February 1st marks the beginning of the 4th annual Black Lives Matter at School national Week of Action!

There are so many events happening all around the country. Below is a calendar of online events for each day of the week to counter anti-Blackness in education. In this era of mass incarceration, there is a school-to-prison-pipeline system that is more invested in locking up youth than unlocking their minds. That system uses harsh discipline policies that push Black students out of schools at disproportionate rates; denies students the right to learn about their own cultures and whitewashes the curriculum to exclude many of the struggles and contributions of Black people and other people of color; and is pushing out Black teachers from the schools in cities around the country. That is why Black Lives Matter at School movement:

1. End zero tolerance discipline, implement restorative justice
2. Hire more Black teachers
3. Mandate Black history/Ethnic Studies, K-12
4. Fund Counselors, Not Cops

Throughout the week, many 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.

Join us every day of the week in the struggle for Black joy and education!

2021 Black Lives Matter at School

events & resources: 

Monday February 1:

2021 BLM Week of Action Creative Challenge Submission Youth are encouraged to answer this prompt: What makes you feel free to dream, safe to thrive in schools and communities? 

Tuesday February 2:

Elementary Read Aloud at 11:30am-12:30pm (PST), sponsored by the Northshore School District Racial & Educational Justice team. LaTisha Joseph, librarian at Northshore’s Woodmoor Elementary, and Ebony Harvey, principal at Northshore’s Woodmoor Elementary, will facilitate a read aloud and Q&A for elementary students with the two children’s books: “I’m Every Good Thing” by Derrick Barnes and “The Undefeated” by Kwame Alexander.

Wednesday February 3:

For the Culture: An Ethnic Studies Documentary at 6-7pm (PST). Educator and Student Activist Cece Chan presents her documentary in conversation with NAACP-Youth Council student activists. Come learn about Black Lives Matter At School’s demand for Black History and Ethnic Studies.

Thursday February 4:

Black Students United with Michael Bennett at 11-11:50am (PST). Michael Bennett, former defensive player for the Seattle Seahawks, activist, author, and founder of the Bennett Foundation, will speak about his journey and work, what it means to build community, intersectionality, and what it means for Black lives to matter at school.

Making Black Lives Matter: From the Streets to the Classroom at 12:30-1:30pm (PST). Join Opal Tometi, Brian Jones, Denisha Jones, Jesse Hagopian and Marshé Doss in conversation about Black Lives Matter and education justice.

Friday February 5:  

Young, Gifted, & Black Student Talent Showcase Friday February 5 at 5:30-7:30pm pacific. Youth Sign-Up form for any youth interested in participating. Keynote event of the 2021 Black Lives Matter at School Week of Action. 

Additional Resources & Links:   

• Black Lives Matter at School national website. Facebook page. Twitter. Instagram. 
• Black Lives Matter at School: An Uprising for Educational Justice book, edited by Denisha Jones and Jesse Hagopian.
• Watch the Black Lives Matter at School Transgender & Queer Affirming Town Hall on January 29 sponsored by National Educators United and Black Lives Matter at School.
• Donate here to raise funds for this year’s events. 
• NEA Ed Justice has created a map for people to show that their community has joined the BLM at School Week of Action. Please register your district as having teachers that have joined the movement!