But it has only been a minute…. less than 90 days, looking for sustainability and stronger efforts
As I write, I realize it has been a minute since I last connected here. Reflecting on my reason for starting this blog, I realize I have not been true to myself and I have lost a bit of my focus. Today, August 20, 2020 our nation is still trying to navigate through the pandemic, which includes so much uncertainty. While uncertainty seems to cloud our ability to “return to normal” visits with friends and family, planning vacations or simply going to the grocery store; what is clear to me is my desire and need to use my voice for the voiceless and to become a champion for those that are marginalized.
When George Floyd was murdered and our country begin “to see” racism (some might say for the first time), I often found myself in spaces saying… this is not enough. This is not enough, and so what. So what… so what if you put an ad on the television, so what you removed a statue of someone who was a racist, so what if you gave dollors to a cause (dollars I might add largelycame from the Black community)- I want to see change in policy.
I want to see better outcomes for Black and Brown people. While those gestures were a start, I said then, and I continue to say – I need to see change in policy. As our nation begins to reengage students and their families back in the “school space”, I ask you to consider the following questions: “What looks different or feels different for my child this year? Will my child be afforded the opportunity to receive an education that is equitable, not equal but equitable? Will my child receive an education that is grounded in experiences that cultivate their geniusness? ” Answers to those questions, will lead us to examine the lack of policy changes that have happened. Since we watched our country “cry the words” Black Lives Matter, it will not “mean” anything until we change the practices that have oppressed our Black and Brown babies.
In a recent Podcast, Teaching to Thrive, Dr. Bettina Love reminds us that Nikki Giovanni said during a conversation with Angela Davis, how are you going to ask the oppesor if you are beautiful? To that end, and to further highlight Dr. Love, she said “we must not look for education to save us we must save education”. If those in power, do not do the work to change their mindsets and core beliefs; how can we expect them to redesign the system. Systemic change is what is needed, not the shallow efforts that we have seen since the senseless murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and countless others.
Back to “it’s been a minute” think about it, George Floyd was murdered on May 25, 2020, Breonna Taylor was murdered while sleeping in her own bed on March 13, 2020, the country watched and cried out “Black Lives Matter” for weeks afterwards. But now, August 20, 2020 is here and we are still expecting our Black and Brown babies to return to systems that don’t honor or value them. These very systems failed us before the pandemic, and without policy change will continue to fail us. We must rise up and demand changes in practices and policies, changes that will cultivate a system that will build up our babies and support them in ways that will allow them to shine, grow and learn.
drtiffanyspeaks 