Chapter 3 - Let's Talk About Race
We can't begin to understand this pandemic without talking about structural racism. And, we can't talk about racism without facing our history.
To show you what I mean, we can simply look back over the last week, and see that every day reveals yet another connection between COVID-19 and racism, and another haunting echo of injustices past...
August 27, 2020: A study came out showing that in Massachusetts, as in other states, people of color have been hit hardest by COVID-19.
August 27, 1918 (history's echo): On this date, the deadly second wave of the Spanish flu erupted in Massachusetts; as with COVID-19, African Americans who caught the Spanish flu were hit the hardest.
August 28, 2020: An article came out showing that housing segregation plays a substantial role in health disparities, including with COVID-19.
August 28, 1941 (history's echo): A racial covenant was formed on this date in an upscale neighborhood in King County, WA, prohibiting non-whites from moving in; the legacy of such covenants continue to be felt today, structuring where racial groups—and COVID cases—are concentrated.
August 29, 2020: The news reported that COVID-19 outbreaks continue in jails, where people—disproportionately of color—are especially vulnerable.
August 29, 1955 (history's echo): The murderers of Emmett Till were arrested on this date, only to be acquitted later by an all-white jury; as with today, privilege and oppression in the criminal justice system enabled tragic loss.
August 30, 2020: An article was published showing that K-12 remote learning is having a disparate impact on English learners and lower SES families.
August 30, 1954 (history's echo): Virginia launched a "massive resistance" to Brown v. Board of Education's desegregation order on this date; schools remain intensely segregated to this day, with devastating impacts, and it is worsening.
August 31, 2020: The California Legislature adjourned for the year, leaving a large amount of unsolved, unfinished work related to COVID-19 and racism.
August 31, 1962 (history's echo): Activist Fannie Lou Hamer was flatly denied the right to vote on this date; tactics have changed over time, but people of color remain underrepresented politically, and their needs are not always met.
I could keep going. Every single day, there's something new—with echos of something old—24/7, 365/year, year after year after year. It's exhausting. Ms. Fannie Lou Hamer said it best: "I am sick and tired of being sick and tired."
This all connects to our theme of self-care. We are running a long, long marathon to promote community health in the midst of multiple, deeply rooted, intersecting crises. We must keep nourishing our own and each other's spirits.
As promised, SHHS leaders are running this marathon alongside you. Our anti-racism efforts must be structural and deep, like the problem itself, and will take time to root. Now isn't the time for flashy, one-off initiatives. Also, we have to partner with others. While SHHS is the backbone of student well-being, this tremendous work requires the entire body of our organization to act as one.
SHHS is working with the LAUSD Student Empowerment Unit to set up dialogues with students of color to hear directly from them about which needs remain unmet. SHHS is laying the groundwork for anti-racism dialogues with staff, exploring partnerships with community leaders who do this work as well as building our team's capacity. We are dedicating ongoing time in leadership meetings to deepening learning and to strategizing; currently, we are reading and analyzing All Students Must Thrive by Tyrone Howard et al.
We are also working with District divisions to analyze School Experience Survey results by race. We are engaged in districtwide conversations around racially equitable funding. And, we are collaborating with the LAUSD Office of School Culture, Climate, and Safety; today Cheryl Hildreth and Darnise Williams joined the SHHS leadership team to strategize collaboratively.
Through these and other long-term efforts, we are laying the groundwork to confront and address the realities of implicit bias; stereotype threat; white privilege; gaps in cultural responsiveness; opportunity gaps, particularly for youngest learners; social determinants of health; and structural racism.
As I will never tire of saying, thank you for running this marathon together.
(This Reflection was jointly crafted by the SHHS leadership team).
Sincerely,
Pia and the SHHS Leadership Team
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