John, our children really need you this Black History Month.
[ [link removed] ][IMG]
Fund two critical campaigns that affect our children.
[ [link removed] ]DONATE
John,
Racism and bias have threatened the safety of our children in public
schools. Black children are constantly subjected to racial trauma at the
hands of school administrators.
In January, DeAndre Arnold, a senior at Barbers Hill High School in Mont
Belvieu, Texas was suspended for refusing to cut his dreadlocks, and told
that he could not attend graduation if he did not cut his hair.^1 In the
second week of February, a historical month known annually for celebrating
the achievements of Black people and our key contributions to U.S.
history, a 10-year old girl was instructed to lie on the floor as if on a
slave ship during a Black History Month exercise at West Woods
Elementary.^2 These two incidents do not only attack Black children in
their schools but are also an attack on our culture.
Sixty years ago, six-year-old Ruby Bridges did not endure the trauma of
being the first Black girl to integrate schools so that heinous racism
could run rampant in today's classrooms. [ [link removed] ]John, this Black
History Month, will you chip in $5 to fund two critical campaigns Color Of
Change is taking on that affect today's Black children?
Eighty percent of public school teachers are white and many believe
combating racism means ‘not seeing color’ in the classroom.^3 They often
view Black history only in the context of traumatic aspects of the Black
experience. The emotional, psychological, and physical safety of our
children will continue to be in jeopardy if we do not hold administrators
accountable for their implicit bias and racist instruction. [ [link removed] ]Will you
chip-in $5 to fund our work to remove racism from Barbers Hill High School
and West Woods Elementary this Black History Month?
In 2018 during a Black History month lesson, a Bronx teacher made Black
students lie on the floor as she stepped on them and asked, “See how it
feels to be a slave?”^4 This gross and racist classroom moment was the
catalyst for over 20,000 Color Of Change members to take action in
partnership with Alliance For Quality Education NY and The NYC Coalition
for Education Justice, to push New York City to make an investment of $23
million into implicit bias and culturally responsive practice training
over the next four years.
John, your donation will contribute to two critical campaigns
demanding justice at Barbers Hill High School and West Woods Elementary.
We know we can win because we’ve done it before with your help. Education
is a means of justice for Black people. [ [link removed] ]Will you chip-in $5 so we can
continue to fight for our children?
Until justice is real,
--Brandi, Rashad, Arisha, Evan, Johnny, Jade, Future, Eesha, Samantha,
Marcus, FolaSade, Jenette, Cierra and the rest of the Color Of Change team
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References:
1. “Texas Teen Told He Won't Be Able To Walk At Graduation Unless He Cuts
His Dreadlocks,” CBS News, January 24, 2020,
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2. “Connecticut Parents Say 10-year-old Biracial Daughter Cast As Slave
In School Play,” WTHR 13, February 2, 2020,
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3. “The State of Racial Diversity in the Educator Workforce,” U.S. Dept.
of Education report, July 2016,
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4. “Bronx Teacher Sparks Outrage For Using Black Students In Cruel
Slavery Lesson,” NY Daily News, February 1, 2018,
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[ [link removed] ]Color Of Change is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black
folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. [ [link removed] ]Help
keep our movement strong.
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