Resources for our Community

Dear RPS Community,

This past weekend, many families honored and celebrated Juneteenth, which marks the date in 1865 when federal troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, to work to ensure all enslaved people were freed—two and half years after the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation. 

Just as freedom from slavery was slow to arrive then, so too is social justice for the African American community today. We must continue to confront personal biases and institutionalized racism if we are to create a world with justice and freedom for all.

In RPS, as educators, family members and lifelong learners, we acknowledge the patterns of inequality that still exist today. Together, as a community, we have the power to create change and to bring about racial, social and economic justice. 

In recognition of this holiday and to support us all in this work, we would like to share just a few of the many resources that some of our staff members have found meaningful when it comes to learning more about Juneteenth and the legacy of racism in our country. 

• The Historical Legacy of Juneteenth and the Juneteenth Reading List (Smithsonian)
• Four enduring myths about Juneteenth are not based on facts (NPR)
• A History of Racial Injustice (Equal Justice Initiative)
• Talking to Young Children About Race and Racism (PBS Kids)
• Podcast: Early Risers (Little Moments Count and MPR)
• Talking About Race (National Museum of African American History & Culture)
• For our BIPOC community members:
  • Resource List: Resources for Self-Care for Black, indigenous and people of color (Harvard), which includes Resources for Black Healing.
  • ResourceList: Healing from Racial Trauma (Augsburg University Center for Wellness & Counseling)
  • Phone Line: BlackLine provides a space for peer support, counseling, witnessing and affirming the lived experiences to people most impacted by systematic oppression. Call or text 24/7. 
  • Book: My Grandmother's Hands: Racialized Trauma and the Pathway to Mending our Hearts and Bodies by Resmaa Menakem
  • Book: The Inner Work of Racial Justice: Healing Ourselves and Transforming Our Communities through Mindfulness by Rhonda V. Magee
• For our White community members:
  • Website: Learning for Justice, including Don't Say Nothing 
  • Anti-Racism Videos for Kids (We Are Teachers)
  • Podcast: Teaching While White 
  • Podcast: 8 Podcasts To Better Understand The Black Experience
  • Book: We Want To Do More Than Survive by Dr. Bettina Love
  • Book: Cultivating Genius: An Equity Framework for Culturally and Historically Responsive Literacy by Gholdy Muhammad
• For RPS Staff: Visit the Diversity, Equity & Anti-Racism Resources page on the staff intranet where you can view recommendations from peers and share additional resources. 

While it may sometimes feel like a never-ending struggle, we know that we must continue to learn and create change so that our children and grandchildren can live in a world where every individual is truly free.

Richfield Public Schools