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I have just devoured STAMPED by @JasonReynolds83 and @DrIbram in one day, and I have a few things to say....
I used to be a social studies teacher, and I have always hated history textbooks. Because the only coherent story they tell is of the people in power (even though that power has often been wrongfully snatched thanks to the systems that previous people in power put in place.)
Other individuals and groups might be mentioned in textbooks, but it's piecemeal, robbing them of their agency, and keeping the reader from seeing the forest for the trees, which means they miss ALL of the repetitions of cause & effect still going on today right under our noses.
STAMPED is a book that spells out our nation’s history clearly and with eyes wide open. It is about shining the light on what is true.
Right now, the racist tactic is to get us to turn our backs on what really happened in our nation’s history and pretend that we’re in a post-racial world.
Refuse.
Refuse to look away from our history.
Refuse to ignore the truth.
Refuse.
Refuse to look away from our history.
Refuse to ignore the truth.
STAMPED is a book about the forces that shapes our present. It's is a book about us. Right here. Right now.
It's about our individual choices. Like this one:
It's about our individual choices. Like this one:
STAMPED should absolutely be required reading at every middle & high school. Because as @JasonReynolds83 says, it's young people who can lead us to chop the tree of racism down.
This book is the ax handle that will give that generation the leverage & power they need to succeed.
This book is the ax handle that will give that generation the leverage & power they need to succeed.
In case anyone is wondering how the scope of racism is affecting the people in this country right now...
"The racial disparities in coronavirus cases and outcomes...reflect what happens when a viral pandemic is layered on top of entrenched inequalities." https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/07/us/coronavirus-race.html?action=click&module=Spotlight&pgtype=Homepage
"The racial disparities in coronavirus cases and outcomes...reflect what happens when a viral pandemic is layered on top of entrenched inequalities." https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/07/us/coronavirus-race.html?action=click&module=Spotlight&pgtype=Homepage
AND THIS.
Look at these numbers.
Madison: Population ~258,000
78% White, 6.8% Black or African American
66 of 92 polling places open.
Milwaukee: Population ~592,000
34.5% White, 38% Black or African American
5 of 180 polling places open. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/07/us/politics/wisconsin-primary-election.html?fbclid=IwAR20swORr9aaRFoFKBpqrXadGHR-_gF8-85wGnhdYSkElv936osOdFWzZ1k
Look at these numbers.
Madison: Population ~258,000
78% White, 6.8% Black or African American
66 of 92 polling places open.
Milwaukee: Population ~592,000
34.5% White, 38% Black or African American
5 of 180 polling places open. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/07/us/politics/wisconsin-primary-election.html?fbclid=IwAR20swORr9aaRFoFKBpqrXadGHR-_gF8-85wGnhdYSkElv936osOdFWzZ1k
