In recent months, “critical race theory” has become yet another unnecessarily politicized battleground, with conservative politicians trying to ban teachers from addressing the history of systemic racism. Now, teachers are being harassed, punished and even fired for speaking out.
Tag: Racial Justice
CRT for K-12: Feminists Team Up to Create a Curriculum on Critical Race Theory for Students of All Ages
If the critical race theory panic teaches us anything, it’s that Americans need more, not less education about how race and gender shape our lives, institutions and opportunities in the U.S. That’s why feminist scholars have teamed up to produce a new curriculum on critical race theory for use in grade schools.
Stimulus Payments and the Child Tax Credit Are Transforming U.S. Families—What Happens When They End?
Neither the COVID-era stimulus payments nor the child tax credit were designed to be permanent solutions—but if they were, they would especially help working moms, low-income women and women of color.
The Magnolia Mother’s Trust puts this into action, demonstrating that giving women an economic safety net leads to families escaping poverty and having the ability to set themselves and their families up for success.
Anti-Racism Should Be Taught to Students—And Their Parents: “This Is About the Future of Our Schools”
It was an important step forward when the North Kingstown School Committee in Rhode Island unanimously approved the creation of a Diversity, Equity and Inclusivity (DEI) Subcommittee. But by the time it held its third meeting, it was already under fire.
We must allow children to think critically, ask questions and draw conclusions for themselves—even in topics that do not reflect proud moments of history.
“Respect Us, or Expect Us”: Indigenous Women Continue to Fight Against Pipeline 3
On October 1, Pipeline 3 became operational in Minnesota, despite resistance efforts led by Indigenous women and two-spirit individuals, who are seeking to hold President Biden accountable for promises made and broken.
The construction of the pipeline endangers local women and girls and infringes upon the rights of the rice, the land, the water, the nonhuman beings and the people.
Coercing Rape Survivors to Be Pregnant for the State—The Texas Way
Texas has one of the nation’s highest rape rates. Shockingly, its newest near-total abortion ban contains no exceptions for rape or incest. When asked about this, Gov. Greg Abbott said, “Texas will work tirelessly to make sure that we eliminate all rapists from the streets of Texas.”
Abbott’s disturbing pledge fits in line with a tried-and-true political strategy: claim to address a public health issue by pivoting to crime control. But as history has taught us, public health crises will not be solved in the prosecutor’s office or by claiming to be tough on crime.
Front and Center: Guaranteed Income Helps Roneisha Know Her Worth—and Afford “a Treat Here and There”
Front and Center highlights the success of Springboard to Opportunities’ Magnolia Mother’s Trust, which this year will give $1,000 per month for 12 months to 100 families headed by Black women living in federally subsidized housing.
“I have this ability through the money from the trust to provide for my family in a hard time, because before I got that call that I was selected to be part of the program I was really struggling to keep on top of my bills and responsibilities.”
Youth Activist Uses Social Media to Call Out Racism at Former School
After speaking out on social media about racism at her former high school, Deborah Ode saw the Morristown-Beard School make changes to address racism and support its marginalized students.
“I realized that my voice does matter,” Deborah said, “I realized that when I do speak out, people will listen.”
Solidarity, Motherhood and Immigration: Poet Divya Victor Shares Her South Asian Experience
Born into a Tamil, Catholic family, poet Divya Victor spent her childhood in India, her teen years in Singapore, and now lives and works in the United States. Her latest poetry collection, ‘Curb,’ is an unflinching exploration of the inequities that the South Asian community face in the United States.
Policing and Surveillance: How Texas’s Abortion Law Could Add To Systemic Racism
Vigilante action in the form of policing, surveillance and violence has long endangered people of color. That reality worries some experts who fear Texas’s latest anti-abortion law—which empowers private citizens to sue anyone they suspect of providing, or aiding and abetting an abortion—will disproportionately target people of color.