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“The ebbs and flows of history show us how oppressed groups have shifted power to advance our civil and human rights. The challenge of our time is who will control the political power so democracy is fully realized and all our humanity is fully recovered.”
—  Jalaya Liles Dunn, Director, Learning for Justice, from “Making Recovery Last: A Season for Radical Reconstruction”

Racial oppression plays a significant part in American history, and it’s critical our students learn about it. But this February, we're encouraging educators to reflect on their own practice and ensure that the Black history they’re teaching—this month and year-round—isn’t limited to narratives of trauma. To support that learning, this week we’ll be sharing some of our favorite resources for celebrating the diversity of Black history, identity and experience.

As we remember the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom of 1963, it’s critical not to whitewash this history. Contextualize the campaign and the struggle associated with it, including the impact of the march’s organizer, Bayard Rustin—an openly gay Black man. That also includes complicating the event’s most iconic figure, Dr. Martin Luther King, and his famous “I Have a Dream” speech. These resources can help.