Will you take a ride with us?
“In order to see where we are going, we not only must remember where we have been, but we must understand where we have been.” -Ella Baker
Two features mark the memories of mornings during my childhood. One is my mother’s commitment to making sure that my brother and I ate some sort of breakfast, even if it were small or on the go. The other is the familiar call of “oh, oh, oh, it’s the Tom Joyner Morning Show.” Whether it was a parent or a family member filling in, rides to school or around Charlottesville were guaranteed to include commentary from Joyner, Sybil Wilkes, and J. Anthony Brown. In addition to their quips about current events, I remember the show’s comedic and educational segments. The “365 Black His-Tory” jingle is etched in my mind and always feels particularly salient during Black History Month. In addition to daily historical facts, the segment issued a reminder that studying and celebrating Black History was a call to action. A call to better understand the past and to build a better present and future.
Welcome to we are’s revamped blog space, another forum in which our organization hopes to do just that. Each month we will post new pieces from we are staff, board members, families, guest educators, and researchers. Typically, the posts will be dedicated to one piece of our three-pronged approach to dismantling white supremacy in education and beyond. We’ll amplify the reflections, experiences, successes, and research articulated by people of color in order to center marginalized voices. A February launch allows us to consider the symmetry between extending anti-racism education and celebrating Black History all year long.
Effective anti-racist practices require history to be identified as a tool. One that either maintains the status quo or one that questions and challenges the systems that perpetuate oppression. Research continues to show the value of Culturally Responsive Teaching, like the methods advocated by Gholdy Muhammad in Cultivating Genius: An Equity Framework for Culturally and Historically Responsive Literacy. As Muhammad explains, “History from Black communities tells us that educators don’t need to empower youth or give them brilliance or genius. Genius is the brilliance, intellect, ability, cleverness, and artistry that have been flowing through their minds and spirits across the generations.” Educators who develop CRT classrooms and schools are better positioned to utilize inclusive histories to enhance student achievement and equip learners with the tools to construct a better future. When parents and families engage children in their local and personal histories, young people are better able to become the narrators of their own stories. For people of color, this extends the legacy of family serving as a place of refuge and a source of resistance. It also enriches the often contested and narrow representations of Black and other non-white families. Anti-racism employs history as a tool of and for all the people rather than one that supports white supremacy. This use of history speaks truth to power and strengthens our communities.
This blog is a place for families, educators, and co-conspirators to come together. To share our understandings of where we have been, to reflect on where we are, and to become really clear on where we are going. We hope readers are inspired to speak truth to power and practice anti-racism. We’re excited that you are joining us for this ride.
Are you an educator, parent/caregiver, or student interested in contributing to the blog? We are now accepting submissions for the spring and summer. Please email your interests or questions to sarajanee@weare-nc.org.