my path to becoming an upstander started a few short years ago in 2012 the story
a few short years ago in 2012 the story
a few short years ago in 2012 the story of it went viral it was featured on the
of it went viral it was featured on the
of it went viral it was featured on the blog humans of New York and I was dubbed
blog humans of New York and I was dubbed
blog humans of New York and I was dubbed the social justice preschool teacher
the social justice preschool teacher
the social justice preschool teacher seeing the range of reactions that
seeing the range of reactions that
seeing the range of reactions that people had some kind some not so kind
people had some kind some not so kind
people had some kind some not so kind helped me to solidify my truth and stand
helped me to solidify my truth and stand
helped me to solidify my truth and stand up for doing what’s right let’s
up for doing what’s right let’s
up for doing what’s right let’s backtrack when I was a preschool teacher
backtrack when I was a preschool teacher
backtrack when I was a preschool teacher in Washington DC I was charged with
in Washington DC I was charged with
in Washington DC I was charged with shaping and molding young minds prepping
shaping and molding young minds prepping
shaping and molding young minds prepping my students for the world the beginning
my students for the world the beginning
my students for the world the beginning of the year things were going great the
of the year things were going great the
of the year things were going great the class was happily humming along as I’m
class was happily humming along as I’m
class was happily humming along as I’m teaching them ABCs one two threes shapes
teaching them ABCs one two threes shapes
teaching them ABCs one two threes shapes and colors and then the upheaval started
and colors and then the upheaval started
and colors and then the upheaval started Trayvon Martin was killed and it blew up
Trayvon Martin was killed and it blew up
Trayvon Martin was killed and it blew up in the news and it shook the bedrock of
in the news and it shook the bedrock of
in the news and it shook the bedrock of our school community at the time Society
our school community at the time Society
our school community at the time Society was in turmoil kind of similar to today
was in turmoil kind of similar to today
was in turmoil kind of similar to today race relations were at an all-time low
race relations were at an all-time low
race relations were at an all-time low and my people black brown latina –cz
and my people black brown latina –cz
and my people black brown latina –cz Asian Indian American people were being
Asian Indian American people were being
Asian Indian American people were being mistreated and killed by vigilantes and
mistreated and killed by vigilantes and
mistreated and killed by vigilantes and racist folks who devalued our lives as I
racist folks who devalued our lives as I
racist folks who devalued our lives as I and my fellow teachers were reeling from
and my fellow teachers were reeling from
and my fellow teachers were reeling from this more people of color became martyrs
this more people of color became martyrs
this more people of color became martyrs at the hands of police brutality often
at the hands of police brutality often
at the hands of police brutality often their attackers went unindicted through
their attackers went unindicted through
their attackers went unindicted through a series and a comedy of errors despite
a series and a comedy of errors despite
a series and a comedy of errors despite my best efforts to try to shield my
my best efforts to try to shield my
my best efforts to try to shield my students from the harsh realities of
students from the harsh realities of
students from the harsh realities of this tough world the uncertainty seeped
this tough world the uncertainty seeped
this tough world the uncertainty seeped into our classroom and as I feared they
into our classroom and as I feared they
into our classroom and as I feared they started to ask me unanswerable questions
started to ask me unanswerable questions
started to ask me unanswerable questions is it is it a crime to wear a hoodie
is it is it a crime to wear a hoodie
is it is it a crime to wear a hoodie my mommy won’t let me watch the news
my mommy won’t let me watch the news
my mommy won’t let me watch the news what’s happening did the little boy get
what’s happening did the little boy get
what’s happening did the little boy get killed for eating skittles are we safe
killed for eating skittles are we safe
killed for eating skittles are we safe I needed backup I hope to find support
I needed backup I hope to find support
I needed backup I hope to find support among seasoned educators to help me
among seasoned educators to help me
among seasoned educators to help me think through what I should say to these
think through what I should say to these
think through what I should say to these babies strangely and sadly few in the
babies strangely and sadly few in the
babies strangely and sadly few in the early childhood community wanted to talk
early childhood community wanted to talk
early childhood community wanted to talk about it or teach around it or touch it
about it or teach around it or touch it
about it or teach around it or touch it I decided I couldn’t ignore this anymore
I decided I couldn’t ignore this anymore
I decided I couldn’t ignore this anymore I couldn’t shut out what was happening
I couldn’t shut out what was happening
I couldn’t shut out what was happening in the world
in the world
in the world I couldn’t hug away my children’s
I couldn’t hug away my children’s
I couldn’t hug away my children’s anxiety I had to tell the truth we had
anxiety I had to tell the truth we had
anxiety I had to tell the truth we had to face it I had to be the kind of
to face it I had to be the kind of
to face it I had to be the kind of educator to take a stand with integrity
educator to take a stand with integrity
educator to take a stand with integrity so I devised this series of lesson plans
so I devised this series of lesson plans
so I devised this series of lesson plans with the consent of the parents and we
with the consent of the parents and we
with the consent of the parents and we explored the theme community care we did
explored the theme community care we did
explored the theme community care we did neighborhood cleanups in playgrounds in
neighborhood cleanups in playgrounds in
neighborhood cleanups in playgrounds in parks we did all these acts of service
parks we did all these acts of service
parks we did all these acts of service and kindness for others in our school
and kindness for others in our school
and kindness for others in our school community and at the end of the year yes
community and at the end of the year yes
community and at the end of the year yes we wrote Mother’s Day cards for Trayvon
we wrote Mother’s Day cards for Trayvon
we wrote Mother’s Day cards for Trayvon Martin’s mom letting her know that she
Martin’s mom letting her know that she
Martin’s mom letting her know that she was in our thoughts and her son was too
was in our thoughts and her son was too
was in our thoughts and her son was too and we sent them to her foundation one
and we sent them to her foundation one
and we sent them to her foundation one day I was feeling good about all we had
