NAACP LDF Historic Transition: President and Director-Counsel Sherrilyn Ifill will step down after nearly a decade of LDF leadership; longtime deputy Janai Nelson will be her successor as leader of the historic civil rights organization established by Thurgood Marshall in 1940. Learn more here.
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MAINTAINING HOPE & PRESSING FORWARD AMID RACIAL TERRORISM |
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Recent verdicts in the Kyle Rittenhouse as well as the Travis McMichael, Gregory McMichael, and William Bryan cases have reminded us how precarious justice and safety are for Black and Brown communities and (sometimes) their allies, and, more generally, of the challenges of racial justice advocacy. We continue to be troubled by White supremacist violence and steady attacks on efforts to teach U.S. history more honestly (we found this recent commentary by Andre Perry quite compelling, as it connects current events to White resistance to desegregation).
It can be challenging to make sense of integration as a goal in the face of such inhumane levels of injustice and violence. Given our country's long legacy of racial injustice, as a society we need to take proactive steps to cultivate the knowledge, skills, and relationships that help people navigate life in a multi-racial democracy. Since our founding in 2009, our coalition has been guided by the belief that school integration is a critical pathway to achieving systemic racial equity and cross-racial understanding. We continue to believe that integrated schools can help us define a new reality.
The day the Rittenhouse verdict was released, we found ourselves reflecting on an exchange between Dr. Kira Banks and Beverly Daniel Tatum shortly after George Floyd was killed ("Talking to Kids About Racism"):
Dr. Kira Banks: "Tell us how you continue to remain hopeful in these times."
Beverly Daniel Tatum: "Well, I have to say that it's not easy. And, that I really think of it as a personal discipline. That hope is a discipline. And I say that...in the spirit of the quote that Bryan Stevenson also speaks to, and that is that 'injustice prevails when hopelessness persists.'"
(See the entire exchange from 3:20-4:48.)
We also remember that Charles Hamilton Houston cautioned civil rights advocates against working in isolation from one another: "All our struggles must tie in together and support one another...We must remain on the alert and push the struggle farther with all our might." As we move forward with our school integration work, NCSD remains committed to continually reflecting on and connecting our work to what is happening around us.
Check out these statements from member organizations in response to recent court verdicts:
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White Vigilantes Found Guilty Of Murdering Ahmaud Arbery
“We must continue fighting to address not only individual acts of racist vigilante violence, but also the archaic systems of institutional and societal racism that set the context for some to think they can engage in this behavior with impunity. We will not rest until every person is afforded equitable protection, justice, and dignity.” Read more here.
- Damon T. Hewitt, President/Executive Director of LLCUL
White Supremacist Vigilante Violence Again Goes Unchecked
“It is also worth noting that Rittenhouse was a child when he committed these acts. Among the most gutting aspects of his trial and acquittal on all charges is that the court afforded him the kinds of protections and benefit of the doubt at every stage that most Black children and children of color are never afforded in this country. In fact, many children of color never quite get to be children at all in a society that labels and objectifies them, from the cradle to the grave.” Read more here.
- Damon T. Hewitt, President/Executive Director of LCCUL
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LDF Issues Statement on the Convictions in the Murder of Ahmaud Arbery
“The trial of Travis McMichael, Gregory McMichael, and William Bryan further highlights the challenges to equal citizenship for Black people that persist in this country, from the street to the courtroom. From the murder of Mr. Arbery for jogging while Black, to the selection of 11 white jurors and 1 Black juror which the Court stated appeared to have been ‘intentional discrimination’ but permitted it because defense counsel offered a race-neutral explanation, to opposing counsel denigrating the presence of Black pastors in the public courtroom by claiming their presence ‘intimidated’ the jury, the defense counsel stating that peaceful protest outside of the courthouse was a ‘public lynching’ of the defendants, to the vile and dehumanizing description of Mr. Arbery by the defense, this trial underscored how discrimination continues to infect our legal system." Read more here.
- Janai S. Nelson, Associate Director-Counsel of the NAACP LDF
LDF Issues Statement on the Acquittal of Kyle Rittenhouse
“We should not forget that these killings took place amid protests in Kenosha. The history of protest is integral to the fight for racial justice in this country and there remains a concerted attack to encroach on this right. Rittenhouse’s conduct must be understood within an environment in which armed militias and vigilantes are acting to silence protesters, and where state legislatures have advanced anti-protest bills in the aftermath of demonstrations calling for racial justice.” Read more here.
- Janai S. Nelson, Associate Director-Counsel of the NAACP LDF
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Can We Disarm Vigilantes by Bridging?
“It is not just a problem with the bad apple, there is something wrong with the tree and possibly the soil. How do we critically and honestly look at our country, and yes, it is our country, while acknowledging and holding it to its best ideals? This calls for a different way of communicating, doing, and being.” Read more here.
