Last Wednesday, American University's Antiracist Research & Policy Center held a webcast with keynote speaker, Jason Reynolds, along with Julye Williams, Liz . This webcast includes so many important conversations about racial equity in education (and touches on gender identity). I had a chance to watch it today and wanted to share some of my biggest takeaways. If you have a chance to listen to/watch the webcast, PLEASE DO (inserted below)!
Takeaway 1: Inclusive, well-rounded stories about all groups of people are vital in education. Julye Williams from Project 2049 reminded listeners, "What does it say to the white students when the only focus for students of color are periods of oppression?"
Takeaway 2: Moderator, Christine Platt, and Jason Reynolds were discussion conversations about race, racism, and gender identity with children and Platt asked Reynolds, "You've had some of these conversations with children that a lot of educators may think are too young to have. They're not, right?" Reynolds replied with a quote from Laurie Halse Anderson, "'It's the insecurities of adults that become blockades for children.' The children have been ready." Make these conversations a normal part of life by having them often; they shouldn't be considered taboo. We as educators work so hard to help children feel prepared to take on adulthood by teaching them those core subjects, but it is rare that we focus lessons on race, racism, and gender identity. Aren't these subjects just as important to be knowledgeable of as an adult? It's okay to feel uncomfortable; what's important is that you take that feeling and turn it into a learning opportunity. It's also okay to not always know the correct answer; again, use it as a learning experience for all parties!
Takeaway 3: In January of 2019, I learned about Rudine Sims Bishop's concept of "Mirrors, windows, and sliding glass doors" (although, the person relaying this concept did not name Bishop, nor did they include the "sliding glass doors" portion of the concept) and how they directly connect to literature. I took on this concept as a guiding light for my own personal and professional growth, reading, learning, and having more conversations with others who are different than I. It wasn't until this webcast, however, that I learned Bishop's name and the missing "sliding glass door" piece. Reynolds stressed that it is the most important portion of this concept. When we open that door, Reynolds said, it allows us to "plant our feet in someone else's grass- it does not mean that you own said grass." By doing this, we build empathy and it opens the door to conversations with others.
Takeaway 4: Find your librarian! "LIbrarians are the revolutionaries of your environment. Librarians are the rebels, because what the librarian understands more than anybody, is that you don't have to agree with the thing in order for it to exist on the shelf. There are things librarians don't rock with but they understand that every book deserves to live. Find your librarian, figure out how to get close to your librarian, and use that as the model. You don't have to agree with everything, but that doesn't make it less true. You still have an obligation to put it forth for our children to gain from. And I think librarians can teach you better than anybody else." -Jason Reynolds