JUNE 2020 Social Justice, Anti-BiasedVOLUME, and 1, ISSUE 1 Anti-Racist Education

Abilities Network Project ACT ANPROJECTACT.ORG [email protected]

Abilities Network Position Statement

We work hard to support individuals and families with the complex feelings they experience about their lives, their goals and their dreams. And especially this year and under the current circumstances this is a huge responsibility. Our community faces additional feelings of fear, anger and loss with the tragic and Inside This Issue senseless murder of and all others who have

needlessly suffered at the hands of individuals and systems that have brought about persistent racial disparities. Abilities Network is Position Statement and How-To 1 a social justice organization. Our mission is to challenge the Discussing Current Racial Injustices with Children 2 community to acknowledge the value and equality of people of all Creating an Environment that is Anti- abilities. While our focus is on advocacy for and with individuals biased/Anti-Racist 3 with disabilities, we stand in solidarity with all those seeking justice. Teaching Social Justice 4 We acknowledge that there is much work to be done, and reaffirm The Importance of Self-Reflection 5 our commitment to our mission of creating an inclusive and just

society.

A “How-To” Guide for this Resource

Most of this newsletter is a gathering of articles and resources to help you create the best environments for the children you serve. It is by no means an all-inclusive list of resources on race and racism and their impact on early childhood programs. There may be articles that are hard to read. For some there may be discussions that are very different from your view points. It’s okay to have big feelings about these topics. It’s okay to take a break and just sit with something. Creating socially just and anti-bias programs is a journey. It is the hope that these resources help you on your journey. It is the hope that you come back to these resources over time when you feel unsure.

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Discussing Current Racial Injustices with Children

The many images and conversations happening around the children we care for on Blacks Lives Matter, George Floyd, and protests has ultimately brought the question, “What do I tell the kids?” Experts say that it is important to have these conversations with young children, but what’s most important is that you understand what lens you are speaking from when having these conversations. Children will understand what’s happening in the world through how you understand what’s happening in the world. If you are still working on learning more about your own perspective on racism, bias, and the role social justice plays in our country, there are additional resources for that within this newsletter in the “Where to Begin” section. Sadly, even within the time it took to write this guide, more people of color are losing their lives to the racial injustices occurring in this country. To stay up to date on those who have lost their lives due to racial inequalities follow the hashtag #saytheirname on any social media platform. Here are a few resources to support you in your conversations about the recent deaths of Black Americans. Social Story for George Floyd Perspectives: Talking With Kids about Racial Injustice from Understood.org Supporting Kids of Color in the Wake of Racialized Violence from Embrace Race Talking to Kids about Ahmaud from Beccastone Bringing into the Classroom from Teaching Tolerance

Something Happened in our Town; A Child’s Story about Racial Injustice by Marianne Celano PhD, Marietta Collins PhD, Ann Hazzard PhD and illustrated by Jennifer Zivoin

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Creating an Environment that is Anti-Biased/Anti-Racist

Research shows that children as young as infancy can begin to show bias by 6 months old. This shows us that creating an anti- Books for Children biased/anti-racist environment requires intentional work and exposure to and appreciation of diversity. Is My Skin Brown Because I Drank Chocolate Milk by Beverly How Mama’s Love Their Daniel Tatum Babies by Juniper Our Children, Our Workforce Why We Must Talk about Race and Fitzgerald illustrated Racism in Early Childhood Education” by Kelly Matthews and by Elise Peterson Ijumaa Jordan All the Colors We are: Episode 43: A Lesson In Humility: Diving into Anti-Racist Early The Story of How We Education Practices and Policies with Ijumaa Jordan by Pre-K Get Our Skin Color by Teach and Play Katie Kissinger and Resources for Talking About Race, Racism, and Racialized Violence illustrated by Chris with Kids by Center for Racial Justice in Education Bohnhoff Racial Bias May Begin in Babies at Six Months, U of T Research Lovely by Jess Hong Reveals by Lindsey Craig Let’s Talk About Race Guide for Selecting Anti-Bias Children’s Books by Louise Derman- by Julius Lester Sparks Anti-Racist Teaching: So…How Do I Do It? by Rafa Pérez-Segura

