The 1619 Project series airing on Hulu during Black History Month reminds us of the importance for parents and caregivers, along with teachers, to talk with children about slavery in age-appropriate ways. LFJ’s new article and our supplemental resources—podcasts and short videos—provide recommendations for conversations and user-friendly access to information about the history and legacy of slavery.
Did you know that, in seven states, April is officially designated as Confederate History Month? Or that Confederate monuments can be found from Portland, Oregon, to the Bronx in New York? These resources can help you teach the real history behind the "Lost Cause" and public monuments in its honor—and explore how communities are challenging this false narrative.
Started by the Campaign for Youth Justice, October is Youth Justice Action Month (YJAM), a time to “raise awareness and inspire action on behalf of young people impacted by our criminal justice system.” These resources explain how the school-to-prison and school-to-deportation pipelines all too often begin in the classroom. And they offer ways educators can interrupt these systems.
The annual National Black Lives Matter at School Week of Action for 2023 is February 6-10. The guiding principles behind this event can be an important frame through which to reimagine more liberatory educational spaces for Black children and—as these LFJ resources indicate—for all children. This Black History Month, be intentional in countering censorship efforts.
Black history isn’t only in the past—it’s happening right now. This Black History Month, commit to acknowledging and elevating today’s young Black change makers and their accomplishments year-round. Our resources will help you uplift Black activists who are changing history and those fighting for justice within their communities, and they will encourage your students to see themselves as change makers too.
Celebrate Pride Month by taking action to support LGBTQ+ youth in increasingly hostile school environments and in our communities. The new spring magazine feature “A Refuge for LGBTQ+ Young People” explains students’ rights and how gender and sexuality alliance (GSA) clubs provide spaces for young people to thrive. This new article and these LFJ resources highlight that everyone benefits when inclusivity is intentional.