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

The National Museum of the American Indian has a variety of upcoming online resources, including:

• “(Re)Telling the American Story” on December 17 from 4-5pm: “The American story has been profoundly shaped by Native Americans, yet the stories told about Native people are often false and almost always incomplete. Join us in a conversation with Native youth to learn how Native people are actively reshaping these narratives today.” https://americanindian.si.edu/online-programs
• Native Cinema Showcase streaming online, November 18-27. https://nmai.brand.live/c/nativecinemashowcase
• Family-friendly short films available to stream Nov 21-26. https://nmai.brand.live/c/futurefocusedshortsprogram

The next Equity and Anti-Racism Task Force reading group discussion will be held Thursday, December 10 at 9pm. Our December theme will be equity and tech. We’ll discuss an article and episode of the 99% Invisible podcast, called The Age of the Algorithm, which discuss how computer algorithms shape our world and can reflect the biases of their human designers. We’ll also discuss the 3-minute NPR News piece “‘The Computer Got It Wrong’: How Facial Recognition Led To False Arrest Of Black Man.” Please join us! Here’s the Zoom meeting information, which can also be found on the Konstella calendar:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83470671928?pwd=eDBNQmRHenZiNFlUYXVhYTY0SmJ2QT09 Meeting ID: 834 7067 1928; Passcode: Hurricanes

There are lots of articles with suggestions on how to talk to kids about Thanksgiving. Our favorites include those that suggest first educating yourself, focusing on thankfulness, gratitude, family and food with little ones and introducing more information as children get older, and taking the opportunity to accurately talk about Native American history and cultures.

• https://www.mothermag.com/how-to-talk-to-your-kids-about-thanksgiving/
• https://www.npr.org/sections/ed/2015/11/25/457105485/how-to-talk-to-kids-about-thanksgiving

Fry Bread: A Native American Family Story by Kevin Noble Maillard https://youtu.be/ZGoPq2CeJdw

We Are Water Protectors by Carole Lindstrom https://youtu.be/17sr6PPnwnY

Looking to jumpstart your holiday season? Check out the new 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 is 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. 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.

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

November

• Native American Heritage Month
• Diwali (November 14, 2020)
• Transgender Day of Remembrance (November 20, 2020)

December

• Rosa Parks Day (December 1, 2020)
• National Special Education Day (December 2, 2020)
• International Day of Disabled Persons (December 3, 2020)
• Bodhi Day (December 8, 2020)
• Hanukkah (December 10-18, 2020)
• Human Rights Week (December 10-17, 2020)
• Christmas Day (December 25, 2020)
• Kwanzaa (December 26, 2020-January 1, 2021)
• Watch Night (December 31, 2020)

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.