BLM at School: Audre Lorde and Toni Morrison - January/February #BlackLivesMatter
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Dear Sacajawea Community,
Versión en español
Hello Sacajawea Community,
We are highlighting Audre Lorde and Toni Morrison in this newsletter. They share a February 18 birthday. Each author made significant contributions to literature and embodies the January and February guiding principles of Black Lives Matter at School: Queer Affirming and Unapologetically Black. Lorde and Morrison wrote about Black female experiences, facing opposition that sought to silence their voices. They remained true to themselves, despite the hostility they sometimes faced. Their legacies live on with the power of their words.
Audrey Lorde
Audre Lorde was a self-described "black, lesbian, feminist, socialist, mother, warrior, poet.” To be encompassing so many identities and face oppression on so many different levels, makes her strength and perseverance mind boggling at times. Her voice and her identity resonates strongly with the BLM at school principle of being Queer Affirming. Her words continue to ring true for many other oppressed people and remain relevant over twenty years after her death.
Toni Morrison
Toni Morrison used her voice to write honestly about the black experience, and even more specifically about the female black experience. She brought to life the people and places that had often been ignored throughout history. Her work is intense and beautiful and bold. Her work encompasses the BLM at School principle of Unapologetically Black through lifting up black lives. And the BLM at school principle of Black Women giving the space to be seen, heard, and valued. Toni Morrison became the first black woman to win the Nobel Peace prize for Literature.
What can you do to learn more?
Talk to your students about the info presented above. Ask them what they have been learning in class about the BLM Principals; use this website as a guide: BLM AT SCHOOL - Home (blacklivesmatteratschool.com)
If you have 3 minutes, read 5 Best Audre Lorde Books to Read Right Now
If you have 3 minutes, watch Toni Morrison - Writer & Playwright | Mini Bio
If you have 6 minutes, read Beyoncé and Lamar show what it means to be ‘unapologetically black’
If you have 6 minutes, watch At the intersection of LGBTQ pride and Black Lives Matter
Dig Deeper
Black Lives Matter at School: Unapologetically Black Book List
The 5 Best Toni Morrison Children's Books
I am Perfectly Designed (Younger kids)
Julian at the Wedding (Younger Kids)
12 KID-FRIENDLY LGBTQ COMICS (Older Kids)
Graphic Novels by Black Authors and Illustrators (Older Kids)
Volunteer with Us!
There are many ways to be involved with our Sacajawea Parent Equity Team. A few of the ways to join us are below. Please contact equity@sacpta.org.
Join a monthly virtual meeting. Meetings are the first Wednesday of the month, 7 - 8pm.
Volunteer to write one of our bimonthly newsletters. It's a great way to learn and share, and you won't have to do it alone.
Event volunteer
With gratitude,
Sacajawea’s Parent Racial Equity Team
equity@sacpta.org