Social Justice

 
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Promoting social justice is part of the core mission of McDonald International Elementary School. We as parents and caregivers are crucially important to helping our kids - and ourselves - examine, acknowledge, and work to change the systemic racism and inequality that persist in our country and communities. Below are some resources to help guide these conversations with our children. If you have any contributions please email BLT@mcdonaldpta.org.

More information and FAQs on our Diversity Equity & Inclusion (DEI) page.

80th anniversary of Executive Order 9066

February 19 marked the 80th anniversary of Executive Order 9066 that launched the mass incarceration of people of Japanese ancestry along the West Coast. If we were here 80 years ago, we might be packing our bags now and saying good-byes to our friends. At school we would have lost nearly half of our students and their families along with teachers in a matter of weeks if not days. Surreal to even imagine -- but it happened not too long ago right here in our hometown. Let us not forget this very important piece of history that hits the hearts of many McDonald and Seattle families.

Here is a great article that reaffirms why we invest in dual-
language/cultural education: Why we need to preserve the
painful memories of my family’s incarceration during WWII.
Densho is a great resource (based locally in Seattle) where we
can listen to the stories of those who were unjustly incarcerated
during WWII: DENSHO digital repository

What you can do at home: Ask... Tell me what you know
about Japanese American Internment camps? What would you
do if you had to say good-bye to your friend suddenly? How
would you feel if you were told not to speak Japanese or your
heritage language, or celebrate your holidays or culture? How
would you feel if you were told you don’t belong here because
you don’t “look like an American”? What would you do if you
were told you can not bring your pets with you and you don’t
know when you can come home? What would you pack if you
were told you can only bring two suitcases to the internment
camp?

Unapologetically Black with speaker Teirra Johnson, was a PARENT EDUCATION EVENT (online), Hosted by McDonald International PTA in November 2021. If you you were unable to attend you can see the recording of the event here: https://photos.app.goo.gl/Q9c9TcYaEgGc4fhm8

Resource/ Toolkit- Unapologetically Black Presentation

Suggested Readings:

Global & Expansive Black History

  • Civilization or Barbarism- Cheikh Anta Diop (1991)

  • Stolen Legacy- George G.M. Jackson (1954)

  • Destruction of Black Civilization: Great Issues of a Race from 4500 B.C. to 2000 A.D.- Chancellor Williams (1971)

On the Invention of Whiteness

  • The Invention of the White Race- Theodore W. Allen (2012)

  • The History of White People - Nell Irvin Painter (2010)

  • Working towards Whiteness- David R. Roediger (2018)

On BIPOC people in the Americas prior to the invention of the "United States"

  • Before the Mayflower- Lerone Bennett (1988)

  • Christopher Columbus and the Afrikan Holocaust, Slavery & the Rise of European

  • Capitalism- Dr. John Henrik Clarke 1992

Examining the history, mechanism & legacy of Slavery

  • The Delectable Negro, Human Consumption and Homoeroticism within U.S. Slave Culture- Vincent Woodard (2014)

  • The Half Has Never Been Told: Slavery and the Making of American Capitalism- Edward E. Baptist (2014)

  • Medical Apartheid: The Dark History of Medical Experimentation on Black Americans from Colonial Times to the Present- Harriet A. Washington (2008)

  • High on the Hog: A Culinary Journey from Africa to America- Jessica B Harris (2012)

  • One Drop, Shifting the Lens on Race- Yaba Blay (2021)

On the effects of Slavery and Systemtic Racism/ White Supremacy

  • Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome- Dr. Joy De Gruy (2017)

  • The Man Not: , Race, Class, Genre, and the Dilemmas of Black Manhood - Dr. Tommy Curry (2008)

  • The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness- Michelle Alexander

  • White Rage: The Unspoken Truth of our Racial Divide - Dr. Carol Anderson

  • Should America Pay? Slavery & the Raging Debate for Reparations - Dr. Ray A Winbush (2003)

BIPOC Owned Businesses

Lectures

Activity and Practice

If one is non black and serious about effecting change for black people. Action must be worked into your daily life. Begin to work this phrase into your work & personal life where it fits.

"I would like to know more about what your institution is doing to support the needs and repair the damage of systemic oppression done to BIPOC communities that may seek your services? It is important to me that I am not accepting less for my neighbor,than I do for myself."

Examples of where you can begin to make an impact with this inquiry:

  • With potential loan officers/ real estate companies

  • With admission counselors

  • At your place of employment

  • When choosing a doctor or healthcare services

  • When developing contractual agreements with other entities

  • When speaking to any public official

  • When meeting a police officer introducing themselves to the community

  • Wherever else you feel is important

Take note of the answers you may receive but do not be swayed by the lack of them. Share what you discover with your family. The point is to change the narrative of individualistic thinking & expression.

Information + Action = Outcome

In addition to the resources listed above, here is a letter from Tierra:

Dear McDonald Families,

I want to thank you all for being invested in our children's future by wanting to better understand & counter racism/white supremacy. Every person, no matter what their race, has the ability to be revolutionary if they are brave enough to start. Never be confused about that. I encourage the white identifying & non black participants to begin (if you have not already) examining your place based origin story.

Place Based Self Assessment

  • What is my ethnic background? What is that history? Who are the original peoples of that history?

  • How did my family get here? When did they start calling themselves "white" or attempting Anglo conformity?

  • What was presented to me regarding race that made the biggest impact on my thinking as a child?

  • What is the plot twist my story, my family, my people have been waiting for?

Please feel free to email with any questions or feedback.

Thank you all for your time and willingness to rise!

All the best, Tierra

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