Today is the birthday my new book Teach Truth: The Struggle for Antiracist Education–the official release day!! Like a proud parent, I’m overjoyed to finally see it out in the world. You can help me celebrate by ordering the book and leaving a review at Goodreads.

Writing this book has been a wild journey for me and I have learned so much along the way. When I first started writing it, I couldn’t have imagined how much this project would shape me.

Not long after I started writing, my dad made a discovery that changed everything. Through meticulous genealogical research, he found the plantation in Mississippi where our ancestors had been enslaved. Together, we traveled to that land, and standing there, I felt an unshakable connection to my ancestors—and a profound responsibility to honor their legacy by telling the truth about history. That moment transformed this book into so much more than words on a page. It became a dedication to those who came before me.

Here is the book’s dedication:

For my ancestors:
Writing this book has allowed me to delve into
the portal of history and draw nearer to you.
I am grateful to be closer to you now than ever before
and grateful for all you have taught me.
No one has the right to tear us apart by erasing your legacy. My supreme aspiration is to guard your memory and make you proud.

A year into the process of writing, I was hit with COVID and then long COVID. The persistent dizziness and fatigue slowed me down and made writing feel insurmountable at times. But every word I managed to put on the page felt like a small triumph—a defiant act of holding onto purpose despite the challenges. This book taught me resilience. It taught me how to lean on the incredible educators, students, and comrades who inspired me at every turn.

As I worked on Teach Truth, the world around us continued to shift in dramatic and alarming ways. Laws banning honest accounts of systemic racism and history–what I call “truthcrime” laws–began escalating at a shocking rate, with over 44 states introducing or passing legislation to suppress honest teaching about racism, gender, and systemic inequality. We witnessed the reelection of Donald Trump, who doubled down on his plans to dismantle public education and enforce what I call “post-truth schooling.” Yet, in the face of this repression, I’ve had the privilege of working alongside incredible educators, organizers, and students who are building the Teach Truth movement.

This book is a love letter to them and to every truth teacher fighting for justice. As I write in the book:

Honest educators are guided by love. ‘Commitment to truth telling lays the groundwork for the openness and honesty that is the heartbeat of love,’ writes bell hooks. Truth teacher Cornel West has observed, ‘Justice is what love looks like in public.’ I would add that truth teaching is what love looks like in public schools.

I hope this book will inspire and contribute to the Teach Truth movement, including the National Day of Action we’re building for June 7th. My book tour will be dedicated to amplifying the voices of truth teachers, parents, and students who refuse to be silenced. I hope to see you at one of the book tour stops, or please reach out your interested in organizing a book event.

Finally, I want to thank everyone who helped bring this book into the world and everyone who is ordering a copy of the book to read. Writing a book is never a solo act, it’s a communal process–and I’m grateful to my family, friends, and comrades.

Let’s celebrate today—and let’s keep fighting for truth, justice, and love in education.

Happy birthday, Teach Truth! 🎉

-Jesse Hagopian