Among the multitude of Americans calling for a cease-fire in Gaza, hundreds of Black faith leaders, myself included, urgently plead for an end to the horrific violence devastating civilian life. Despite our deep connection to voters in our communities, our voices go unheard. In her piece for the New York Times, Black Pastors Pressure Biden to Call for a Cease-Fire …
An Ecosystem of Manipulation and Its Devastating Impact on People of Faith
For much of the past four years, news cycles, school board meetings, and state legislative agendas have been dominated by hostile political rhetoric surrounding identity-related topics such as teaching the history of race and racism in America, the rights of parents in directing curriculum, and bans of literature. These conversations, absent any real inquiry and often guided by a swinging …
Supreme Court’s Affirmative Action Ruling Undermines Equity in Higher Education
The recent Supreme Court ruling, effectively terminating affirmative action in college admissions, poses a significant threat to the progress achieved over the past two generations in achieving equal opportunities in higher education. The decision in the case of Students for Fair Admissions Inc. v. President & Fellows of Harvard College will disproportionately disadvantage Black and Indigenous individuals who aspire to …
Six Principles to Help Vulnerable Students During COVID-19 School Closures
While widespread COVID-19 related K-12 school closures impact every student, these closures will have the greatest negative impact on the nation’s most vulnerable students. Hope for Students endorses these 6 Principles on COVID-19 and Educational Equity compiled by Ed Trust, a national organization who, like us, are “fierce advocates for the high academic achievement of all students– particularly those of …
A Word on History Lessons
by Zakiya Jackson I must have been in 7th or 8th grade. I remember the awkward middle school vibes that accompanied me and my peers through each class of the day, after school at basketball practice and at home at night with our families. It was a lingering trail of innocence, defiance, body odor and curiosity that followed us everywhere. …