Speaking Out Against Racism

Good Monday to you all.

Today my blog post and my question of the day are tackling the same subject.  I want to help you think about how each and every one of us can work to become change agents in helping to dismantle racism, racist acts, and systematic racism in our school, our communities, and our country.   Last week was a difficult week in many cities across our country.  If you spent any time watching or listening to news broadcasts, or digesting social media, you likely heard discussions about race, racism, anti-racism, and equality.  You might also have seen that the Vermont State Police, the VT Association of Chiefs of Police, and our governor all made statements denouncing racism, racist acts, and racial inequality here in VT and in our country at large.  

Just denouncing racism, however, is not enough, we must act!  We must educate ourselves!  We must think about what we can do individually to lend our voice to the dismantling of systematic racism!  Do you remember talking about this during Black History Month back in February?  I hope you do, but in case you have forgotten, I am here to remind you again today that your voice and your actions matter.  One of the videos we watched back in February was about how racism happens at many levels.  Please rewatch it.  Another way to name these levels is internalized, interpersonal, institutional, and structural.  Please check out this discussion from edjustice.  

One of my jobs is to continue to educate you so that when you hear these news broadcasts, read these articles, or see social media posts, you can think clearly about what they mean and how they impact you, your fellow classmates, and your fellow citizens.  It is important that we don't just digest these things and think, "oh, how terrible but it doesn't really affect me," or, "well that is only something that adults need to worry about," or, "I am not racist, so I don't have to worry about that."  These ideas are just not the case.  Again, during Black History Month, we talked about implicit bias and how many of us benefit from systems that work more in favor of some than in the favor of people of color. 

Today I would ask you to have conversations with your parents or guardians about what the events of the past week mean to you.  I would also challenge you to think about yourself as an individual who supports all people in our communities both large and small.  Lastly, I would ask you to think about the experience of others or try walking in someone else's shoes.  Learn from and about our social Justice leaders, read a book or watch a movie that tells the story of someone who looks different from you.  

Not sure where to start?  Here is a list of ideas we compiled back in February...

These are the individuals who continue to move us forward in our quest for a more perfect union.  The following individuals have offered significant contributions to the communities around them and have helped to raise the consciousness of all Americans.  

  

Congressman, John Lewis:  https://johnlewis.house.gov/ or https://twitter.com/repjohnlewis


American Author, Jason Reynolds:  https://www.jasonwritesbooks.com/  or https://twitter.com/JasonReynolds83?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor


Author and Policy Advisor, Andrew Ayden:  http://www.andrewaydin.com/bio or https://twitter.com/andrewaydin?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor


Educator, Cornelius Minor:  https://www.heinemann.com/authors/99768.aspx  or https://twitter.com/MisterMinor?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor


Gymnast, Simone Biles:  https://www.simonebiles.com/bio or https://twitter.com/Simone_Biles


Athlete and Activist for Equality in Women’s sports, Serena Williams:  https://twitter.com/serenawilliams?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor


Student, Activist, and Author, Marley Dais:  https://www.forbes.com/sites/maggiemcgrath/2017/06/13/from-activist-to-author-how-12-year-old-marley-dias-is-changing-the-face-of-childrens-literature/#344caad14ce0   


Author and speaker, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie:  https://www.chimamanda.com/about-chimamanda/  


 Spoken Word Poet, Emcee, and Teaching Artist, Rajnii Eddins:  https://www.rajniieddins.com/


And so many more...Check out this list that the Los Angeles Times Complied in 2015, and this compilation of names from Global Citizen in 2017.  


Here are things you can watch. This is by no means an all-inclusive list.  

(The included age ranges come from Common Sense Media - Reviews for what your kids want to watch ((before they watch it)) Trusted ratings created with families in mind)


  • Remember the titans - Ages 10+

  • Akeelah and the Bee - Ages 8+

  • Betty & Coretta - Ages 11+

  • The Help -  Ages 12+

  • The March - Ages 12+

  • Kid President:  Are We There Yet? - Ages 8+

  • Dolores - Ages 11+

  • Long Time Coming:  A 1955 Baseball Story - Ages 12+

  • Selma - Ages 13+

  • Hidden Figures - Ages 10+

  • Woodlawn - Ages 10+

  • Behind the Movement - Ages 10+

  • Gandhi - Ages 12+

  • March On! The Day My Brother Martin Changed the World - All Audiences

  • McFarland, USA - Ages 10+


The summer is long...inject more diversity into your reading list.  There are many books to choose from.   

 

Book Trailer  

#1000BlackGirlBooks,

March (Books I, II, and III), John Lewis and Andrew Ayden 

Brown Girl Dreaming, Jacqueline Woodson

Refugee, Alan Gratz

Little Leaders: Bold Women in Black History  by Vashti Harrison

Little Legends: Exceptional Men in Black History by Vashti Harrison

Front Desk by Kelly Yang

Kwame Alexander’s books: Crossed, Booked, Rebound, Solo, The Playbook

Jason Reynold’s books: Ghost, Patina, Sunny, Lu, As Brave as You, Look Both Ways

Sharon Draper’s Books: Clubhosue Mystery Series, Jericho Trilogy, Stella By Starlight, Out of My Mind, Tears of a Tiger, Panic, Double Dutch

Watler Dean Meyer’s Books: Cruisers Series, Kick, Monster, Blues Journey, Fallen Angels

Kekla Magoon’s Books: Shadows of Sherwood Series, How it Went Down, The Season of Styx Malone, Camo Girl, Light it Up

Mildred Taylor’s Books: Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry, The Gold Cadillac, The Friendship 

Jacqueline Woodson’s Books: After Tupac & D Foster, Behind You, Feathers, Brown Girl Dreaming, Hush

Count Me In by Varsha Bajaj

For Black Girls Like Me by Mariama J. Lockington

It’s Trevor Noah: Born a Crime by Trevor Noah

The New Kid by Jerry Craft

Ghost Boys by Jewell Parker Rhodes

Christopher Paul Curtis’s book: Bucking the Sarge, Watsons Go to Birmingham, Bud Not Buddy, Mighty Miss Malone

Rita Wllliams-Garcia’s Books: One Crazy Summer, Gone Crazy in Alabama, P.S. Be Eleven


If you would like to check out any of the other videos or resources that we presented during Black History Month, please just ask, and I can send you those resources. I thank you in advance for educating yourself and seeing yourself as part of the solution. If you have questions or would like to talk with me more about what has been going on in our country over this past week, please reach out, I am happy to chat.

Be well,
Mrs. Hempey

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