Social justice education is crucial right now to develop the next generation of responsible decision-makers. This week’s resources from the Fall 2023 Learning for Justice magazine explain the importance of educating children early and in age-appropriate ways about their identities and key concepts about race. And they point out the significance of learning about honest history, in the classroom and in communities, as we reckon with the past to build a more just future.
Children should have the right to safe, affirming and inclusive schools. To uplift Banned Books Week and to honor LGBTQ+ History Month, support young people’s freedom to read, learn and build a just future.
“Teaching and learning about race, racialized power dynamics, the freedom struggles of our ancestors, and multiracial organizing and citizen engagement are essential if democracy is to succeed in our multiracial society. The nation—the world—has never had a flourishing democracy within the context of profound difference. Yet a multiracial democracy is the only kind of democracy that will succeed in the United States.” —Angela Glover Blackwell
In the new Fall 2023 issue of Learning for Justice magazine, Margaret Huang, president and chief executive officer of the Southern Poverty Law Center, emphasizes that, though challenging, this is also a time of great possibility. Huang explains her hopes: “When I look across our movement today, I see so many people of different races, genders, sexual orientations, abilities and backgrounds showing up as allies for one another in the fight for justice and liberation.
National Suicide Prevention Week reminds us that many people are struggling, including students and educators who need schools and communities to be safer, more accepting spaces. Support young people by helping to create inclusive school environments, speaking up against bias and bullying, and providing information about available resources. Talk about mental health, and encourage the people in your life to reach out for support when needed. We hope these LFJ resources help.