May 25 marks one year since the murder of George Floyd, which sparked a pivotal groundswell of activism across the country. As we honor him and all those who have died at the hands of police, we must not waver in our fight against racism and police violence. It’s important that we all center the lived experiences of students and educators of color and support young activists who stand up against racial injustice. These resources help to critically examine anti-racist practices and provide tools to support youth leadership.
As we celebrate Pride by honoring queer trailblazers, we want to especially uplift Black and Brown trans women and gender nonconforming people of color who led liberation movements nationwide. Out of the Stonewall Uprising came the very celebration of Pride we know today—and we have activists like Marsha P. Johnson, Sylvia Rivera and Miss Major Griffin-Gracy to thank. Use these resources to center queer Black and Brown activists who fought back against police brutality and oppression while also teaching about the continued fight for justice.
For Holocaust Remembrance Day (Yom HaShoa), education is important so that we never forget the horrors that hate manifests. But for truly meaningful commitment to learning from and preventing such atrocities, we must come together in the urgency of now—in combating censorship about our country's history, in teaching about racism and the systems of anti-Black oppression, and in countering the patterns of hate in our nation and world today. The Holocaust is not just a singular event of the past; every generation must make the commitment to "never again," and that begins with education.
What does social justice education really mean? The current climate of censorship and disinformation along with attacks on inclusive education makes it crucial for us all to understand the role of education in building a just society that benefits us all.
Most parents and caregivers support inclusive education based on credible, research-based pedagogy that values the well-being of all students.
