Equity and Anti-Racism Task Force

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 group discussion. As parents, teachers and staff, we are interested in doing our part to promote equity and end racism in constructive, supportive ways.

February is Black History Month! This Washington.org article offers great ideas to get out of the house and safely celebrate Black History Month outdoors at DC landmarks.

The next Equity and Anti-Racism discussion group will be held Thursday, February 11 at 9pm. We’ll discuss discrimination against people with disabilities and disability rights advocacy, both within educational institutions and in society at large. To inform our discussion, participants are encouraged to watch the inspiring Netflix documentary Crip Camp: A Disability Revolution, from executive producers President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama. You might also be interested in the biography of one of the movie’s featured activists, Judith Heumann, titled Being Heumann: An Unrepentant Memoir of a Disability Rights Activist. It’s a quick read.

Please join us! Here’s the Zoom meeting information, which can also be found on the Konstella calendar:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88161788292?pwd=SFM2NWlaZzVyd1RmMDQvQVlYL0hCUT09

Meeting ID: 881 6178 8292

Passcode: EARTF

National Geographic Kids has a great primer on the origins of Black History Month.

PBS has a page titled Celebrating Black Leaders with great resources for parents and kids to celebrate Black History Month. Check it out for videos about black leaders, books about black culture and exploring black history through art.

Historically Speaking: Four Hundred Souls – A Conversation with Ibram Kendi and Keisha N. Blain is a lecture on February 2, 2021 from 7 – 8:30pm sponsored by the African American History and Culture Museum. Find more lectures and their full event calendar here.

NPR’s Life Kit episode, Now Is A Good Time to Talk to Kids About Civics (23 minutes) is also a timely piece. “Civics is about the point of government and the responsibilities that we all share as members of a healthy society and… teaching the kids the importance of public service…”

Finally, we recommend the movie One Night in Miami on Amazon Prime Video (98% on Rotten Tomatoes), a fictionalized account of the night in February 1964 when Malcolm X, Muhammad Ali, Jim Brown, and Sam Cooke actually hung out in a Miami hotel room, celebrating Ali's surprise title win over Sonny Liston, and discussing and arguing about their respective roles in the Civil Rights Movement.

Hyde Addison teachers have compiled a list of their favorite books to celebrate Black History Month. Please see below.

The National Museum of African American History and Culture produces ABC Activity Books inspired by objects and stories in the Museum. Explore them together with your kids.

Read Alouds

Grace Lin reads from her book The Year of the Dog. Her YouTube page also has drawing tutorials – here she teaches you to draw a Chinese Dragon.

Rosa by Nikki Giovanni, presented by Sankofa Read Aloud.

Did your kids see inaugural poet, Amanda Gorman recite her poem The Hill We Climb? She was amazing! It’s a great conversation starter with kids and may inspire another poet laureate. She also has a kids book coming out in September.

A beautiful, Oscar®-winning short story of a father’s love for his daughter, Hair Love, written and directed by Matthew A. Cherry.

Did your student celebrate any holidays or traditions related to their race or ethnicity this winter? Please share any photos or videos related to your celebrations via email: hyde.addison@k12.dc.gov.

• Black History Month (February 2021)

• National Freedom Day (February 1, 2021)
• Rosa Parks Day (February 4, 2021)
• Chinese New Year (February 12, 2021)
• Susan B. Anthony’s Birthday (February 15, 2021)
• Purim (February 26, 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.