A statement from our team

On the verdict in the George Floyd murder trial and the need for continued action.

OAKLAND, CA (April 22, 2021) — The nation watched as a monumental verdict was issued: guilty. While some say justice was served, others rightly point out that no amount of justice will bring George Floyd back to his family nor community.

One court case cannot undo decades of pain, trauma, and distrust among Black and brown communities. Deep, pervasive racism continues to slice through every layer of our socioeconomic and educational systems – denying Black and brown children the opportunity to grow, thrive, and succeed in school and in life. So while we pause to honor this rightful verdict, we must also double-down on our commitment to dismantle white supremacy and build a more equitable society than the one we inherited. The expectation of accountability must persist, and the vision of a bright, just future for all Black and brown children must prevail.

GreatSchools.org

In memory of George Floyd, Ma’Khia Bryant, Adam Toledo, Daunte Wright, Breonna Taylor, Sandra Bland, Ahmaud Arbery, Rayshard Brooks, Jacob Blake and the countless others whose lives were lost to racism and police brutality.

As parents and children process the trial verdict, here are some resources to support education, healing, and action toward equity:

  1. How I’m Talking to My Kids About the Derek Chauvin Verdict. (Article published in The New York Times on April 20, 2021)
  2. In order to have productive conversations with children on racism, Dr. Y. Joy Harris-Smith tells Fatherly that parents must first engage in self-reflection on privilege, empathy, and whether their family values exist in an echo chamber. (Article published in Fatherly on September 30, 2020)
  3. Experts share self care tips that dig a little deeper for Black parents and parents of Black children who are dealing directly with extreme stress brought about by the pandemic on top of generations of oppression. 
  4. When it comes to talking to children, APA experts say diversity and discrimination are subjects that shouldn’t be ignored. 
  5. “The stigmas many attach to black girls has far-reaching and damaging consequences, Dr. Monique W Morris writes, with devastating effects on their academic, social, and emotional lives.” More in The Atlantic. 

Author: GreatSchools.org

GreatSchools is the leading nonprofit providing high-quality information that supports parents pursuing a great education for their child, schools striving for excellence, and communities working to diminish inequities in education. We are the only national organization that collects and analyzes data from all 51 state departments of education and the federal government to provide analysis, insights, and school quality ratings for parents, partners, researchers, and policymakers. Over 49 million users visit GreatSchools’ award-winning website annually to learn about schools in their area, explore research insights, and access thousands of free, evidence-based parenting resources to support their child’s learning and well-being.

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