BATs Statement: In Solidarity #BlackLivesMatter June 2020

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We, the Board of Directors for the Badass Teachers Association, will state this over and over again until the day that Black and Indigenous People of Color tell us that it is no longer necessary. 

Black Lives Matter

We must do everything in our power to demand and stop the killing of Black bodies, Black mothers, Black fathers, sons, or daughters who are killed simply for their existence.  Everything that we do must be done to work towards the day that Black and Indigenous lives are valued as equals in our communities. We must engage in the work necessary to change racist laws and policies that maintain White Supremacy. 

As educators, it is our responsibility to demand that our schools become places where anti-racism is embraced, modeled, and expected of all. Whether we teach in predominantly white schools or schools with majority Black and brown students, we must commit to being anti-racist educators. We can no longer ignore the impact of racism and expect our students to grow up and believe that we are all equal. We can no longer remain silent while our colleagues advocate for the dangerous position of being colorblind in a world built on robbing Black, Indigenous, and People of Color of their humanity.  

It is past time for police accountability. It is past time for Ethnic Studies in our schools. It is past time for mandated training for all educators in inherent biases and racism. It is past time for equitable funding and resources so that public education can break the institution of racism, instead of feeding it. 

We stand in solidarity with all Black, Indigenous, and People of Color protesting against police brutality, white supremacy, and toxic masculinity that took the life of George Floyd, Ahmaud Aubrey, Breonna Taylor, Nina Pop, and so many more.  

We welcome all anti-racist and anti-fascist educators who are eager to use their greatest weapon to fight back: access to schools and classrooms. We cannot wait for the government to mandate schools be anti-racist. We must commit to this work now and forever. 

Sincerely,

Melissa Love Light Tomlinson, Executive Director

Dr. Denisha Jones, Esq., Assistant Executive Director

Wilma de Soto, Board of Directors

Susan DuFresne, Board of Directors

Michael Flanagan, Board of Directors

Sergio Flores,  Board of Directors



Directors of Steering Committees:

Susan DuFresne, and Nancy Osborne - Co-Directors of Meme Team

Jamy Brice Hyde and Kathy Beery - Co-Directors Quality of Workplace Steering Committee

Tina Andres and Brianne Kramer - Co-Directors of Action Committee

Michael Flanagan and Steven Singer - Co-Directors of Research/Blogging

Kathleen Hagans Jeskey and Brittany Alexander - Co-Directors of State Administrators

Tikiela Rucker - Director of Social Justice

Terry Kalb - Director of Special Education

Phil Sorensen- NEA BAT Caucus Chair

Nikk Enser - Director of Member Engagement

Resources

Join educators in your community who are fighting for Black lives. Research how to be an ally and an accomplice. Here are some resources to help you on your journey! 

Talking About Race

The Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC), has released a powerful new web portal Talking About Race

“Talking About Race” provides digital tools, online exercises, video instructions, scholarly articles, and more than 100 multimedia resources tailored for educators, parents, and caregivers, as well as individuals committed to racial equality. In releasing this resource now, we hope to help individuals and communities foster constructive dialogues on one of the nation’s most challenging issues: racism, and its corrosive impact.


Scaffolded Anti-Racism Resources 

https://docs.google.com/document/u/0/d/1PrAq4iBNb4nVIcTsLcNlW8zjaQXBLkWayL8EaPlh0bc/mobilebasic


An Essential Reading Guide For Fighting Racism

https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/ariannarebolini/george-floyd-amy-cooper-antiracist-books-reading-resources?utm_source=dynamic&utm_campaign=bffbbuzzfeedbooks&ref=bffbbuzzfeedbooks

40+ Books for AntiRacist Teachers – White Fragiles Beware! (summer 2020 update)

https://culturallyresponsiveleadership.com/antiracistbooks/ 

George Floyd Forum Discussion 

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1a9yejqAZ9VYsFbKfPj1u26q2D0Tj-8Zago8iNWYbPyQ/edit?usp=sharing 

Institutionalized Racism: A Syllabus

https://daily.jstor.org/institutionalized-racism-a-syllabus/?fbclid=IwAR389w7Lk4FpHICML8KccB2wj1D5s3df3AAiTlTPDA0wuhOzqOvGaWl1f4Y

Social Justice Resources 

http://www.childrenscommunityschool.org/social-justice-resources/?fbclid=IwAR37PWDJSNV3HiG5Rp9sgezRAW80UtggMrCfntubK6euibscUgsw4607fAQ

Colorful Pages Resources for Educators K-8 Learning Activities for Justice for George Floyd  

https://colorfulpages.org/2020/05/31/blacklivesmatter-k-8-distance-learning-activities-for-justice-for-george-floyd/

Black Lives Matter at School

https://blacklivesmatteratschool.com/

How Educators Can Turn Grief Into Action

https://rodrobinsonrva.com/blogs/f/how-educators-can-turn-grief-into-action?fbclid=IwAR2dEdbREisf-AGmbQd0Dc6hbQIoUvaBs7PQ5dU123IDFCtFfm6vrrUbIMY

Show your solidarity as a union member by signing: 

Union members for #JusticeforGeorgeFloyd

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScpv6V1R2DVjUWulp1NQWP_o34OowQanGc0OCE6FL6PgmRnKA/viewform?fbclid=IwAR1lsOVdiRMPaVBr0h4TY-mcVlUtDh8_ysOP0NWI85S4F3j06A10XIqjt1w

Michael Flanagan