Thread by @agawap

Some reflections from professional learning in anti-racism with respect to ED. I am calling my friends in because I think we need to do better.

I will always name inequities. I have personal lived experiences that are my evidence & I know these are not just my experiences.

But, and this is a hard but, I cannot be the only voice to name these inequities. In a conversation with my dad recently, he said to me- "you cannot be the only voice and you need to ask your allies, co-conspirators to speak up". And you know what? He's right.

So, as much as I appreciate your DMs of support, I am going to ask you make those public. Others in the conversation need to see that these are not only my experiences. That these are collective shared experiences in the context of education.

I am also going to kindly ask that you speak up. I promise I will support you in that. I realize these are not safe learning spaces but I think we need to challenge these spaces. If we think about safety vs comfort, by not speaking up, you are offering the system "comfort".

Name it so there is context. Name is so there is a voice to the inequity. Name it so it add to the volume of inequities happening across the system. Name it so everyone's eyes don't roll when Pam Agawa speaks the truth.... again. What I share is not a single narrative.

You know how I know? I get phone calls, text messages from education staff across the system sharing their stories & although we aren't public with our relationships, we have each others' backs. That's how a system gets moved & how we move to a place of service for students.

Your silence is the problem. Please speak up. Please walk in your truth. I do not like being the only voice in a space that is full of whiteness. This movement is about unity so- if you're with me like you say you are in your DMs, then be public with your support. #antiracistED