By Becky McFall, Jessica Rose, and Marika Hamilton
Yesterday’s announcement of the verdicts in the Derek Chauvin trial provided validation of the discrimination and injustices that Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC) in our country have experienced their entire lives. George Floyd’s murder at the hands of police officers was determined to be a crime by our justice system and Derek Chauvin will be held accountable. George Floyd’s murder and the Chauvin trial mark a turning point in our country. These are moments that communicate to the nation that we can never again turn a blind eye to the injustice and discrimination that exists for members of our BIPOC community.
The verdicts handed down yesterday are not an end to a single horrific incident but a beginning of continuing to work to ensure that no more lives are unnecessarily lost due to the inherent racism that exists in so many systems in our country and around the world. They are also a reminder that we cannot afford to be silent or wait until we are comfortable talking about the reality of institutional and systemic racism.
While Chauvin will be held accountable, it is not the same as having justice. In order for justice to occur, our entire country and its many systems — including education, policing, court systems, banking, real estate, medical, employment and so much more — need to transform. As Professor Eddie S. Glaude Jr. said, “We must understand that justice is a practice, not an end.” There is so much work ahead of us, and George Floyd and countless others will not be with us as we take our next steps.
Police brutality is an outright reflection that racism still exists in our society. This violence has caused many members of the BIPOC community to suffer deep loss and to consistently be victims of marginalization, oppression, racial profiling, and acts of discrimination. We must unite to oppose and dismantle racism and discrimination in all its forms.
It is not enough to say we stand united; we must follow through in action. Just as Chauvin’s verdict was being announced, a 15-year old girl in Columbus, Ohio was shot and killed by police. During these turbulent times where each day we learn of more young people of color who have died, we must engage in self-reflection, educate ourselves, and deepen our commitment to antiracism. We must learn to believe and act in ways that demonstrate that an injustice towards one is an injustice toward all and that our freedom, our thriving, and our happiness is intertwined.
We must prepare our students for an increasingly complex world, and this will take all of us working together. It is critical that we learn from our history and experiences as well as the experiences of those whose cultures, values, beliefs, and views are different from our own. We must strive to become more empathic and more compassionate every day. We each have an important role to play in creating a community, a country, and a world that values and honors each individual for who they are and who they may become.
For too long, discrimination and racism have resulted in the the squandering of human potential and the oppression of many in order to maintain the privilege of a dominant culture. As educators, we have an obligation to continue to learn and reflect on how our school systems and interactions with students perpetuate the status quo.
As a district, we have begun our journey of reflection and learning in order to become an antiracist school district. There is a great deal of important work ahead of us. It will not be easy, and as we move forward, there will certainly be points along the way where we will stumble. But each misstep is a moment that provides great potential for learning. Let us remember to give each other grace as we stumble and learn together.
We are hopeful for the future. The veil has been lifted and it has admitted light that can never be darkened again. We look forward to the actions our district and our community members will take together to make the world a better place for our students and ourselves.
Becky McFall, Lincoln Public School Superintendent
Jessica Rose, Assistant Superintendent
Marika Hamilton, METCO Director
“My Turn” is a forum for readers to offer their views on any subject of interest to other Lincolnites. Submissions must be signed with the writer’s name and street address and sent via email to lincolnsquirrelnews@gmail.com. Items will be edited for punctuation, spelling, style, etc., and will be published at the discretion of the editor. Submissions containing personal attacks, errors of fact, or other inappropriate material will not be published.
An eloquent, inspiring, and very useful expression of where we are and where we need to be – in our schools, in our community, and in our world.
Thank you, Becky McFall, Jessica Rose, and Marika Hamilton!