Parent/Guardian Book Group
Every Wednesday in March, parents/guardians joined together for our weekly discussion of the book Raising Antiracist Children. During those gatherings, we talked about how our most obvious “why” for engaging the topic is that our mission at Sequoyah is to celebrate human dignity. However, it is equally the case that we gather in community to challenge our minds and have tough conversations where two things can be true.
We can only lean into our courage and authenticity when we show up willing to nurture each other’s hearts. It is clear to me that the most compelling reason we do this is the deep care and love we share for our students and their families, and I am deeply grateful for the partnership I share with all of you.
Each week, we gathered to consider what it means to act on what author Britt Hawthorne proposes – that we “agree to help children embrace human differences, accurately identify unfairness, receive accountability as a gift, interrupt the harmful discriminatory practices they witness, imagine a future when Black lives matter, and practice infinite hope.”
There isn’t one way - and certainly no “correct” way - to be a family, an individual, or any identity. There are many ways to be, for freedom, liberation, and justice to be felt through a practice of questioning, wondering, and reflecting. In an attempt to bring us all into the rich conversations we had at the K-8 campus every Wednesday night last month, I am excited to share some of the resources from our time together, below.
Whether or not you read the book, these items are meant to support you in walking in alignment with your values. The tools include what to say when you hear something racist, ways to disrupt bias when you see it, and tips for proactively setting up your homes and classrooms as spaces for liberation. I hope you will find just the right moment to view them.
From the heart,
Marisol Perez
Co-Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion & HS Spanish Department Chair
Resources:
Podcast Series by Elena Aguilar: What to Say When You Hear Something Racist & Companion Guide. The entire series is great, episodes 109-120, and this one is about what to say as a person of color.
Raising Antiracist Children Discussion Questions: Sessions 1 & 2, Session 3, Sessions 4 & 5. “Liberating Language”, an excerpt from the book, offers age-appropriate language for speaking with children about race and a framework to use when addressing inaccurate statements about others.
