Race and racism is a reality that so many of us grow up learning to just deal with. But if we ever hope to move past it, it can't just be on people of color to deal with it. It's up to all of us-Black, white, everyone-no matter how well-meaning we think we might be, to do the honest, uncomfortable work of rooting it out. It starts with self-examination and listening to those whose lives are different from our own. It ends with justice, compassion, and empathy that manifests in our lives and on our streets." - Michelle Obama

The responsibility of a better future is on us. Please read these stories written by black voices. Read them well-especially if you're white like me. Read them with your children and teens and start a conversation so that we may have hope for an undivided future in which all communities feel safe.
Written by Kwame Alexander Illustrated by Kadir Nelson
Publisher's Synopsis: The Newbery Award-winning author of THE CROSSOVER pens an ode to black American triumph and tribulation, with art from a two-time Caldecott Honoree.

Originally performed for ESPN's The Undefeated, this poem is a love letter to black life in the United States. It highlights the unspeakable trauma of slavery, the faith and fire of the civil rights movement, and the grit, passion, and perseverance of some of the world's greatest heroes. The text is also peppered with references to the words of Martin Luther King, Jr., Langston Hughes, Gwendolyn Brooks, and others, offering deeper insights into the accomplishments of the past, while bringing stark attention to the endurance and spirit of those surviving and thriving in the present. Robust back matter at the end provides valuable historical context and additional detail for those wishing to learn more.

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Written and Illustrated by Jerry Craft

Ages 6-9 | Publisher: Versify | April 2, 2019 | ISBN-13: 978-1328780966

Publisher's Synopsis: Perfect for fans of Raina Telgemeier and Gene Luen Yang, New Kid is a timely, honest graphic novel about starting over at a new school where diversity is low and the struggle to fit in is real, from award-winning author-illustrator Jerry Craft.

Seventh grader Jordan Banks loves nothing more than drawing cartoons about his life. But instead of sending him to the art school of his dreams, his parents enroll him in a prestigious private school known for its academics, where Jordan is one of the few kids of color in his entire grade.

As he makes the daily trip from his Washington Heights apartment to the upscale Riverdale Academy Day School, Jordan soon finds himself torn between two worlds-and not really fitting into either one. Can Jordan learn to navigate his new school culture while keeping his neighborhood friends and staying true to himself?

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Written by Nic Stone
Ages 8-12 | Publisher: HarperCollins | February 5, 2019 | ISBN-13: 978-0062691200

Publisher's Synopsis: Handpicked by Amazon kids' books editor, Seira Wilson, for Prime Book Box - a children's subscription that inspires a love of reading.

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Nic Stone comes a middle-grade road-trip story through American race relations past and present, perfect for fans of Jacqueline Woodson and Jason Reynolds.

How to Go on an Unplanned Road Trip with Your Grandma:
Grab a Suitcase: Prepacked from the big spring break trip that got CANCELLED.
Fasten Your Seatbelt: G'ma's never conventional, so this trip won't be either.
Use the Green Book: G'ma's most treasured possession. It holds history, memories, and most important, the way home.

What Not to Bring:
A Cell Phone: Avoid contact with Dad at all costs. Even when G'ma starts acting stranger than usual.

Set against the backdrop of the segregation history of the American South, take a trip with this New York Times bestseller and an eleven-year-old boy who is about to discover that the world hasn't always been a welcoming place for kids like him, and things aren't always what they seem-his G'ma included."

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Written by Lisa Moore Ramée
Ages 8-12 | Publisher: Balzer + Bray | March 12, 2019 | ISBN-13: 978-0062836687

Publisher's Synopsis: From debut author Lisa Moore Ramée comes this funny and big-hearted debut middle grade novel about friendship, family, and standing up for what's right, perfect for fans of Angie Thomas's The Hate U Give and the novels of Renée Watson and Jason Reynolds.

Twelve-year-old Shayla is allergic to trouble. All she wants to do is to follow the rules. (Oh, and she'd also like to make it through seventh grade with her best friendships intact, learn to run track, and have a cute boy see past her giant forehead.)

But in junior high, it's like all the rules have changed. Now she's suddenly questioning who her best friends are and some people at school are saying she's not black enough. Wait, what?

Shay's sister, Hana, is involved in Black Lives Matter, but Shay doesn't think that's for her. After experiencing a powerful protest, though, Shay decides some rules are worth breaking. She starts wearing an armband to school in support of the Black Lives movement. Soon everyone is taking sides. And she is given an ultimatum.

Shay is scared to do the wrong thing (and even more scared to do the right thing), but if she doesn't face her fear, she'll be forever tripping over the next hurdle. Now that's trouble, for real.

