“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world”  Nelson Mandela

George Floyd’s death and the events that have followed have left many shocked and saddened that such injustice and inequality are still present in today’s world. Although extremely sad, it has further highlighted the importance of the fight against systemic racism. As a school, it is critical that we use our voice to help our children understand the role we play in promoting equality and eradicating racism. As educators, it is our duty to help the next generation to be more enlightened than the one they follow.

At Julian’s Primary School, we strive to be an anti-racist community with a culture where people can ask questions, and grow and improve their understanding of BAME culture and history. We want to develop a culture that challenges racism effectively and breaks down unconscious bias in our community.  As a school, we believe that equality is non-negotiable and will be looking into our curriculum to ensure that all people in our community are represented and celebrated.

"In a racist society it is not enough to be non-racist, we must be anti-racist"  Angela Davis

As teachers and parents, it is also our responsibility to engage in positive and open discussions about race and racism with our children. It is important to understand that racism and race is not a one-conversation topic, and as a result we will not have all of the answers. However, by engaging in open discussions we are able to lay the foundations that move us towards racial equality.

Below are some other resources that you might find helpful:

• Bitesize Primary - How to talk to your children about Black Lives Matter
• Books for Topics - Black Lives Matter
• A Parents Guide to Black Lives Matter
• BAME Book List - June 2020
• Votes for Schools - KS1 Standing Up
• Votes for Schools - KS2 Anti Racism
• Blue Peter - Message on Racism
• Picture News - Black Lives Matter resource June 2020
• Picture News - Special resource Black Lives Matter
• Black Lives Matter at School
• Creating the Space to talk about Race in your School
• Privilege and Social Inequality Explained
• Sesame Street explains Black Lives Matter
• Red Cross - Talking to Children and Young People about Racism
• "Beyond the Secret Garden" - BAME Representations in Children's Literature

Books for you to read:

• Why I’m No longer Talking to White People About Race by Reni Eddo-Lodge
• Diversify by June Sarpong
• How To Be Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi
• Don’t Touch My Hair by Emma Dabiri
• Me and White Supremacy by Layla F. Saad
• Brit(ish) by Afua Hirsch
• White Fragility: Why It’s So Hard for White People to Talk About Race by Robin DiAngelo
• Black and British: A Forgotten History by David Olusoga
• The Good Immigrant, edited by Nikesh Shukla

Books to read with your children:

• A Is For Activist by Innosanto Nagara (picture book)
• Let's Talk About Race by Julius Lester, illustrated by Karen Barbour
• Brick by Brick by Giuliano Ferri (board book)
• Amazing Grace by Mary Hoffman, illustrated by Caroline Binch (6–8 years)
• Don't Touch My Hair! By Sharee Miller
• A Change Is Gonna Come by various (Young adult)
• The Skin I’m In by Pat Thomas
• Malcolm Little: The Boy Who Grew Up to Become Malcolm X by Ilyasah Shabazz, illustrated by AG Ford (6–10 years)
• The Day You Begin by Jacqueline Woodson, illustrated by Rafael López (4–8 years)
• Something Happened in Our Town by Marianne Celano, Marietta Collins and Ann Hazzard, illustrated by Jennifer Zivoin (4–8 years)

Charities and funds you can support:

• Resourcing Racial Justice
• Black Lives Matter
• The Bail Project
• Campaign Zero
• Show Racism the Red Card
• Runnymede
• The Stephen Lawrence Charitable Trust
• Stand Against Racism & Equality (SARI)

Petitions to sign:

• Justice for George Floyd
• Justice for Elijah McClain
• Justice for Ahmaud Arbery
• Justice for Belly Mujinga

Videos to watch:

• The Urgency of Intersectionality, Kimberlé Crenshaw
• Let’s Get To The Root of Racial Injustice, Megan Ming Francis
• What Beyonce Taught Me About Racism, Brittany Baron
• Being Black, Jane Elliot
• How Studying Privilege Systems Can Strengthen Compassion, Peggy McIntosh
• The Power of Privilege, Tiffany Jana
• No. You Cannot Touch My Hair! Mena Fombo
• How to be an ally Politics Joe
• Structural Bias, Privilege and Bias in the UK Akala
• Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Man Emmanuel Acho
• 50 Years of Racism, Why silence isn't the answer James A White Sr

If you would like to speak more or have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.