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 …
When former President Trump announced last year that, if reelected, he would ‘stop’ gender-affirming care for minors, which he described as ‘child abuse’ and ‘child sexual mutilation,’ he was advancing a strategic political effort to restrict the rights of transgender and nonbinary students barreling through state and federal legislatures. Initially masked as attempts to define the rights of parents to …
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 …
President Zakiya Jackson shares the blessing, the beauty, and the mystery of this holiday season and our year together at The Expectations Project. You’ll also hear about some of the groundwork we’ve laid and some of the exciting work we have planned for 2024. We’d love to hear your dreams for children and for our work in 2024. Drop a …
Remember Who We Are, Remember What We Know: A Celebration of Black Wisdom & Black Educators During Black History Month this year, The Expectations Project is celebrating Black wisdom and the educators (formal and informal) who helped preserve and pass it down through the generations. Join us as we take time to remember the ancestors who changed the game for …
As you may have heard, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis announced last week that he would ban a pilot program for an Advanced Placement (AP) African American Studies course. While students, teachers, activists, and legislators in Florida speak out in opposition to this decision, there are a few crucial things you should know about the ban. We’ll continue to track this …
For Immediate Release | March 28, 2022Contact: Jim Hile – Director of Digital Engagement and Communicationsjim@expectations.org Faith-based Education Equity Organization Responds to Governor DeSantis’ signing of Legislative Child Abuse Washington, D.C. – Today, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed the so-called “Don’t Say Gay” bill stripping protection from LGBTQ+ students and making any inclusion of the LGBTQ+ community in curriculum, discussions, …
Earlier this week, Indiana Senate leadership announced that they would not move forward with House Bill 1134. This dangerous piece of anti-truth legislation sought to restrict educators’ ability to teach about race and racism. In addition to its chilling effect on honest classroom explorations of our nation’s history, the bill added onerous new work requirements for teachers and made it …
I was such a cute little girl. Seriously, look: It is the wonder and innocence for me. I’m thankful that my parents were able to help me cultivate and nurture that wonder. They were always fierce protectors of me and my sibling’s education. When one of my brothers was 8 or 9 years old, one of his teachers struck him …
The most important question in the world is, “Why is the child crying?” Alice Walker In the American school system, Black youth are routinely denied the grace and innocence of childhood. Black children are perceived as older and guiltier than their white counterparts, a perception born out of an amalgamation of dehumanization and racism. This is a dangerous perception that …