Buy the Book
Written by Jewell Parker Rhodes
Ages 8-12 | Publisher: Balzer + Bray | March 12, 2019 | ISBN-13: 978-0062836687
Framed. Bullied. Disliked. But I know I can still be the best.
Publisher's Synopsis: From award-winning and bestselling author, Jewell Parker Rhodes comes a powerful coming-of-age story about two brothers, one who presents as white, the other as black, and the complex ways in which they are forced to navigate the world, all while training for a fencing competition.

Sometimes, 12-year-old Donte wishes he were invisible. As one of the few black boys at Middlefield Prep, most of the students don't look like him. They don't like him either. Dubbing him "Black Brother," Donte's teachers and classmates make it clear they wish he were more like his lighter-skinned brother, Trey.

When he's bullied and framed by the captain of the fencing team, "King" Alan, he's suspended from school and arrested for something he didn't do.

Terrified, searching for a place where he belongs, Donte joins a local youth center and meets former Olympic fencer Arden Jones. With Arden's help, he begins training as a competitive fencer, setting his sights on taking down the fencing team captain, no matter what.

As Donte hones his fencing skills and grows closer to achieving his goal, he learns the fight for justice is far from over. Now Donte must confront his bullies, racism, and the corrupt systems of power that led to his arrest.

Powerful and emotionally gripping, Black Brother, Black Brother is a careful examination of the school-to-prison pipeline and follows one boy's fight against racism and his empowering path to finding his voice.

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Written by Jewell Parker Rhodes
Ages 10+ | Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers | March 3, 2020 | ISBN-13: 978-0316493802
nly the living can make the world better. Live and make it better.
Publisher's Synopsis: A heartbreaking and powerful story about a black boy killed by a police officer, drawing connections through history, from award-winning author Jewell Parker Rhodes.

Twelve-year-old Jerome is shot by a police officer who mistakes his toy gun for a real threat. As a ghost, he observes the devastation that's been unleashed on his family and community in the wake of what they see as an unjust and brutal killing.

Soon Jerome meets another ghost: Emmett Till, a boy from a very different time but similar circumstances. Emmett helps Jerome process what has happened, on a journey towards recognizing how historical racism may have led to the events that ended his life. Jerome also meets Sarah, the daughter of the police officer, who grapples with her father's actions.

Once again Jewell Parker Rhodes deftly weaves historical and socio-political layers into a gripping and poignant story about how children and families face the complexities of today's world, and how one boy grows to understand American blackness in the aftermath of his own death.

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Written by Tony Medina
Illustrated by John Jennings and Stacey Robinson
Ages 10+ | Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers | April 17, 2018 | ISBN-13: 978-0316262286

Publisher's Synopsis: Alfonso Jones can't wait to play the role of Hamlet in his school's hip-hop rendition of the classic Shakespearean play. He also wants to let his best friend, Danetta, know how he really feels about her. But as he is buying his first suit, an off-duty police officer mistakes a clothes hanger for a gun, and he shoots Alfonso.

When Alfonso wakes up in the afterlife, he's on a ghost train guided by well-known victims of police shootings, who teach him what he needs to know about this subterranean spiritual world. Meanwhile, Alfonso's family and friends struggle with their grief and seek justice for Alfonso in the streets. As they confront their new realities, both Alfonso and those he loves realize the work that lies ahead in the fight for justice.

In the first graphic novel for young readers to focus on police brutality and the Black Lives Matter movement, as in Hamlet, the dead shall speak-and the living yield even more surprises.

Featuring a foreword by Bryan Stevenson, Executive Director of the Equal Justice Initiative and author of Just Mercy
Written by Beacon House Writers
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Ages 11+ | Publisher: Tu Books |October 12, 2017 | ISBN-13: 978-1620142639

Publisher's Synopsis: Meet Tajon.

Tajon is sixteen and black. He's tall and skinny, and he has dreadlocks. Tajon works hard and tries his best to be good. He does O.K. in school. He has plans. He's determined.

Tajon is the kind of son who cares about his family. He's the kind of brother who stands up for his sister. He's the kind of kid who dreams big dreams to get himself and those he loves up and out of the hood.

Tajon is the one who gets shot.

Meet the Authors
Written by Jacqueline Woodson
In March 2015, ten teen girls from Beacon House in Washington, DC started writing a novel during the rise of the Black Lives Matter movement. They began with one central question: What really happens in a community when a black youth is the victim of violence by police? How are those lives affected? Each writer takes on the perspective of a central character - the victim, the police officer, the witness, the parent, the friend, the officer's kids - and examines how it feels to be a human being on all sides of this event. Their stories thoughtfully explore issues of race, violence, loyalty, and justice in a community torn apart but seeking connection.

