In the Spring of 2020, after being forced into remote learning and still processing the senseless killings of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, and Brianna Taylor, a group of educators at Elmont Memorial High School decided it was time to discuss difficult topics regarding the American experience. Covid had exposed and exacerbated great inequities among race and class due to systemic racism and discrimination. The very visual and painful killing of a non-violent George Floyd at the hands of law enforcement only added to this dynamic and ultimately fueled demonstrations and protests across the country and in our community.
As public educators, we sign up to educate all children that come into our classrooms in as neutral a way as possible. However, to pretend that we do not need to process these events/systems for our own well-being or so we can better communicate and support the adolescents that we serve, is simply naive. We cannot best connect, empathize, and educate our students without a better understanding of the American experience from multiple viewpoints. If we cannot discuss real topics and real issues that exist in our ever-changing democracy, then growth and development, and thus learning, will cease. As educators, we cannot let this happen.
This website and blog documents our journey as educators from various backgrounds discussing real aspects of the American system and experience that affect us and our students as people and human beings. In order to serve them, we must do the “kazi” (“work” in Swahili) to improve ourselves, our community, and our society. We hope to provide a true account of our journey as well as resources, encouragement, and confidence to those wanting to organize their own experience.