Why ABAR Curriculum

Why is an Anti Bias, Antiracist curriculum essential in our schools?

SOCIAL MEDIA CONVERSATIONS:

Sample social media conversations about the importance of an ABAR curriculum

FACEBOOK POST:
“Lately there’s been a lot of talk on teaching anti-racism in schools. While I fight against
racism every day, and consider myself anti-racist, I’ve been wondering about how this
would translate to being taught in school. While I would love for kids to be taught to
stomp out racism when they see/hear it, I also don’t want it to be too too much of a guilt
trip for white kids, although obviously real history should be taught. So to you wonderful
and thoughtful people I pose the question, what does teaching anti-racism in schools
mean to you?”

Response #1:
There are a few elephants in the room you must address before having courageous
conversations with kids:
1) recognize that your brown children already know racism. They live this life and have all their
lives. So no matter what age you teach, they know.
2) let go of the guilt of “scaring their childhood” and take on the understanding that innocence is
a privilege that not all your kids have been afforded. Therefore if one student has been exposed
to this reality it is your responsibility to expose the rest. Remember we are trying to bring about
change and that will never happen if only certain kids are aware.
3. Stop underestimating your kids or putting your own discomfort in them. By projecting your
own feelings you could be making more out of it than needed. Kids are remarkably aware of
core values.
4. Accept the truths as spoken. This includes your own. If you are uncomfortable talking about
this- own that with your students. There might not be a better role model for discomfort than
you. It is ok to be vulnerable and open with them.
5. Understand you might be the student. If you are white and new on this journey it might be
yourself who is learning and that is ok. Just build a place where kids can trust to speak their
truth.
6. Here is the harsh one. Stop worrying about the white kids. Sometimes it’s ok for a group to
be uncomfortable. Ask yourself, have you ever before worried about your Black and brown
students in delicate conversations? I would venture the answer is no for most. If that is the case
then you need to acknowledge that and move on in the discussion, while recognizing that this
might be a case of privilege on your behalf.

Response #2:
If a white child feels guilty knowing the REAL history, then imagine how a BIPOC child feels. I
am turning this post to focus on BIPOC. We need consideration. I see your good intentions in
looking out for everyone including white kids. White kids (and adults) have built in privilege of
being considered. It is the default setting how our society operates: white supremacy and whites
first. This is true in every institution since white colonization and before that. It's time for white
and white-presenting folx to own your discomfort. If you are white and wish to be truly anti-
racist, it will be uncomfortable and it will be uncomfortable for as long as you work towards true
equity and social justice. If you are uncomfortable, feel guilty or any sort of way when presented
with the truth, then you are moving in the right direction. To be anti-racist, Whites are being
asked to actively work against all their built in priveleges, including living with all the feelings
associated with owning privelege. It is uncomfortable. BIPOC have been asked to own and
bury our feelings for the sake of Whites for as long as time. It's time for Whites to own your guilt
and not put it back on BIPOC to consider them when the consideration is not mutual.

Response #3:
As a white educator in a majority bipoc school, I took initiative to educate myself. I read books, I
watched documentaries, I joined diverse discussion groups to help me with exactly this. I have
had very uncomfortable conversations, I have had to step out of my comfort zone and privilege.
I have made it my mission this year to not only call out racism, but to educate my students
about it. Mind you, mine are elementary aged, but they need to start learning it while young.
Honestly, I don’t care if they feel guilty, maybe they should in order to change their behaviors. In
my school, they get a social/emotional lesson and this is a hot topic. I plan to talk about it in
every single subject somehow and am working with a group to present changes to the
curriculum. I will do whatever I can to continue to educate myself and my students. White kids
need to learn that they are beneficiaries at that very moment of their innate privilege. This is not
a history lesson per se...it is civics and current events.

Response #4:
The entire idea about this makes me cringe. People “uncomfortable” about the topics, wanting
to know exactly what the lessons are...no family has the curriculum for every subject in front of
them to give feedback. As a Black Mom, I can’t even wait for schools to “teach” my kids, they
live it everyday, especially via micro aggressions like children touching their hair because it’s
different....it starts early at home! Ugghhh I’m exhausted.

Response #5:
To me it means teaching kids that race is used to hold people down but it’s on all of us to make
the necessary changes to dismantle it. I teach 2nd so this would be done in a very age
appropriate way. One way we teach kids we are all the same on the inside and worthy of the
same rights and privileges is by not whitewashing history and elevating the stories,
accomplishments, and lives of our BIPOC. We also need to include books and texts that include
different cultures so they can see themselves and kids who may not look like them.

Response #6:
Engaging in anti-racism teaching and learning is by its very nature uncomfortable and difficult --
and 100% NECESSARY; by worrying about whether we'll give the white kids "too much of a
guilt trip" we are showing that white privilege exists. (For those who think it doesn't) And how do
we tackle white privilege and take down systemic racism? We talk about it and we "lean in"--
while knowing the conversation won't be comfortable or easy. Anti-racism is not about trying to
make sure that white kids won't feel guilty. The conversation needs to be about the Black and
brown kids in the room--not centered (yet again) on the white faces or worrying about their
"guilt."

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1rZay_0Ve8krgQ3CCQDT4-
Nd1yf6QMtHoq1sEnKfpzDE/edit
https://sites.google.com/view/antiracistartteachers/anti-racist-art-resources/conversations-and-
advocacy/advocacy?authuser=0#h.9jp9gt4jj7xs
https://sites.google.com/view/antiracistartteachers/anti-racist-art-resources/conversations-and-
advocacy/advocacy?authuser=0