Anti racist educators, students, and parents,

With the attack on antiracst education escalating all around the country, it is vital that we organized to defend the ability to teach the truth about structural racism.

To date, some 42 states have introduced legislation or enacted polices that seeks to require teachers to lie to students about structural racism and sexism. Many states are also passing bills to attack LGBTQ students, including six states that censor discussions of LGBTQ+ people, 18 that states that ban transgender students from participating in sports consistent with their gender identity.

The problem isn’t just the statewide bans. Even in states where truthful teaching about racism and oppression has not yet been banned, individual school districts have enacted bans nonetheless. In Kennewick, Washington, for example, a school district in a state that has not enacted a truth ban, the school board passed Policy 2340, that prohibits teachings that the “U.S. is fundamentally or systemically racist” and seeks to forbid curriculum that helps students examine Black history and the legacy of racism such as Zinn Education Project.

Between July 2021 and June 2022, books were banned 2,532 times in public schools across the U.S., with 1,648 unique book titles banned in that period. Teachers around the country are removing award winning books from their syllabus that would help Black children and LGBTQ children feel affirmed because of the immense pressure from the right wing. Educators have been fired, pushed out, and even physically attacked for teaching the truth about racism. These attacks are having a chilling effect on antiracist teaching with one in four teachers report being pressured by school officials or district leaders to limit their classroom conversations about race and racism.

If you oppose the attack on truth, Black history, and intersectional Black identities, join the Black Lives Matter at School movement. Below is the Save The Date call for upcoming BLM at School planning meetings to prepare for the annual Week of Action from February 6-10.

SAVE THE DATE!

Mark these dates in your calendar as we prepare for our annual Black Lives Matter at School Week of Action. 

• Sunday, November 13 at 5pm ET/2pm PT – 2023 Week of Action Planning Meeting (Topic: Planning a Curriculum Party + Opportunity to Share Your Ideas and Plans) Register at: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZYud-6opzooG9OYhfoRgXYqBrgJa8SzBGwe
• Saturday, December 10 at 2pm ET/11am PT – 2023 Week of Action Planning Meeting (Topic: TBD)
• January, TBD, Curriculum Parties
• February 6-10, 2023 – Annual BLM at School Week of Action

At the November meeting, we will be discussing how to plan a curriculum party, fair, or gathering. We also want to hear from you all about the plans and ideas you have in mind for your local Week of Actions. And for the December meeting, topics will be determined from the needs of folks at our Nov. meeting.

You can register by going to:

https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZYud-6opzooG9OYhfoRgXYqBrgJa8SzBGwe

The BLM at School calendar is available at: http://bit.ly/blmas_events. Scroll to the dates on the calendar, click on the event, and follow the Zoom registration link in the description of the event. You will receive the link after registering with your information.

Looking forward to getting together!! Please get in touch with us if you want to connect: info@blacklivesmatteratschool.com