If You Need a Starting Point

Some people may need a guide to set things into motion, knowing that creating an anti-racist classroom is not checklist to move through. Here are two self assessments, you can use by yourself or with your team members. Self-Assessment Checklist for Personnel Providing Services and Supports In Early Intervention and Early Childhood Settings created by National Center for Cultural Competence Georgetown University Center for Child and Human Development Anti-Bias Classroom Observation Check List Environmental Evaluation Adapted from Derman-Sparks & Edwards

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Teaching Social Justice

When equity is prioritized all children benefit. Ensure that conversations are balanced in discussing racial pride and understanding systems of oppression. And yes, these topics can be shared with young children. A few key topics to remember when teaching social justice in your program are: Resources 1. Identity: Help children to develop a healthy and positive sense of identity. Mindful Activism: Being 2. Diversity: Help children to appreciate the differences in A Healthy Social Justice each other. Educator by Mawule A. Sevon 3. Justice: Help children recognize stereotypes, unfair acts, and the harmful impacts of injustice. Social Justice Standards 4. Action: Help children express empathy, stand up to from Teaching injustice, speak up respectfully, and collectively act against Tolerance bias and injustice. Empathy Journal for

Children by GoZen Children’s Books on Social Justice Black Boys Matter: Strategies for a Culturally Responsive Classroom by Brian L. Wright

“What About People Like Me?" Teaching Preschoolers About Baby by Mahogany L. The ABCs of the Black Panther Party Segregation and “Peace Browne and illustrated by by Chema Morales-James and S. Theodore Taylor Khalilah Brann Heroes” by Nadia Jaboneta We Need Diverse Books Teaching the Movement by Teaching Tolerance

26 Big Things Small Hands Can Somewhere Today; A Book About Do by Coleen Paratore and Peace by Shelley Moore Thomas and illustrated by Mike Reed photographed by Eric Futran (Illustrator) (Photographer)

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The Importance of Self-Reflection Books Experiences impact beliefs and beliefs impact actions. Self-reflection is an important piece in teaching young children about race, bias, and social justice. Below are resources to support self-reflection. Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates Our Children, Our Workforce: Why We Must Talk About Race and Racism in Early Childhood Education by Kelly Matthews and Ijumaa Mother to Son: Letters to a Jordan Black Boy on Identity and 10 Ways Well-Meaning White Teachers Bring Racism Into Our Schools by Hope by Jasmine L. Holmes Jamie Utt Why Are All the Black Kids This was a good week (resources for being anti-racist) by Walrond Sitting Together in the Cafeteria by Beverly Daniel Project Implicit Tatum OPINION: Let’s never see another first-grader in handcuffs by Shantel Meek and Roy L. Austin Jr. The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Seeing White Podcast by Scene on Radio Colorblindness by Michelle Anti-Racism Resource Collection by Resource Sharing Project Alexander Movies and Documentaries The Miseducation of the 13th by Ava DuVernay Negro by Carter Goodwin Woodson When They See Us by Ava DuVernay Time: The Kalief Browder Story by Jenner Furst The Souls of Black Folks by W.E.B. Dubois by George Tillman Jr. How To Be An Antiracist by The African Americans: Many Rivers to Cross presented by PBS by Henry Ibram X. Kendi Louis Gates Jr. So You Want to Talk About People to Follow Race by Ibram X. Kendi; Ijumaa Jordan; Nikkolas Smith; Rachel Cargle; Brittany Packnett Cunningham; Candace Andrews; The Conscious Kid; Equality Books by Juwanza Kunjufu Labs; Black Lives Matter; No White Saviors; Check Your Privilege