Ages 12+ | Publisher: Shout Mouse Press, Inc. | March 13, 2017 | ISBN-13: 978-0996927451

Publisher's Synopsis: A lyrical story of star-crossed love perfect for readers of The Hate U Give, by National Ambassador for Children's Literature Jacqueline Woodson-now celebrating its twentieth anniversary, and including a new preface by the author.

Jeremiah feels good inside his own skin. That is, when he's in his own Brooklyn neighborhood. But now he's going to be attending a fancy prep school in Manhattan, and black teenage boys don't exactly fit in there. So it's a surprise when he meets Ellie the first week of school. In one frozen moment their eyes lock, and after that they know they fit together-even though she's Jewish and he's black. Their worlds are so different, but to them that's not what matters. Too bad the rest of the world has to get in their way.

Jacqueline Woodson's work has been called "moving and resonant" ( Wall Street Journal) and "gorgeous" ( Vanity Fair). If You Come Softly is a powerful story of interracial love that leaves readers wondering "why" and "if only . . ."
Written by Jason Reynolds and Brendan Kiely
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Ages 12+ | Publisher: Nancy Paulsen Books | 2010 | ISBN-13: 978-0525515487

Publisher's Synopsis: A 2016 Coretta Scott King Author Honor book, and recipient of the Walter Dean Myers Award for Outstanding Children's Literature.

In this Coretta Scott King Honor Award-winning novel, two teens-one black, one white-grapple with the repercussions of a single violent act that leaves their school, their community, and, ultimately, the country bitterly divided by racial tension.

A bag of chips. That's all sixteen-year-old Rashad is looking for at the corner bodega. What he finds instead is a fist-happy cop, Paul Galluzzo, who mistakes Rashad for a shoplifter, mistakes Rashad's pleadings that he's stolen nothing for belligerence, mistakes Rashad's resistance to leave the bodega as resisting arrest, mistakes Rashad's every flinch at every punch the cop throws as further resistance and refusal to STAY STILL as ordered. But how can you stay still when someone is pounding your face into the concrete pavement?

There were witnesses: Quinn Collins-a varsity basketball player and Rashad's classmate who has been raised by Paul since his own father died in Afghanistan-and a video camera. Soon the beating is all over the news and Paul is getting threatened with accusations of prejudice and racial brutality. Quinn refuses to believe that the man who has basically been his savior could possibly be guilty. But then Rashad is absent. And absent again. And again. And the basketball team-half of whom are Rashad's best friends-start to take sides. As does the school. And the town. Simmering tensions threaten to explode as Rashad and Quinn are forced to face decisions and consequences they had never considered before.

Written in tandem by two award-winning authors, this four-starred reviews tour de force shares the alternating perspectives of Rashad and Quinn as the complications from that single violent moment, the type taken from the headlines, unfold and reverberate to highlight an unwelcome truth.
Edited by Ibi Zoboi
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Ages 12+ | Publisher: Atheneum/Caitlyn Dlouhy Books | September 29, 2015 | ISBN-13: 978-1481463331

Publisher's Synopsis: Edited by National Book Award finalist Ibi Zoboi, and featuring some of the most acclaimed bestselling Black authors writing for teens today- Black Enough is an essential collection of captivating stories about what it's like to be young and Black in America.

Black is...sisters navigating their relationship at summer camp in Portland, Oregon, as written by Renée Watson.

Black is...three friends walking back from the community pool talking about nothing and everything, in a story by Jason Reynolds.

Black is...Nic Stone's high-class beauty dating a boy her momma would never approve of.

Black is...two girls kissing in Justina Ireland's story set in Maryland.
Written by Jason Reynolds and Ibram X. Kendi
Black is urban and rural, wealthy and poor, mixed race, immigrants, and more-because there are countless ways to be Black enough.

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Ages 13+ | Publisher: Balzer + Bray | January 8, 2019 | ISBN-13: 978-0062698728

Publisher's Synopsis: A timely, crucial, and empowering exploration of racism-and antiracism-in America

This is NOT a history book.
This is a book about the here and now.
A book to help us better understand why we are where we are.
A book about race.
Written by Nic Stone

The construct of race has always been used to gain and keep power, to create dynamics that separate and silence. This remarkable reimagining of Dr. Ibram X. Kendi's National Book Award-winning Stamped from the Beginning reveals the history of racist ideas in America, and inspires hope for an antiracist future. It takes you on a race journey from then to now, shows you why we feel how we feel, and why the poison of racism lingers. It also proves that while racist ideas have always been easy to fabricate and distribute, they can also be discredited.

