John,

Multiple states recently passed policies to ban diversity initiatives in public education.

This censorship effort has shuttered multicultural centers and LGBTQ centers, limited faculty and student associations based on shared ethnic backgrounds or race, and ended scholarships for marginalized students.

Right-wing lawmakers want to deny that racism exists while continuing the unjust status quo.

We can’t let these right-wing efforts undo decades of progress, which secured ethnic studies and Black studies programs that affirm the worth and contributions of people of color.

Black history is American history, and it’s crucial that we ensure this history is accurately taught and understood all year long.

We urgently need policies like Rep. Jamaal Bowman’s African American History Act, which would invest in African American history education programs for students, parents, and educators.

Please sign on today to support Rep. Jamaal Bowman’s African American History Act.

It’s Black History Month, but every month we should pay tribute to the incredible contributions our Black neighbors have made to our country.

Nikole Hannah-Jones, who created the 1619 Project and associated programs for students to learn about Black history, has said it’s “transformative” for Black students to “find themselves affirmed as agents in the American story—not just people who have been acted upon, not just people who've been oppressed—but agents who are driving the American story.”

It’s also essential for people of all backgrounds to understand racism and to see that we must continue the movement for Black liberation.

As Nikole Hannah-Jones explained: “The way you change your society is by helping people to better understand it and by changing the narratives that justify inequality.”

That’s how we get closer to a multi-racial democracy where we all have equal rights protected by the government.

Please add your name to support Rep. Jamaal Bowman’s African American History Act, which would support the development of accurate, relevant, and accessible African American history resources.

Thank you. Together, we will keep building a world where the life and dignity of every person is valued.

In service and solidarity,

Rashida