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When racist incidents occur, students often need historical perspective to understand the depth of the offense. That's why our Teaching Hard History framework is so important, and that's why we're offering this edition of The Moment. Your students may have questions about the governor of Virginia's admission that he once dressed in blackface.

Today, Derek Chauvin was found guilty on all charges. But our legal system is still far from just, and many students may still be feeling a lack of closure. In critical moments like these, we know students look to educators for guidance. We hope you’ll reaffirm the value of Black lives. We hope you’ll create a space for students to process—not debate. And we hope you’ll get the support you need. These resources can help you hold space for critical conversations in the days to come.

From a policy banning swim caps designed for natural Black hair to a ruling that several Black women can’t compete because of naturally high testosterone levels, some Olympic policies reflect stereotypes and discriminatory dress codes that many Black girls and women face in schools. As you prepare for next school year, these resources can help you assess your school’s dress code, advocate for inclusion and check that you don’t reinforce harmful stereotypes about women and women athletes.

We are lifting up educators and students of color as we all continue to witness fatal police shootings—this time in Minneapolis, Chicago and Honolulu—and as video circulates of police violence against a Black and Latinx man in Virginia. Please take time to care for yourself as best you can. To all educators, when addressing these acts of violence, make sure you’re aware of students who may be experiencing trauma related to these events. These resources can help you support your students and give them space to grieve.

The second anniversary of the assault on the U.S. Capitol approaches with the new year, reminding us that it’s critical to help young people understand, contextualize and counter manipulative and harmful disinformation. And because online hate continues to function as a crisis-level threat to democracy, digital literacy and models to prevent and build resilience against extremism must be among contemporary solutions.

“The reality of racism must be honestly confronted for our society to build a more equitable future for all children.” —Ivory A. Toldson, Ph.D.

In an increasingly polarized climate where disinformation is rampant, people need the skills to engage responsibly with digital media. But how can we help young people to withstand this torrent of manipulative disinformation? Start with supporting their mental health and well-being. To teach media literacy, we must also do due diligence to understand the emerging media landscape and recognize the mental health challenges it presents. These Learning for Justice resources provide concrete guidance for supporting and engaging young people as they navigate the current media environment.