Through a gripping, fast-paced, and energizing narrative written by beloved award-winner Jason Reynolds, this book shines a light on the many insidious forms of racist ideas-and on ways readers can identify and stamp out racist thoughts in their daily lives.

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Written by Angie Thomas
Ages 14+ | Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers | March 10, 2020 | ISBN-13: 978-0316453691

Publisher's Synopsis: Raw, captivating, and undeniably real, Nic Stone joins industry giants Jason Reynolds and Walter Dean Myers as she boldly tackles American race relations in this stunning debut.

Justyce McAllister is top of his class and set for the Ivy League-but none of that matters to the police officer who just put him in handcuffs. And despite leaving his rough neighborhood behind, he can't escape the scorn of his former peers or the ridicule of his new classmates.

Justyce looks to the teachings of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. for answers. But do they hold up anymore? He starts a journal to Dr. King to find out.

Then comes the day Justyce goes driving with his best friend, Manny, windows rolled down, music turned up- way up, sparking the fury of a white off-duty cop beside them. Words fly. Shots are fired. Justyce and Manny are caught in the crosshairs. In the media fallout, it's Justyce who is under attack.

Buy the Book

Ages 14+ | Publisher: Crown Books for Young Readers | Oct. 17, 2017 | ISBN-13: 978-1101939499

Publisher's Synopsis: Inspired by the Black Lives Matter movement, Angie Thomas's searing debut about an ordinary girl in extraordinary circumstances addresses issues of racism and police violence with intelligence, heart, and unflinching honesty. Soon to be a major motion picture from Fox 2000/Temple Hill Productions.

Sixteen-year-old Starr Carter moves between two worlds: the poor neighborhood where she lives and the fancy suburban prep school she attends. The uneasy balance between these worlds is shattered when Starr witnesses the fatal shooting of her childhood best friend Khalil at the hands of a police officer. Khalil was unarmed.

Soon afterward, his death is a national headline. Some are calling him a thug, maybe even a drug dealer and a gangbanger. Protesters are taking to the streets in Khalil's name. Some cops and the local drug lord try to intimidate Starr and her family. What everyone wants to know is: what really went down that night? And the only person alive who can answer that is Starr.

But what Starr does-or does not-say could upend her community. It could also endanger her life.

Buy the Book

Ages 14+ | Publisher: Blazer + Bray | February 28, 2017 | ISBN-13: 978-0062498533

The Black Lives Matter Book List for Kids and Teens was curated by Bianca Schulze. Discover more books like these titles by following along with our reviews and articles tagged with African American Authors, Black History Month, and Racism.

How You Support The Children's Book Review
We may receive a small commission from purchases made via the links on this page. If you discover a book or product of interest on this page and use the links provided to make a purchase, you will help support our mission to 'Grow Readers.' Your support means we can keep delivering quality content that's available to all. Thank you!

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black lives matter book list for kids and teens

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Black Lives Matter Book List for Kids and Teens

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The Children's Book Review How is it that we have not yet learned the mistakes of our history's past? How is it that we are so technologically advanced that we are working towards sending humans to Mars, but we are not yet able to love each other equally?

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Diverse Book Finder (at Bates College in Maine)

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Diverse Book Finder (at Bates College in Maine)

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a comprehensive collection of children's picture books featuring Black and Indigenous people and People of Color (BIPOC

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The Diverse BookFinder is a comprehensive collection of children's picture books featuring Black and Indigenous people and People of Color (BIPOC). We've cataloged and analyzed trade picture books fitting this criteria, published since 2002, to surface and create:

A UNIQUE CIRCULATING COLLECTION:
We strive to collect all depictions of BIPOC characters in trade picture books published since 2002. Anyone can check these books out at any time through Interlibrary Loan.

A SEARCH TOOL:
We offer a first-of-its-kind online, searchable database of our collection that makes it easier for everyone to locate and explore children's picture books featuring BIPOC characters.

A SOURCE OF CRITICAL DATA:
We provide real-time data on who (which BIPOC characters) is depicted in trade picture books, and how (what messages these stories send), to enable deeper conversation and change.

Learn More

We have collected and analyzed more-than 3,000 picture books published since 2002 featuring Black and Indigenous people and People of Color (BIPOC). The graphs below show the percentage of books in our collection featuring characters from each racial/cultural group. Not all groups are represented equally - or in the same way. Click on the graphs to see the types of available stories for each group.

