As a white educator, I have very little to add to the conversation that hasn’t already been said by people much better equipped to do so. However, I do think it is important that educators publicly stand in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement in our personal as well as professional lives to make it clear that we will not continue to accept the status quo in our schools. If you haven’t already, you can make a literal pledge to do better through the National Education Association, declaring that:

As educators and allies, we will work to address the inequities that result from institutionally racist policies and practices in our schools and the communities in which our students live. We choose not to accept these conditions as they exist, but to accept the responsibility for changing them.

We pledge to take actions that will address access and opportunity for all students, by highlighting inequities and increasing awareness, organizing for change, and growing the movement.

For white educators specifically, it’s important that we not burden our colleagues of color with the task of explaining what is happening, how to help, or what to say. It is also important that we be informed and ready to talk to our students about institutional racism in a way that is accessible, affirming of their feelings, and does not retraumatize Black students or put them in a position where they feel they need to defend their lived experiences. If you feel in need of guidance, a quick Google search will turn up countless resources to help you and I personally recommend starting with Joe Truss who has excellent resources on his site, Culturally Responsive Leadership.

As Maya Angelou has said, “when we know better, we do better”. Many of us have known better for a long time but have failed to act, and we must now put that knowledge towards direct action in our classrooms and districts.

Images courtesy of edjustice