Equity and Anti-Racism Task Force
Newsletter
December 21, 2022 ~ Hyde-Addison ES
Greetings from the Equity and Anti-Racism Task Force. Please join the Equity and Anti-Racism conversation at Hyde-Addison by emailing hyde.addison@k12.dc.gov and requesting to be added to the Task Force email list maintained by the school, joining us on Konstella, utilizing the resources here, and/or participating in the monthly Task Force virtual meeting at 4pm on the last Friday of every month. As parents, teachers and staff, we are interested in doing our part to promote equity and end racism in constructive, supportive ways.
Save the date! On January 24, 2023, at 5:00pm, Hyde-Addison will host a student success showcase in honor of our receipt of a DC Public Education Fund Standing Ovation Award for Building Bridges for Students and Families—an award rooted in our equity and antiracism work. We will come together as a school community to celebrate. Additional information will be forthcoming.
Equity in the News—2022 Year End Review
As 2022 wraps up, we thought we’d look back on some of this year’s noteworthy stories about race, equity and inclusion—some uplifting and some tragic:
Civil rights activist and poet Maya Angelou became the first Black woman to appear on the U.S. quarter. The design is part of a four-year program that will feature various American women on the 25-cent coin.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott issued an executive order directing the state’s Department of Family and Protective Services to investigate the use of medically-necessary gender affirming care for transgender children, stating that certain treatments can legally constitute “child abuse”.
The U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team won their years-long fight for equal pay after reaching an agreement with the U.S. Soccer Federation, resolving a disparity in pay that saw them earning much less than the Men’s National Team.
10 Black people were killed at a grocery store in a mass shooting in Buffalo, New York. Authorities say the gunman, a White man, targeted the victims because of their race.
The U.S. Supreme Court overturned the landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade decision, eliminating the constitutional right to abortion.
Ketanji Brown Jackson became the first Black woman ever to be sworn in as a U.S. Supreme Court justice.
A mass shooter at a Colorado LGBTQ+ nightclub killed 5 people and wounded 17 others. The suspect has been charged with multiple criminal counts, including hate crimes.
President Biden established an inter-agency group to combat antisemitism and other religious intolerance in response to an increase in antisemitic rhetoric.
Winter Holiday Season
When this newsletter hits your inbox, the winter holiday season will be in full swing! Many—but not all—cultures and faiths celebrate holidays this time of year. Hanukkah is observed for eight days and nights, from December 18-26 this year. Winter Solstice, observed on December 21 this year in the Northern Hemisphere, is connected with many ancient and contemporary holidays, perhaps the best known of which is Yule, celebrated as early as the 5th century by Germanic peoples with traditions such as the Yule log continuing to be associated with Christmas today. Many in our Hyde-Addison community will celebrate Christmas on December 25 and Kwanzaa from December 26 through January 1. And the Christian New Year’s Eve tradition of Watch Night has special significance within African American culture, dating back to 1862, when African Americans gathered to ring in the new year and await news that the Emancipation Proclamation had taken effect. This year, the National Museum of African American History & Culture is hosting a free celebration for kids and families (Dec. 31, 11am-3pm, registration required).
January 16 is Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was born January 15, 1929. Every year, on the third Monday in January, we celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day as a federal holiday. In 2023, the holiday falls on January 16 and will be celebrated in the District of Columbia with a parade, peace walk, wellness fair, day of public service and other activities around the city. The National Museum of African American History & Culture is hosting a free celebration for kids and families (Jan.16, 11am-3pm, registration required). And the Martin Luther King, Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change (“The King Center”) in Atlanta, GA, has a wealth of free online resources about the life and legacy of Dr. King, and about the upcoming holiday.
Resources and Activities for Kids
PBS has endless Winter holiday activity suggestions, including holiday crafts and book lists, on their website, with some lovely suggestions for five meaningful holiday traditions for kids. And Hyde Addison teachers have compiled a list of their favorite holiday books.
And for those with access to Disney+, check out the brand new Hip Hop Nutcracker, featuring RUN DMC’s Rev Run, a ton of young talent, and cameos by Mikhail Baryshnikov, Kurtis Blow and more.
Celebrating Diversity at Hyde-Addison ES
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.
Upcoming Holidays & Observances
Universal Human Rights Month (December)
- Hanukkah (December 18-26, 2022)
- Winter Solstice (December 21, 2022)
- Christmas (December 25, 2022)
- Kwanzaa (December 26, 2022-January 1, 2023)
- Watch Night (December 31, 2022)
- Three Kings Day (January 6, 2023)
- Orthodox Christmas (January 7, 2023)
- Martin Luther King Jr. Day (January 16, 2023)
- Lunar New Year / Chinese New Year (January 22, 2023)
- International Day of Education (January 24, 2023)
- International Holocaust Remembrance Day (January 27, 2023)
- Black History Month (February 2023)
- National Freedom Day (February 1, 2023)
- Rosa Parks Day (February 4, 2023)
- International Day of Women and Girls in Science (February 11, 2023)
- Nirvana Day (February 15, 2023)
- Susan B. Anthony’s Birthday (February 15, 2023)
- Lailat al Miraj (February 18, 2023)
- World Day of Social Justice (February 20, 2023)
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.