Equity and Anti-Racism Task Force

This edition of the newsletter highlights equity and anti-racism themes around the upcoming holidays. Please join the Equity and Anti-Racism conversation at Hyde-Addison by joining us on Konstella, utilizing the resources here and/or participating in the monthly Equity and Anti-Racism Task Force meeting. As parents, teachers and staff, we are interested in doing our part to promote equity and end racism in constructive, supportive ways. If you are interested in joining us, please email hyde.addison@k12.dc.gov or join on Konstella by going to “Directory” and browsing “Committees.”

As Thanksgiving approaches, you might be interested in an article that ran in the Washington Post earlier this month: This tribe helped the Pilgrims survive for their first Thanksgiving. They still regret it 400 years later. Journalist Dana Hedgpeth, an American Indian, provides history and perspective on Thanksgiving that many of us may be unfamiliar with, based on interviews with historians and members of the Wampanoag Nation, whose people helped the starving Pilgrims survive their first winter on Plymouth Bay.

If you’re preparing a feast, check out Seven Native American Chefs Share Thanksgiving Recipes from Smithsonian Magazine, which not only contains recipes for braised buffalo, masa polenta, savory pumpkin and more, but also links to many Thanksgiving educational resources.

The National Museum of the American Indian is hosting the 2021 Native Cinema Showcase, streaming online November 12-18. https://nmai.brand.live/c/native-cinema-showcase

A Racial Justice Guide to Thanksgiving, by the Center for Racial Justice in Education, provides a library of resources for educators and families to learn about and teach the true story of Thanksgiving, including a link to the articles 7 Thanksgiving books for kids written from the Native perspective and 50 Children's Books Celebrating Native American and Indigenous Mighty Girls.

You might also appreciate Mother Magazine’s article How to Talk to your Kids About Thanksgiving, which advises that parents educate themselves first and includes tips on how to keep conversations with children age appropriate while still being accurate. Another good resource for parents is the identically-titled NPR piece How To Talk To Kids About Thanksgiving.

Here are YouTube video links to two books read aloud:

Giving Thanks: A Native American Good Morning Message by Chief Jake Swamp

Squanto’s Journey: The Story of the First Thanksgiving by Joseph Bruchac

If you’re looking to jumpstart your holiday season, check out the Netflix original movie Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey. Between the beautiful Afro-Victorian-Steampunk aesthetic, all-star cast, amazing choreography and stunning vocals, this Christmas musical premiered last year to become an instant classic. Starring Forest Whitaker, Keegan-Michael Key, Anika Noni Rose, 11-year-old breakout star Madelen Mills and others, the movie centers a Black family of brilliant mathematician engineer inventors and features a multi-racial, inclusive cast reflecting a broad range of our Hyde-Addison community. Get the popcorn popping and enjoy!

For another beautifully-inclusive holiday TV treat, check out the 38-minute 2016 Amazon original animated adaptation of the classic book Snowy Day with a title track by Boyz II Men. This cartoon version builds on the storyline of the book, with the main character Peter traveling to the end of his block to retrieve his grandmother’s special holiday mac and cheese for a party at his home. Along the way, Peter engages with a Jewish baker, an Arab hardware-store owner, an Asian grocer, a Latino older schoolboy, and an assortment of other characters—all of whom discuss how they celebrate their winter holidays.

Human Rights Day is celebrated every year on December 10, the day in 1948 that the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). And the entire month of December is celebrated as Human Rights Month. The UN explains: “ The UDHR is a milestone document that proclaims the inalienable rights which everyone is entitled to as a human being—regardless of race, colour, religion, sex, language, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status.” This year’s Human Rights Day theme is “Equality,” referring to article 1 of the UDHR – “All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.” The principles of equality and non-discrimination are at the heart of human rights and are at the heart of our Hyde-Addison community. Here’s a web page of UN Human Rights Day resources, and calendar of events.

Does your family or student have any stories, holidays or traditions to share, related to their race or ethnicity? Please share any photos or videos related to your celebrations via email: hyde.addison@k12.dc.gov.

November

• Native American Heritage Month
• Diwali (November 4, 2021)
• Transgender Day of Remembrance (November 20, 2021)
• Native American Heritage Day (November 26, 2021)
• Hanukkah (November 28 - December 6, 2021)

December

• Universal Human Rights Month
• Rosa Parks Day (December 1, 2021)

• National Special Education Day (December 2, 2021)

• International Day of Persons with Disabilities (December 3, 2021)

• Bodhi Day (December 8, 2021)

• Human Rights Day (December 10, 2021)

• Christmas (December 25, 2021)
• Kwanzaa (December 26, 2021-January 1, 2022)
• Watch Night (December 31, 2021)

Disclaimer: The Hyde-Addison ES Equity and Anti-Racism Task Force is an independent group not associated with DCPS and any viewpoints or activities associated with this group are not endorsed by DCPS.