Don’t Just Show Your Support – Do Something!
I was originally going to write a post about the beautiful inclusive posters I’ve seen for teachers to post in their classrooms. But I couldn’t… But before I explain that… let me digress…
After the March. Now What?
It’s been all over the media. Women’s marches this weekend drew an estimated 3 million people to protest the inauguration of Trump. Marchers marched across the country to stand up and speak up for the rights of women, as well as other communities targeted by the GOP and the Trump agenda. These communities include (but are not limited to): women, Blacks, LGBTQ people, indigenous and native people, disabled people, muslims, low-income people, sick people… basically everyone but the Donald and his friends.
In response to attacks on civil rights, and the rising tide of hate speech in our schools and communities, people are mobilizing to push back. More and more folks are waking up. More and more of us are realizing we can’t ignore racist narratives and hope they’ll blow over. As the Black Lives Matter movement has been saying FOR YEARS… silence does not only equal consent, Silence = Death. Now more than ever, it is important for all of us to stand up and speak up for targeted communities, especially when and where we have privilege.
Showing our support (is not enough)
Artists are answering this call by creating public art for schools and other institutions. In recent weeks, I have seen some beautiful work that educators and parents can share within their communities to show their support. (This poster below by Micah Bazant is just one example.)
Nonetheless, just like the whole safety-pin thing, I’m having trouble wrapping my head around the ways many “allies” perform engagement, but don’t actually show up when their support is needed.
I think the picture below really sums up a lot of the experiencesDon't Just Show Your Support - Do Something! - SF Public School MomSF Public School Mom: