Lawrence Public Schools

A conversation with Bettina Love, Gholdy Muhammad, Dena Simmons and Brian Jones about abolitionist teaching and antiracist education. What would freedom look like in our schools? How can abolitionist educators make the most of this moment to fight for humane, liberatory, anti-racist schooling for black youth and for all youth? The coronavirus pandemic has transformed the US education system overnight. The antiracist rebellion in the streets has shown a light on the deep racial inequality in America. Educators and activists who have nurtured radical dreams for public schools now face an unprecedented moment of change, and the challenge of trying to teach and organize online in the midst of unfolding crises. Scholar and author Bettina Love’s concept of abolitionist teaching is about adopting the radical stance of the movement that ultimately overthrew slavery, but persisted and insisted on freedom long before that victory.

"With everything happening in America, and even around the world, with all the tragedies, I have taken in my blackness even more. I feel very proud to be black." Tell us, how does the world see YOU? Do you feel defined by your skin color, gender, or maybe even your religion?

We invited the participants of How You See Me to have a conversation about their experience and the themes brought up in the comments. In this episode they discuss the practice and importance of understanding. What are the different ways you can practice understanding for people of a different race, religion, gender, or background than you?

“The worst conversation adults can have with kids about race is no conversation at all,” says author Jemar Tisby. “Talking to kids about race needs to happen early, often, and honestly.” In a new episode of Home School, The Atlantic’s animated series about parenting, Tisby offers advice on how to have a conversation with children about race, from experiential learning to watching classic animated films.

When her 3-year-old son told her that a classmate told him that his skin was brown because he drank chocolate milk, Dr. Tatum, former president of Spelman College and a visiting scholar at Stanford’s Haas Center for Public Service, was surprised. As a clinical psychologist, she knew that preschool children often have questions about racial difference, but she had not anticipated such a question. But through conversations with her preschool son, followed by talking to teachers, colleagues and parents, she came to realize it is the things we don’t say and the matters we don’t discuss with our children that find their way into racist dialogue and thinking.’

From the site: "I made this video for the kindergarten students at my school. I realize this might be a helpful video for non Black children to also watch. In the video I discuss what racism is and how it’s impacted the lives of Black and Brown people. I also read aloud the story Let’s Talk about Race. Finally, I encourage young people to think about what actions they can take to use their voice to speak out against injustices."

Official program begins about 5 minutes and 30 seconds in.

Join us for a discussion about raising antiracist kids with author of the new book, AntiRacist Baby, Ibram X.Kendi in conversation with Derecka Purnell. A new uprising across the country demanding racial justice is a powerful reminder that families of all backgrounds need to be pro-active in raising children to understand racism and discrimination, and helping our kids to be a force for anti-racist change in the world. How do families raise actively anti-racist children?

White guilt is a roadblock to equality, says Robin DiAngelo. It takes race conversations off the table and maintains the status quo. "How do so many of us who are white individually feel so free of racism and yet we live in a society that is so profoundly separate and unequal by race?" asks DiAngelo. Start doing something to dismantle the systemic racism that benefits you at the expense of others.

We invited the participants of How You See Me to have a conversation about their experience and the themes brought up in the comments. In this episode they discuss why it matters that we have labels. White, black, Hispanic, American, skinny, LGBTQ, disabled... all if these labels and categories play an important role in our lives. What are your labels? How can we use labels to start a meaningful conversation?