See More

The Diverse BookFinder exists to help inform the diversity and representation discussion as a whole. That's why all books are included in our collection, no matter the quality of representation given or by whom. However, as we catalog books, some highlights and trends become apparent. Here are a few along specific themes:
See More

Check out some of the most recent additions to our collection below:

Recent thoughts from the Diverse BookFinder team, our Advisory Council & guest contributors.
See More

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Diverse BookFinder | Identify & Explore Multicultural Picture Books

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Are you looking for multicultural children's books? We've got you covered! You can search our circulating collection of picture books (2002-present), explore our quick lists, then borrow our books from your own library through interlibrary loan.

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Follow #DisruptTexts on Twitter and the 4 founders, too

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Follow #DisruptTexts on Twitter and the 4 founders, too

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This work of representation in curriculum (EVERY MONTH) has never been more important.

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Have you ever used the phrase "Mirrors and Windows" when discussing the need for more diverse children's books? If so - or even if you've only heard someone else speak these words in this context - give a tip of your cap to Dr. Rudine Sims Bishop.

On Monday at the Youth Media Awards in Atlanta, Dr. Bishop received a standing ovation after winning the Coretta Scott King-Virginia Hamilton Award for Lifetime Achievement. How many of us were thinking, "It's about damn time!" Dr. Bishop, Professor Emerita at Ohio State University, has done enough to push children's literature forward for two or three lifetimes. Check the Reading Rockets site for several video interviews and a handful of links (one of which connects to her seminal essay, Mirrors, Windows and Sliding Glass Doors) .

The idea behind Dr. Bishop's work is simple: all young readers need more books with characters of all ethnicities and backgrounds, having a diverse range of experiences. This doesn't mean that African American children only need to see more books with characters like themselves (although obviously they do), or that Ojibwe children need to see more books with characters like themselves (might I add, only ), and so on; but that African American children need to in the present tense see those Ojibwe characters, and vice versa. And also, children from non-marginalized groups (read: White kids) to see these aforementioned books too. When White kids see White characters all the time, they get a distorted view of reality. White kids are overwhelmingly seeing "mirrors" but not "windows," and that's a huge problem. also need

(By the way, earlier I mentioned the need to tip one's hat to Dr. Bishop when talking about windows and mirrors. Let me take that a step further: we must give credit where credit is due by citing Rudine when we use this phrase, no matter the situation. This is really a good guideline to follow in general, but especially since many White people tend to take credit for ideas and things created by people of color or First/Native Nations, I implore readers to attribute this phrase to Dr. Bishop.)

This may all be old news to some, but one of the reasons Dr. Bishop is so impactful is her years of service, of pushing and prodding the children's literature world to think more broadly about what diverse books can do. And she has done so for all these years with characteristic grace and understated authority, leading by example.

I had the great fortune of serving on the Coretta Scott King Book Award Jury these last two years with Dr. Bishop as my chair. When you're on a book award committee, you get to know the other people in the room extremely well, and it isn't always rainbows and ponies, as they say; things can get heated at times. Discussions hit brick walls, and committee members get feelings hurt - we have such personal attachments to the books we have read and loved! There were a few times I wanted Dr. Bishop to tell us what to do in these hard situations: "Come on," I'd think. "You're RUDINE SIMS BISHOP!! You have more knowledge than the rest of us combined! DRAW US A MAP!!!" But that isn't the way Dr. Bishop works. She is not someone who is going to tell you what to do, or what to think; Rudine Sims Bishop does not direct. When Rudine speaks, the whole room leans forward, and not just because she has such a quiet voice. Dr. Bishop exudes authority, but not the kind that demands one snap to attention. Her authority lies in her knowledge, yes, but above all in the graceful and dignified way she carries herself.

All of this is to say: thank you, Dr. Bishop. Thank you for your tireless and continued work. Thank you for being a shining example of true leadership.

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Have you ever used the phrase "Mirrors and Windows" when discussing the need for more diverse children's books? If so - or even if you've only heard someone else speak these words in this context - give a tip of your cap to Dr. Rudine Sims Bishop.

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Cooperative Children's Book Center at University of Wisconsin

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Cooperative Children's Book Center at University of Wisconsin

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Be sure to check their annual data on representation and their weekly book recs, too!

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Cooperative Children's Book Center (CCBC)

The CCBC is a unique and vital gathering place for books, ideas, and expertise in the field of children's and young adult literature. The CCBC is a noncirculating examination, study, and research library for Wisconsin school and public librarians, teachers, early childhood care providers, university students, and others interested in children's and young adult literature. The CCBC is part of the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Education, and receives additional support from the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction. More about the CCBC.

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The Cooperative Children's Book Center (CCBC) is a unique and vital gathering place for books, ideas, and expertise in the field of children's and young adult literature.

