The relaunch of the Teaching Hard History podcast series reminds us that discussing the history of slavery in the United States in age-appropriate ways can help young people understand how that history influences life today. Slavery is the institution that made racism a part of our nation’s foundation, and the legacy of slavery is present in many current systems that disproportionately affect Black children and families. If we are to build a more positive future together, learning this history is essential for healing and reconciliation.
Dialogue creates opportunities to reach across differences and to engage with and understand one another, without losing the integrity of our work for equity and justice. In the new Fall 2024 Issue of Learning for Justice magazine, the first two features, “Dialogue Across Difference” by Brandon Haas and “The Promise of Building Bridges” by Maia Ferdman and Felicia Graham, examine how dialogue is foundational for civic engagement and democratic collective action and offer a model to foster a culture of meaningful exchange, empathy and critical thinking.
