written by David Núñez, Interim Head of School
Dear GRS community,
Happy Black History Month!
We’re well into February and I thought I would share some of the work the school has been doing around Black History Month (BHM). Here at Great River, we believe that we must celebrate and uplift all identities all throughout the year. This is our duty as educators and we are extremely passionate about this work. But also, in the case of Black History Month, Women’s History Month, Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, and other such celebratory events on our calendar it's a great excuse for extra celebration.
Here at Great River, we have a collection of resources that faculty use and share and I will be sending a weekly communication to staff this month with reminders and further resources. Here are a few of the materials and articles we’ve compiled as a community:
The education committee of the National Black Lives Matter At School Week of Action released in 2020 a Curriculum Resource Guide--free, downloadable activities, resources, and actions to challenge racism, oppression and build justice-centered classrooms. These teaching activities and lesson plans support students at every grade level and relate to the 13 principles of Black Lives Matter.
Black Lives Matter At School is a national movement organizing for racial justice in education. We encourage all educators, students, parents, unions, and community organizations to join our annual week of action during the first week of February each year. To learn more about how to get involved, check out our BLM at School Starter Kit.
An EdWeek Opinion article I recently shared with staff: "How can white teachers teach Black history?"
Being culturally competent and equity minded is good, but being anti-racist and combating anti-Blackness is the next step. This article about anti-Blackness explains.
I have encouraged the staff to read books written by Black folks about combating anti-blackness. And to buy from a Black Owned Bookstore. Recommendations:
Me and White Supremacy, Layla F. Saad
So You Want to Talk About Race, Ijeoma Oluo
Why are all the Black kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria, by Beverly Tatum
We Want to do More than Survive, by Betina Love
And the school has a running list of many many more!
A couple key reminders I’ve shared with staff are:
This month is about celebrating and taking pride in the contributions of Black people, they should not use this month as the one time of year to bring up slavery, segregation and oppression.
They should not only teach about MLK, Rosa Parks, and other heroes the students have heard about again and again, if this is what the staff know about Black History they should be actively broadening their knowledge
Staff should be teaching Black History with a lens on intersectional Black identities.
I am truly looking forward to celebrating this month with you and our entire GRS community.
If you have any questions, concerns, ideas to add to my staff emails this month, or comments, please let me know!
Peace,
David