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Feb 10 with Facing History

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Black History Month is too often approached as a once-a-year opportunity to highlight the contributions of African Americans to American industry, life, and culture. Join us in this interactive webinar where we will explore the importance of taking a more antiracist approach to celebrating Black achievement throughout the year. Taking a more antiracist approach means committing to confronting present-day inequities in schools and rejecting deficit approaches to educating Black students. "Black joy" can truly be expressed when students feel socially and emotionally safe and valued in school.

During the webinar, we will:

Discuss some of the educator mindsets and practices that continue to hinder the social, emotional, and academic growth of Black students.

Gain insight into not only the importance of Black History Month celebrations but also the year-long approaches to teaching from a racial equity lens that uplift Black students.

Explore the concept of "Black joy" and how to cultivate it daily.

You will be eligible to receive one hour of professional development credit for participation if you actively watch the webinar. At the conclusion of the webinar, you will be able to download a certificate of completion from the webinar console. Check with your school district in advance of the webinar to ensure that the professional development credit is accepted.

About the Presenter

Steven L. Becton is the Chief Officer for Equity and Inclusion for the international non-profit educational organization Facing History and Ourselves. He writes and speaks for Facing History on urban education and equity issues in and beyond the classroom. He presents at national conferences, writes blogs, and conducts workshops and webinars for educators and for the larger community centered on having courageous conversations about race and education. He is a skilled facilitator and experienced presenter.

He leads a team of Facing History staff who are working deeply in these schools to create whole school culture and transformational educational experiences that would equip educators, while also empowering students to overcome the systemic issues that have placed them at risk. Steve has a MS in Educational Leadership and is a final-term Ph.D. student at the University of Memphis where his research focuses on the historical construct of race and its impact on education.

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Engaging in Antiracism Work: During Black History Month and Beyond

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Black History Month is too often approached as a once-a-year opportunity to highlight the contributions of African Americans to American industry, life, and culture. Join us in this interactive webinar where we will explore the importance of taking a more antiracist approach to celebrating Black achievement throughout the year.

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A quick 5 min video on what BLM at School is all about

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A quick 5 min video on what BLM at School is all about

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This is from Lessons for SEL, which is producing a weekly video organized around 5 core SEL skills.

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Social Justice Books has organized titles around the 13 principles of BLM at School

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Social Justice Books has organized titles around the 13 principles of BLM at School

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Black Lives Matter at School - Social Justice Books

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There are 13 guiding principles of the Black Lives Matter movement. We seek to expand student understanding of these principles through the Black Lives Matter at School Week of Action (scheduled for the first week of February each year) and beyond. Below you'll find a growing list of recommended titles that center each of the [...]

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Teaching for Change's BLM at School site

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Teaching for Change's BLM at School site

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While you're there, consider signing up for their newsletter & stay updated!

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Over the last three years, we have seen the powerful impact of the Black Lives Matter at School Week of Action locally and nationally.

The Black Lives Matter at School Week of Action and Year of Purpose campaign promotes a set of national demands based in the Black Lives Matter movement's 13 guiding principles that focus on improving the school experience for students of color. We share below resources to help educators prepare to engage students in the week of action and the year of purpose.

Black Lives Matter at School Curriculum Fair

Saturday, January 30, 11:00AM-1:30PM ET

Teaching for Change and Howard University's School of Education will hold a virtual curriculum fair. Teachers will have the opportunity to join workshops featuring lessons related to the BLM at School Week of Action and hear from guest speakers and panelists.

Registration for this event will be available in early January. Read about our 2020 and 2019 D.C. area curriculum fairs.

Learn More and Register

Black Lives Matter at School Booklists

New at SocialJusticeBooks.org! Find a growing list of recommended titles that center each of the Black Lives Matter 13 Guiding Principles, as well as additional recommended booklists for the Black Lives Matter at School Week of Action.

For teachers, we recommend these key texts: Teaching for Black Lives and Black Lives Matter at School: An Uprising for Educational Justice.

Resources for Educators

Early Childhood and Elementary

Middle and High School

Resources for Educators

View All Resources for Educators

Book Launch Discussion

View a recording of the launch of Black Lives Matter at School: An Uprising for Education Justice, an essential collection of essays, interviews, poems, resolutions, and more from educators, students, and activists who have been building the Black Lives Matter at School movement across the country.

Order T-Shirts

The national Black Lives Matter at School coalition has partnered with a Black woman-owned business to provide t-shirts and other merchandise. A new logo is being chosen for this year, but in the meantime you can purchase past designs.

