D.C. Area Educators for Social Justice (DCAESJ) partnered with the African American Civil War Museum for a third year to host the #TeachTruth Day of Action rally at the memorial. The D.C. site was one of more than 60 sites across the country — plus more online events — each with a unique approach to uplifting educators in their commitment to teaching the truth. The morning kicked off with a brief grounding and welcome from Teaching for Change staff Keesha Ceran and Vanessa Williams. Prentiss-Charney fellow Jessica Rucker served as the emcee for DCAESJ’s event. She brought the house down, yet again, drumming up excitement from approximately 100 attendees. 

The first speaker was Dr. Frank Smith, executive director of the African American Civil War Museum and veteran of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC). He spoke about the value of the museum, which is currently undergoing renovations and the role African American soldiers served in the Civil War. Dr. Smith also reflected on SNCC demonstrations young people and educators led in McComb, Mississippi, and drew parallels to today. 

Attendees also heard from another SNCC veteran, Judy Richardson. Bubbling with enthusiasm, Richardson spoke about the dangers of censoring curriculum. She reflected on the work of women in SNCC, donating her copy of Hands on the Freedom Plow: Personal Accounts by Women in SNCC to our banned books donation bin. Richardson edited the book. Read more about it.

Student speakers

Multiple students spoke at the rally. Atheo presented a powerful spoken word poem that turned the Pledge of Allegiance on its head and questioned, “Liberty and justice for who?” Atheo is a student of Zack Wilson, a Prentiss-Charney fellow and DCAESJ People’s History Curriculum Working Group member. This year’s cohort of students with Seeding Disruption — shepherded by Dr. Cierra Kaler-Jones and Karen Lee — shared their reflections as well. Listen to part I and part II of their pledge.

The D.C. area — with educators from the District, parts of Virginia, and parts of Maryland — sees the convergence of a variety of teachers’ experiences. Educators from Washington,  D.C., spoke about the new draft of D.C. social studies standards and how instrumental they were in shaping them. The standards, which passed by unanimous vote on June 21st, 2023, and will be adopted for the 2024-2025 school year, are a bold move in the direction of a more inclusive and racially just curriculum. Ben Williams, a DCAESJ People’s History Curriculum Working Group member and the Ward 1 representative of D.C.’s State Board of Education, provided remarks as someone who was deeply involved in the drafting the new standards. Zo Clement, also a working group member, was also heavily involved and deeply knowledgeable about the standards and spoke about them, as well. 

DCAESJ’s Upper Elementary Working Group leadership also grabbed the mic that day. Co-facilitator Hannah Halpern shared about the work the group has engaged in over the last two years and about the work Teaching for Change and DCAESJ have nurtured with her third graders. Read about Halpern’s Teach the Beat and Teach Central America classroom visits. Working group co-leader Raphael Bonhomme also gave his pledge to #TeachTruth and why he is committed to honest education. Bonhomme previously emceed the 2021 Teach Truth Day of Action.

Some educators shared about the tremendous pushback they have received, including one educator from Prince George’s County Public Schools who chronicled her struggle with getting approval to teach the YA version of Stamped from the Beginning.

While most of the speakers were students or educators, community members also came out to demonstrate how much they value honest education. After everyone made their public pledges, the attendees who remained took a group photo in front of the memorial. Everyone is encouraged to continue uplifting the #FreedomToLearn and #TeachTruth.

Co-Sponsors

Thank you to the co-sponsors in the D.C. area who helped publicize the the rally and provided valuable learning resources for attendees: Critical Exposure; D.C. History Center; DC Unity & Justice Fellowship; EmpowerEd; Little Lights; the National Black MBA Association, Inc. Washington, D.C. Chapter; Shout Mouse Press; and The Uncle Devin Show.

Teaching Truth beyond the Day of Action

As with any of our campaigns, we encourage educators to #TeachTruth year round. DCAESJ is here to support and provide resources for that work, including amplifying educators’  work through our Teaching Stories.

On August 19, DCAESJ will host the second annual Social Justice Curriculum Fair. It is an opportunity for educators and community members to gather in person to learn with and from one another in workshops that embrace Teaching the Truth. Local organizations will also table. Read about the inaugural fair.