09/25/2024
The most common way individuals manifest racism and other biases is by not giving proper credit to folks from other groups.
That is why recognizing different identity groups during designated times of the year is such a powerful community-building tactic for educators. The practice speaks volumes about your objectivity.
Whether it's Hispanic Heritage Month in September, Native American Heritage Month in November, or Pride Month in June, recognizing any group that is not your own identity group demonstrates that you can see the goodness in all types of people. Giving proper credit is a counter-racist behavior in itself; it signals to your students that since you can recognize the achievement of the highlighted groups, you will be able to see their achievements.
In a society that has pushed certain groups away with segregation for over a century or where leaders fan racial or LGBTQ+ hate as a political tool, our students may present with many preconceived notions about who accepts them and who doesn't. In order to reach students effectively, each teacher must take steps to prove that they are not prejudiced.
I am always delighted to start the school year celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month because, as an African-American teacher, celebrating Hispanic achievements lowers the suspicion levels in the room for students who are not black while helping those in the recognized group to feel 'seen.'
I have a strong rapport with all types of students because I establish early that I see good in all types of people. I urge you to do the same. Take time to share positive stories about diverse groups. Make it a priority to show diverse, positive images in your classroom.
To help you with this process, I will share some of my paper signs, digital signs, and PowerPoint presentations as JPEGs, PPTX files, and PDFs featuring a dozen Hispanic leaders. Please use them and please share them with your educator friends. Please share your stories of how it warms the climate of your classroom.
Go to SchoolClimateChange.org/hispanicheritage to download the files.