- john a. powell, Director of the Othering & Belonging Institute
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Ahmaud Arbery Verdict: Conviction of Men who Killed Unarmed Black Jogger a Necessary Step, but Issues in Our Justice System Must Still be Addressed
“The fact that justice was done in this case does not deny the reality that countless Black men are targeted and killed for no reason other than the color of their skin. Incidents like these will continue to occur until our criminal legal system is truly focused on combating anti-Black crime and white supremacy. The disgraceful racially charged antics of the defense throughout the trial are a stark reminder of these challenges that lie ahead.” Read more here.
- Margaret Huang, President/CEO of SPLC
Kyle Rittenhouse Verdict: SPLC Denounces Lack of Justice in Acquittal of Armed Teenager who Killed Two People and Wounded Another
“We will continue to see this sort of violence repeat itself in towns across the country unless we, as a nation, move toward greater prevention of radicalization, countering the antidemocratic hate that enabled the Kenosha violence, and ending the systemic racism that supports it.” Read more here.
- Margaret Huang, President/CEO of SPLC
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NCSD STAFF UPDATES
What We've Been Up To Recently
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Request for Proposals: Graphic Designer for NCSD (Deadline: Dec. 14, 2021)
The National Coalition on School Diversity is soliciting proposals from consultants experienced in strategic planning for racial/social justice organizations to lead its staff, steering committee, and network members through a process to revise its current strategic plan. Deliverable should be a clear, easily consumed, strategic planning roadmap accompanied by a timeline, implementation, and evaluation methodology.
Learn more about the opportunity and how to apply here.
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This month, we welcomed Metis Associates to the coalition. Metis Associates is a national consulting firm that delivers highly customized research and evaluation, grant writing, and data management services. Learn more about their work here.
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We'd greatly appreciate your support this Giving Tuesday in the form of a donation or by sharing our Twitter and Facebook appeals.
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Available now via Amazon Prime.
"Fifteen years before Rosa Parks refused to surrender her bus seat, a full decade before the U.S. Supreme Court overturned separate-but-equal legislation, Pauli Murray was already knee-deep fighting for social justice. A pioneering attorney, activist, priest, and dedicated memoirist, Murray shaped landmark litigation—and consciousness— around race and gender equity. As an African American youth raised in the segregated South—who was also wrestling with broader notions of gender identity—Pauli understood, intrinsically, what it was to exist beyond previously accepted categories and cultural norms. Both Pauli’s personal path and tireless advocacy foreshadowed some of the most politically consequential issues of our time. Told largely in Pauli’s own words, My Name is Pauli Murray is a candid recounting of that unique and extraordinary journey." Learn more here.
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National convening:
From the team at The Bridges Collaborative: We are thrilled to announce that we will be hosting our third national convening IN-PERSON! The convening will be on May 19th and 20th, 2022 in Baltimore, MD!
While we have been able to build community virtually over the past year, we always intended to bring people together in person. We are excited to finally be able to bring folks from all across the country together. We plan to do so safely and responsibly and will release details about our plan in the coming weeks and months.
Expect more information about the convening's theme, content, and logistics soon. In the meantime - get excited! We can't wait to see you in Charm City!
Regional convenings:
The Bridges Collaborative will be hosting regional convenings on school and housing integration in the following cities. Both Bridges and non-Bridges members will be invited to participate. Please reach out to lallinger@tcf.org if you work on integration-related issues in these locations:
- Milwaukee (and Greater Milwaukee area) - Jan. 28th
- Fort Worth / Dallas - Feb. 17th
- North Carolina - April 1st
- Los Angeles - June TBD
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Updates:
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Report: New York Appleseed joined members of Fordham Law Feerick Center’s New York High School Application Advisory Council (HSAAC) Subcommittee on Rubrics for Screened Programs to publish the recent report, The Next Step: Prioritizing Equity and Recovery in NYC High School Admissions – a report that provides guidance for prioritizing equity in the NYC school admissions process and putting an end to exclusionary high school screening methods. "The Next Step" lays out a policy roadmap for immediate reforms and long-term solutions that will lead to an equitable and integrated future as we recover from over a year of interrupted schooling.
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New Project:
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The Peer Defense Project at IntegrateNYC is launching an unprecedented “Know Your Case” campaign on the historic litigation they have against the State of New York for the right to an anti-racist education across our social media platforms. They intend to empower youth to share their stories of navigating the New York City Department of Education. Learn more here.
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New Episodes:
- Integrated Schools released two new podcast episodes:
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Not Your Model Minority - Dr. Sarah-Soonling Blackburn joined co-hosts Andrew Lefkowits and Val Brown to give insight on how the Asian-American model minority myth is not only harmful to Asian Americans, but all people of color and how it is directly linked to anti-Black racism in our country. She also offers a deep reflection about what solidarity building can mean and what we all have to offer in the fight to dismantle White supremacy culture.
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New Research Brief:
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Building a Positive School Climate Through Restorative Practices: “Widespread efforts to curb exclusionary and discriminatory discipline in schools have led to a growing focus on restorative approaches, a set of practices aimed at building strong in-school relationships and attachments, rather than pushing students out of school. This brief reviews research illustrating the benefits of these practices for improving student behavior, decreasing the use of exclusionary discipline, and improving school climate."
