Happy Black History Month, John!
While every month is Black History Month, every February is specifically spent recognizing and honoring the history and enduring legacy that Black people in this country hold. We also take time to celebrate our excellence, accomplishments, and bright futures.
And, as an educator, the first of February is especially important to me since it marks the beginning of the annual Black Lives Matter at School National Week of Action.
The Black Lives Matter at School movement seeks to end zero-tolerance discipline and implement restorative justice, hire more Black teachers, mandate Black history and ethnic studies in grades K-12, and to fund counselors in our schools — not cops.
This week, thousands of educators will be wearing shirts to school that say “Black Lives Matter at School” and will teach lessons about structural racism, intersectional Black identities, and Black history in cities all across the country.
And as we navigate through the rest of this month, John, we must continue to remember that — to this very day — our institutions are built on a foundation of racism.
It's not just our education system that suffers because of this. It's everything from health care to housing. It's even our government and how it functions.
All of these systems are based in systemic racism and we must continue holding every government official, corporation and institution accountable for racial injustice.
It's time for us to mobilize in massive numbers to dismantle systems of oppression, put an end to this version of America, and create a new, multiracial democracy that works for everyone.
One thing is certain, John: we can't be silent anymore. I hope you'll join me in the fight as we work towards this future democracy.
Peace and love,
Jamaal
