From NYPD 120 Pct to McKee on Sept. 8 - Opening Day

Hats off to Principal Bowen for reaching out and having one group of essential workers take a moment of time to surround with spirit another group of essential workers. So cool the amazing shout out from NYPD Precinct 120 to the McKee faculty on the opening day of school. NYPD 120th Precinct on Twitter TWITTER.COM NYPD 120th Precinct on Twitter “Welcoming teachers and staff of @McKeeCTHS back to the 1st day: https://tinyurl.com/y4d6vva9

Why We Pause on 9/11

In trying to explain to those who were not around 19 years ago why the nation traditionally pauses on September 11, the word that comes to my mind is "stunned." We as a nation were stunned, collectively blindsided by the force of the blow, and briefly staggered. We as a nation understood that a series of orchestrated attacks occurred meant to bring us to our knees. We also understood the importance of being a united front. We acknowledged the blood, ash, horrendous loss, and grief. We organized to provide support. We leaned on each other to help stand up, regroup, and honor the bravery, resilience and sacrifice of countless lives. When those who are young look quizzically at those of us who are older as to why such an issue is made of the date, September 11, say the word "stunned" and then have a conversation.

Read the 1619 Project for Yourself

Just came home from church and saw this article: "Trump says Department of Education will investigate use of 16129 Project in schools": https://tinyurl.com/y6qx5xpz

Has the Secretary of Education or those in the White House read the 1619 Project? Just asking.

I know I've read it. Here's the extremely brief version of the purpose of the 1619 Project. The project was spearheaded by Nikole Hannah Jones who is an essayist, NYT reporter and member of the Black Lives Matter Organization. The 1619 Project is a special New York Times magazine issue of over 20 written submissions that provide context about how slavery, since 1619, has impacted the scope and shape of America. The magazine issue has articles and poems that cover the contributions of African Americans to America. The booklet of essays is being added to the DOE Curriculum to provide context when Social Studies is taught, particularly American History. I encourage all to read the 1619 Project for themselves.

Click here or copy and paste the following link into a web browser: https://tinyurl.com/yywarl8d to read the 1619 Project.

Curriculum resources are being developed. Here is just one example:  https://pulitzercenter.org/lesson-plan-grouping/1619-project-curriculum

We are going rounds!

This time period in American history is a boxing match with innumerable rounds.

It has been 65 years since the homicide of Emmett Till, and the case is still open. The eddies of history stirred flows of civil rights resistance. Rosa Parks' targeted civil disobedience action becomes one of many launch points for the Montgomery bus boycott that lasted well over a year.

It is nine contentious, and bloody years before the Civil Rights Act of 1964 was signed. It is another year before the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

It was a brutal, sloppy, and messy process.

It is the 21st century and different seismic rumbles occur along the way. An example, there's Charlottesville in August 2017 with the homicide of Heather Heyer.

It is 2020. George Floyd galvanizes an evolution of the civil rights chapter of America. We should be better custodians of our history. We are not. We forget. Painful driven spikes of not addressing racial injustice pierce out and through our collective body: Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, Jacob Blake.

We have a right to feel tired, bruised up, and exhausted. We have a right to gird up our loins. We are not unbowed. Previous generations did it, across every spectrum. The ancestors, no matter their ethnicity, have shown us the way.

So - get up, lace up, face up, we will be going rounds. That's how we, all of us, learn and evolve in America.

Statues of Historical Women in Central Park

Adding statues of historical women to Central Park. What a concept and about time. I am so glad this project is happening. Check it out: https://tinyurl.com/yxdbwyl2

Pondering domestic situations and tasers

I saw the news report about the shooting in Wisconsin: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J-PK8t8vtSM

 I know that I do not have the disposition to deal with the intense situations police officers face. I know several police officers and I highly respect those who are called to serve in that capacity. 

Given the short clip that was shown on television, there are several question that come to mind. Should police be called when dealing with a domestic situation? Could there be another division that deals with situations that involve high stakes emotional crossfire? What type of scenario training is provided within the training for police academy? 

In terms of weapons, what happened to using the taser? Why isn't the taser the first option on a policeman's belt? What is the training officers receive in using a taser? Are there follow up sessions? Are there grading sessions to score how police men use tasers and their effectiveness in using the taser? What are the ways a taser can be used to incapacitate people?

Is there a seemingly unmovable 30% to 40%?

After reading Tara Westover's Educated and now reading Rising Out of Hatred by Eli Saslow, I see the pattern as to why 30% to 40% follow the current occupant in the White House. 

Check out the clip of Derek Black the subject in Saslow's book on The Daily Show: https://tinyurl.com/y4hcd88z