Support the D.C. Area Black Lives Matter at School Week of Action

With your donation, Teaching for Change will:

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Black Lives Matter at School Week of Action - Teaching for Change

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February 1-5, 2021 Over the last three years, we have seen the powerful impact of the Black Lives Matter at School Week of Action locally and nationally. The Black Lives Matter at School Week of Action and Year of Purpose campaign promotes a set of national demands based in the Black Lives Matter movement's 13 guiding principles that focus on improving the school [...]

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This district has been deeply engaged - their resources extend into learning, community efforts and their Seattle Excellent project, focused on black boys.

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Black Lives Matter Resources

Black Lives Matter Resources

Seattle Public Schools is committed to racial justice and recognition of the lived experiences of our Black youth every single day.
Want to get involved? Check out these resources!
Community Events and Educational Opportunities
Juneteenth Week 2020: June 15 to 20
Juneteenth Week 2020 is a weeklong celebration hosted by the Urban Leagues of Metropolitan Seattle, Black Lives Matter - Seattle/King County, Tabor 100, and the FW Black Collective and commemorates a milestone in black history - June 19, 1865. On this day, Union General Gordon Granger read federal orders in Galveston, Texas informing previously enslaved people of their freedom and the end of the civil war.

This announcement put into effect the Emancipation Proclamation, which had been issued more than two and a half years earlier on Jan. 1, 1863. See the list of scheduled events on the Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle's website.
Greater Seattle Black Graduation and Juneteenth March
Students are encouraged to wear their cap and gown. The Juneteenth March starts at 2 p.m. at 23rd and Jackson on June 19. This event is hosted by Africatown Seattle. Read more on the Africatown website.

See this map of upcoming marches in Seattle.

Please stay safe and follow social distancing COVID-19 guidelines.

Learn: Antiracism Resources

Support Black Owned Businesses

Support Black Community Led Efforts

For Youth By Youth - Prioritizing the Voices of Black Youth and Other Students of Color

The Seattle Public Schools strategic plan, Seattle Excellence, is guided by four priorities and is laser-focused on supporting students of color who are furthest away from educational justice, beginning with African American boys and young men. This work is not about changing students. It is about changing broken systems and undoing legacies of racism in public education. Read more about Seattle Excellence.

Thank you to the organizations who compiled many of these resources including the Community Center for Education Results - Road Map and Seattle Public Library.

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Black Lives Matter Resources Seattle Public Schools is committed to racial justice and recognition of the lived experiences of our Black youth every single day. Want to get involved? Check out these resources!

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The time is always right to listen to young people talk about WHY racial literacy matters. 

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The time is always right to listen to young people talk about WHY racial literacy matters. 

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Does your state believe in the importance of this work? Is it happening in your community?

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How To Teach Racial Literacy with Priya Vulchi & Winona Guo - Episode #240

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Check out the events Haymarket Books is hosting this week, connected to the newest book, Black Lives Matter at School: An Uprising for Educational Justice

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Check out the events Haymarket Books is hosting this week, connected to the newest book, Black Lives Matter at School: An Uprising for Educational Justice

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"The educators, students, and community activists whose stories are documented here are fighting for a transformative vision of what public schools can be, and the grassroots efforts we will need to get there. Black Lives Matter at Schoolis an essential resource for all those seeking to build an antiracist school system."
-Ibram X. Kendi, National Book Award-winning and #1 New York Times Bestselling Author

"Black Lives Matter at School is a remarkable contribution to understanding that education can be a powerful pathway to justice and liberation. Here is inspiration for anyone who cherishes young people both inside and outside of schools." -Barbara Smith, Cofounder the Combahee River Collective

"We need this book right now. The shadow-loving fungus of white supremacy won't continue to send its spores to infect our children if we act now to bring the curative light of anti-racist knowledge, compassion, and justice into their lives. Built upon the Black Lives Matter at School organization's Week of Action, this volume provides the adults in our educational institutions with inspiration, organizing principles, strategies, and examples to take 'bold action against anti-Blackness.' The authors - visionary educations of what is possible - call on all of us to radically reshape learning environments to make them safe, supportive, and transformative for all students (and teachers). Please read ASAP!" - Lisa Delpit, Executive Director of the Center for Urban Education and Innovation at Florida International University

"There is no easy way to talk about the complexities of race facing our school system in America-but we have to talk about it if we are ever going to achieve the schools our children deserve. The Black Lives Matter at School movement has been disrupting the complacency of those who, for too long, have been comfortable not having these conversations about the impact of racism in the schools. Black Lives Matter at School is a playbook for undoing institutional racism in the education system. - Michael Bennett, NFL defensive lineman, Superbowl champion, and author, Things That Make White People Uncomfortable

