Dear friends,
Grace Lee Boggs, an Asian American feminist, socialist, and philosopher observed:
People are aware that they cannot continue in the same old way but are immobilized because they cannot imagine an alternative. We need a vision that recognizes that we are at one of the great turning points in human history when the survival of our planet and the restoration of our humanity require a great sea change in our ecological, economic, political, and spiritual values.
Our humanity is very much in need of restoration. I was reflecting on this idea, which came through in Biden’s speech. It was a flawed speech, of course, with talk of “winning the 21st century.” Restoration of our humanity will not come from clinging to a winners-and-losers model; it will come from something collective. We cannot imagine an alternative unless we see the reality clearly.
Yesterday, I got around to reading Tim Scott’s response to Biden’s speech. His insistence that the US is not a racist country struck me as incredible. Two videos I watched within hours of reading Scott’s speech were very clarifying. I don’t typically link to videos, because I prefer to read, but the failure of ‘the same old way’ of white supremacy, of the toxic mess of winner-loser ideology is on vivid display.
Watch a Capitol Police officer discuss his January 6th experience.
Watch a police officer harassing a Black man eating lunch in Pennsylvania.
Tim Scott is wrong and the Democrats’ legislative response to the problem of white supremacy and racist policing is not going to effect a sea change. So, some visionaries are gearing up for the next 100 days:
A massive grassroots coalition made up of Fair Fight Action, The Movement for Black Lives’ Electoral Justice Project, The Frontline, Black Voters Matter, NAACP, and The New Georgia Project will spend the next 100 days hosting actions, teach-ins, and more to demand the Biden administration protect our right to vote, enshrine our right to protest, and ensure through bold policymaking that no one else dies from racialized violence over the next 100 days of the Biden administration.
Join The Frontline tonight at 7:00 PM ET for the campaign kickoff.
Tell your Congressional Representative to support the BREATHE Act.
It was refreshing to hear education activists, advocates, and policy wonks talking about the education platform of the The People’s Plan NYC. One speaker, from the Alliance for Quality Education, reminded us that this is the year to pursue our vision of racially-just, inclusive, culturally-responsive schools that meet children’s needs. The money is finally in the budget to address the myriad problems and to take the schools in a new direction. Natasha Capers, of the Coalition for Educational Justice, gave a stirring and cogent explanation of what culturally-responsive pedagogy and curriculum look like. I wish I had a video.
At the same time, we’re contending with the reality that Black and Latinx students will hold just 9 percent of the seats in the city’s specialized high schools in the coming year. This is a decrease from the last two years.
In a school system whose total enrollment, according to the DOE's 2019-2020 data, is 41% Latino, 22% Black, 18% Asian and 15% white, the specialized high schools have grown disproportionately Asian and white over the past years.
Continued reliance on a single test for admissions is a failed policy that ignores segregation and inequitable distribution of funding and resources. It ignores the fact that “integration is a proven and effective school improvement strategy,” according to Matt Gonzales of New Yorkers for Racially Just Public Schools. If you talk to young people of any race, you’ll find that they understand that they’re missing out when everyone in their classes is just like them. The first step is to
repeal the 1971 Hecht-Calendra Act which required — as a matter of state law — that the specialized high schools in New York City utilize the Specialized High School Admissions Test ("SHSAT") as the sole criterion for admission.
The law affects the three largest specialized schools; there will still be work to do on the city level to move toward an equitable system of admissions.
Call on your state senator to support S3087, which would give the city control over admissions policies for all specialized high schools.
It is time for vision. It is time for a sea change. We need to clear away the obstacles. Here’s a quick action on behalf of the planet.
Please write to the governor and energy regulators to reject fracked gas and demand a new plan. This is a ready-made action.
Have a great weekend!
with love,
L