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Virtual Event (12/15)
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Virtual Tour of Nubian Square and METCO: "Experience the power of the METCO program by exploring its origins and legacy throughout historic Nubian Square in Roxbury. High school scholars researched sites and stories of the neighborhood and presented them virtually, followed by a Q&A. The tour culminates in a look at the brand new exhibit on the history of educational activism in Boston that recently opened at METCO's new Headquarters in Nubian Square."
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RESEARCH ADVISORY PANEL UPDATES
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NEWS FROM
ACROSS OUR
COUNTRY
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Exploring Inequality, School Finance Reform, Quality Pre-K, and How We Can Make Progress on School Integration
"My work investigates how much the combined effects of early and later childhood education and health investments targeted to poor and minority communities can narrow achievement gaps and adult attainment gaps, including health, by race and class. And do the combined effects exceed the sum of individual policies? One of the key focal areas is, What are the requisite public investments to replace the school-to-prison pipeline with a school-to-life-success pipeline?"
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National -
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After a Harrowing Year, Superintendents From the Nation’s Three Largest Urban Districts Step Down (USC Rossier Magazine, Fall/Winter 2021) - "Richard Carranza: I wish I had known just how deeply entrenched the inequity and segregation is in the New York City public school system. It’s almost something people don’t think about. When I first went to New York City, I thought, here’s [this] bastion of liberalism. Surely this progressive city would not stand for this? I wish I would have known how deeply entrenched it is, because we would have had some tactical changes."
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United We Learn: Honoring America’s Racial and Ethnic Diversity In Education (The Aspen Institute of Education & Society Program, Oct. 21) - "Research shows that teaching students about the history and current manifestations of racism has overwhelmingly positive effects for all students. While it’s important to address other inequities, such as poverty and disability status, a national debate has erupted about speech codes limiting teachers’ ability to teach about race and racism. Teachers need support to improve their practice in this area, but avoiding teaching about race and racism is detrimental to students’ learning and healthy development."
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California -
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Shedding the Legacy of Segregation in Our Schools by Kimberly Sellery (California Schools, Fall 2021) - "This small district provides a microcosm of the issues contributing to growing segregation in districts across the nation due to historic issues such as redlining, court decisions that have weakened desegregation ever since Brown v. Board of Education, and a lack of support and will to address this widespread issue."
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Lousiana -
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‘I Want My Life to Mean Something’: Ruby Bridges Speaks on School Integration, Role in History by Nelisha Silver (Notre Dame & Saint Mary Observer, Nov 8.) - "'I have faith in young people that you are going to be the ones to change the world … Change is coming,' she said. 'But once people see that change is coming, then the fight gets harder. So don’t expect it to be easy. A lot of people before you lost their lives to bring us to where we are now, so I want young people to be hopeful and to know that this really is your world.'”
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Related - Lawyers' Committee Tweet: It always haunted me also coming through #NewOrleans public schools, that the elite opportunities were not widely available to Black students. And we were just as deserving, just as smart and just as capable.” - Lawyers' Committee President/Executive Director Damon T. Hewitt
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CROSS-MOVEMENT RESOURCE LIST |
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Podcast - Deep Diversity Book Launch: Fireside Chat with Loretta Ross (Anima Cafe podcast, Oct. 8) - "In this intimate session, racial justice leader and elder Loretta Ross (author of upcoming Calling In the Calling Out Culture) will join Shakil in exploring the evolution of the anti-racist movement from a culture of shame and blame, towards a more compassionate and inclusive approach, keeping racial justice work at the centre of the conversation."
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African American Policy Forum (AAPF) |
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Civil Rights Projects/Proyecto Derechos Civiles |
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Intercultural Development Research Association |
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Learning Policy Institute |
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Metropolitan Center for Research and Equity and the Transformation of Schools |
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NYU Metro Center, The Education Justice Research and Organizing Collaborative (EJ-ROC) - "An interactive and transformative professional learning experience that will prepare you to use, facilitate, and train others to use the Culturally Responsive and Sustaining Curriculum Scorecards (the English Language edition and Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math edition)."
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SJTI - The focus of the institute is on personal work — working dynamics of internalized dominance and internalized oppression, and learning to better use yourself as the instrument of change.
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Truth, Racial, Healing, & Transformation (TRHT) - It is not the responsibility of one person, one group, or even one organization to drive this work. The responsibility belongs to all of us to participate in these honest, powerful, and moving experiences, and pursue this journey together. Download the Action Kit here.
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2/17 - 2/19
Nashville, TN
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American Association of School Administrators - Researchers, educators and practitioners will come together for intensive debate and discussion on Leading for Student-Centered, Equity-Focused Education, and what that means for your leadership role, community collaboration, district outcomes, and student success.
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Contact Us
National Coalition on School Diversity
c/o Poverty and Race Research Action Council
Mailing Address: 740 15th St. NW #300
Washington, DC 20005
Phone: 202-544-5066
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