As the work continues
Hi wonderful people.
We thought it might be useful to share some new and old favorite resources of ours that we turn to as we engage in our justice educatorianship. We’ll come up with a new trendy term for it just to keep everyone on their toes (we’re kidding, there’s a lot of those to keep up with as it is).
We do want to start with the brief (sometimes painful, but essential and realistic) reminder about how this work is ongoing.. and ongoing..and ongoing. We aren’t surprised because we know how deep this work has to go and yet that doesn’t remove the pain/numbness/exhaustion/tears the list goes on. We respect that sometimes the heavy fury of this work in our society comes in the form of self care (see our list below for good vibes). Other times, it’ll come in the form of modeling the answer to the guiding questions we teach backwards from: HOW DO WE WANT OUR CHILDREN TO TALK ABOUT _____? (insert: race! injustice? inequity? oppression? disability? etc.). And we plan from there.
Resources for the good vibes:
Kukuwa Dance - black joy, good for your mind and body and the best way to “move your boombsey” when you’re spiraling down.
The Camping Trip -This is coming out soon and it is precious and new. Sweet and lovely in every way and perfect for summer.
Black Nature: Four Centuries of African American Nature Poetry - the adult accompaniment for the cute book above, bursting with the nature knowledge and love we know.
Magnificent Homespun Brown: A Celebration- sometimes hearing black and brown on repeat in the news causes for a quadruple dose of the sweet affirming of the beauty of our colors.
The Avant Guards (series) - ragamuffin group of kids led by a girl who reminds gabby of her mom (to a t!). They play basketball sometimes and otherwise just cool and queer and I want to be in their group!
What is Given From the Heart - feels like a throwback 90s picture book in the best way.
Pumpkinheads- cute romance. If you're not in the mood for white people at.all. Skip this though. If you’re available for interracial love then this is cuteness falling in love times.
Resources to use as refreshers/ pass along to others when you’re tired but people are clambering for something from you:
NMAAHC "Let's Talk!" (guide to a range of topics related to race)
So You Want to Talk About Race (one of the best, clearest guides we’ve found, we give this as gifts routinely)
Teaching for Change (if you reach out to them tell Deborah that Gabby & Nina sent you ;).
This tweet thread by Alicia Garza
National SEED Project (guides for frameworks, and how to talk about difficult things with one another. This is a group that runs and trains people on how to facilitate tough convos).
Northwest Social Justice Teaching (so far one of the best conferences we have been to for educators in this work. If you want to just say leave me alone and go register for this conference, this would be a good one).
You won’t regret buying this, I reread it, refer back to it, and find resilience in it time and time again.
Resources for adults who have read the most shared guides & say they want something “different”:
This Bridge Called My Back: Writings by Radical Women of Color (one of Gabby’s favorites of ALL TIME! The sheer level of brilliance and genius in this book is slam dunk unbelievable.)
Good Talk (Mira Jacobs- graphic novel)
Red at the Bone (Jackie Woodson always!)
New Daughters of Africa (anthologies of black women really can’t be beat!)
Resources for diving back in with kiddos:
Black History Month post - this is ours. Sorry to do this but we didn’t feel like repeating ourselves / making this post too long. We’ve got a lot of posts on how we teach, have tough convos, reflect, simulations we’ve designed.. So poke around on our blog if you were hoping for that from this post!
Dictionary for a Better World: Poems, Quotes, and Anecdotes from A to Z
Thanks for the work you do and thank you for pushing to do more- be it taking care of yourself better,protesting, sending bail money, politically organizing, raising amazing young humans, pushing for/with educators, teachin’ the youths or whatever else you’re up to. Ah, maybe you’re sending books to everyone?! ( we would both really love if that could be a real job we hop in and out of:). Regardless, the road is long and moments like this slice and kick us all in the gut. We do this work together and we keep on keepin’ on together.
The work we do matters. The way we support our kids in being better than our past matters. Taking care of one another matters. Black and brown lives matter.
It takes a village and we’re grateful you’re out there in ours.
Love to y'all. Be in touch.