"This book asserts that we are at a critical moment in time, where the racial uprisings underpin the absolute need to transform education and it's foundational practices. Black Lives Matter is a movement sweeping the globe and affirms that our babies lives matter. It's time for educators to be bold, standing up for our students and communities. Our students are looking to us to lead the fight against injustice and dismantle systemic racism as we aspire to realize the schools our students deserve." - Cecily Myart-Cruz, UTLA President, NEA Black Caucus Chair

"This book makes the strong case for why we need to elevate Black lives and people in our curriculum and pedagogy year-round. This book serves as a blueprint to achieve this honorable goal." - José Luis Vilson, author, This Is Not A Test, A New Narrative on Race, Class, and Education

" Black Lives Matter at School centers the humanity of our children. It is a sharp rebuke of white supremacy-the very thing that interrupts the healthy development of Black youth. School communities must affirm Black lives. Educators have to dismantle systems of oppression-systems that we influence daily. We have to be radically different from the missionary educator depicted in popular culture. BLM at School is essential. Period." - Stacy Davis Gates, Vice President, Chicago Teachers Union

"Toni Morrison reminds us: 'If you can't imagine it, you can't have it.' This book helps us to imagine Black Lives Mattering in schools. With accounts from teachers across the country doing the work, along with student interviews, poems, posters, and historical background, this is a primer for anti-racist educators to see the way forward in terms of reshaping school curriculum, diversifying teacher hiring, and transforming school discipline." - Jeanne Theoharis, author, A More Beautiful and Terrible History: The Uses and Misuses of Civil Rights History

"The new book, is part documentary, part guide to this movement for racial & educational justice on school campuses" " Black Lives Matter at School: An Uprising for Educational Justice... springs from a movement that started several years ago to resist racism and imbue anti-racism in school curriculums as well as educational practices and policies." - Washington Post

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"The educators, students, and community activists whose stories are documented here are fighting for a transformative vision of what public schools can be, and the grassroots efforts we will need to get there. Black Lives Matter at Schoolis an essential resource for all those seeking to build an antiracist school system."

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Teaching for Black Lives is a powerful text for learning, from Rethinking Schools

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Teaching for Black Lives is a powerful text for learning, from Rethinking Schools

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Our campaign supports teachers with free lessons and resources for teaching about racism and anti-racist struggles.

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Amazing events happening online all week - get the info from Jesse Hagopian, a voice to follow

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Amazing events happening online all week - get the info from Jesse Hagopian, a voice to follow

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Black Lives Matter At School - I AM AN EDUCATOR

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Posts about Black Lives Matter At School written by I AM AN EDUCATOR

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BLM at School week is Feb 1-5 in 2021. Amazing resources and energy for the work here.

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We lead with the heart and courageously work to address racial injustice in education, embodying Black joy, confronting anti-Blackness, and building authentic partnerships with all who support creating equitable school communities across the nation.

​In September 2016, DeShawn Jackson, along with Black Men Uniting to Change The Narrative, planned a day of encouragement. The previous school year, another local elementary school had more than 200 Black men show up to greet students as they arrived at school. The men wore their uniforms, regalia, and Sunday best in hopes of disrupting the inaccurate imagery students have of Black men. Black men make up only 3% of teachers in k-12 education.​

DeShawn had taught at the school for six years and even attended the elementary school as a child. He wanted students to see Black men in a positive light, not like they often are portrayed in media. A bomb threat was called into the school on the day of the event, so school leadership officially canceled it. Yet, after the threat was investigated, nothing was found, and the school remained open. So, DeShawn personally greeted students and about fifty others joined him.

When students arrived at John Muir Elementary School, they were greeted with cheers and high-fives while drums played in the background. Black men showed up because they wanted to counter the perception students have about education and race. Inside the school, staff wore shirts that said "Black Lives Matter We Stand Together."Julie Trout, the art teacher, designed the shirts. Teachers' lessons for the day were focused on racial justice.

​Social Equality Educators (SEE), a group within the Seattle teachers union, decided October 19th would be "Black Lives Matter At School Day." They'd wear Black Lives Matter shirts to school, created a second design with "#Say Her Name," and educators picked from several options. Parent Teacher Associations made buttons and stickers for teachers and students to wear. This attracted national news, which spread to Philadelphia, where the Racial Justice & Organizing Committee of the Caucus of Working Educators was inspired to plan a similar action.

We envision a nation in which we live in authentic and conscious relationship with ourselves, each other, and the lands we occupy with the least amount of harm and violence, in which we are unapologetically Black and collectively love and care for one another as extended intergenerational families. To achieve safety, equity, and liberation for all Black lives, we attend to systems and networks of care to make the domination, erasure, and dehumanization of Black life obsolete. ​

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National coalition organizing for racial justice in education.