day I was feeling good about all we had
day I was feeling good about all we had learned wrapping up the year getting to
learned wrapping up the year getting to
learned wrapping up the year getting to be the end of school thinking this is a
be the end of school thinking this is a
be the end of school thinking this is a routine meeting my principal summoned me
routine meeting my principal summoned me
routine meeting my principal summoned me to the office I thought I was going to
to the office I thought I was going to
to the office I thought I was going to sign my contract for the next year I was
sign my contract for the next year I was
sign my contract for the next year I was ready right and with a stern face and
ready right and with a stern face and
ready right and with a stern face and tears in her eyes she said to me your
tears in her eyes she said to me your
tears in her eyes she said to me your politics are too radical your special
politics are too radical your special
politics are too radical your special curriculum it’s not welcome the
curriculum it’s not welcome the
curriculum it’s not welcome the administration has been murmuring about
administration has been murmuring about
administration has been murmuring about you and they disapprove of what you’re
you and they disapprove of what you’re
you and they disapprove of what you’re doing and then she fired me
that was the year that changed me
that was the year that changed me offering students chances to be mindful
offering students chances to be mindful
offering students chances to be mindful gave me a renewed sense of purpose about
gave me a renewed sense of purpose about
gave me a renewed sense of purpose about the power of empathy to transform
the power of empathy to transform
the power of empathy to transform teaching in retrospect being let go was
teaching in retrospect being let go was
teaching in retrospect being let go was a blessing I was still enough stander
a blessing I was still enough stander
a blessing I was still enough stander and I did what I thought was right for
and I did what I thought was right for
and I did what I thought was right for those kids to help them walk through the
those kids to help them walk through the
those kids to help them walk through the world with the tools of compassion and
world with the tools of compassion and
world with the tools of compassion and confidence and make sense of things my
confidence and make sense of things my
confidence and make sense of things my radical actions were in alignment with
radical actions were in alignment with
radical actions were in alignment with my truth which was far more valuable to
my truth which was far more valuable to
my truth which was far more valuable to me than the administration’s approval or
me than the administration’s approval or
me than the administration’s approval or career stability it was this experience
career stability it was this experience
career stability it was this experience that allowed me to live boldly to walk
that allowed me to live boldly to walk
that allowed me to live boldly to walk in purpose to create safe spaces that I
in purpose to create safe spaces that I
in purpose to create safe spaces that I had envisioned for processing current
had envisioned for processing current
had envisioned for processing current events looking at how we can grieve and
events looking at how we can grieve and
events looking at how we can grieve and grow and organize and respond together
grow and organize and respond together
grow and organize and respond together getting fired was the spark that it took
getting fired was the spark that it took
getting fired was the spark that it took for me to launch the world’s first
for me to launch the world’s first
for me to launch the world’s first mobile social justice Museum inspired by
mobile social justice Museum inspired by
mobile social justice Museum inspired by art activism self and society it helps
art activism self and society it helps
art activism self and society it helps me to create the Museum of impact I want
me to create the Museum of impact I want
me to create the Museum of impact I want to know what injustice boils your blood
to know what injustice boils your blood
to know what injustice boils your blood what haunts you what keeps you up at
what haunts you what keeps you up at
what haunts you what keeps you up at night what makes your heart explode what
night what makes your heart explode what
night what makes your heart explode what matters so much to you that you would
matters so much to you that you would
matters so much to you that you would break your silence for it the black
break your silence for it the black
break your silence for it the black lives matter movement that was my
lives matter movement that was my
lives matter movement that was my turning point what is yours
turning point what is yours
turning point what is yours going to be we have to be willing to
going to be we have to be willing to
going to be we have to be willing to break the bondage of apathy of doubt of
break the bondage of apathy of doubt of
break the bondage of apathy of doubt of helplessness we have to find and forge
helplessness we have to find and forge
helplessness we have to find and forge solutions to be this radical bomb for
solutions to be this radical bomb for
solutions to be this radical bomb for what ails our world the way I see it
what ails our world the way I see it
what ails our world the way I see it there’s just two types of people
there’s just two types of people
there’s just two types of people bystanders and upstanders what is a
bystanders and upstanders what is a
bystanders and upstanders what is a bystander someone who watches someone
bystander someone who watches someone
bystander someone who watches someone who’s passive they’re present at
who’s passive they’re present at
who’s passive they’re present at critical moments in time but they don’t
critical moments in time but they don’t
critical moments in time but they don’t take action they don’t take part what is
take action they don’t take part what is
take action they don’t take part what is an upstander someone who is active
an upstander someone who is active
an upstander someone who is active someone who does
someone who does
someone who does who’s changed making centering empathy
who’s changed making centering empathy
who’s changed making centering empathy and bravery and progress and taking
and bravery and progress and taking
and bravery and progress and taking action the world needs more upstanders
action the world needs more upstanders
action the world needs more upstanders as we can see from this election cycle
as we can see from this election cycle
as we can see from this election cycle politicians and preachers they can’t
politicians and preachers they can’t
politicians and preachers they can’t save us we are the ones we’ve been
save us we are the ones we’ve been
save us we are the ones we’ve been waiting for
waiting for
waiting for sometimes we’re wasting time hoping that
sometimes we’re wasting time hoping that
sometimes we’re wasting time hoping that a special someone’s gonna swoop in and
a special someone’s gonna swoop in and
a special someone’s gonna swoop in and save the day and make it better and I’m
save the day and make it better and I’m
save the day and make it better and I’m here to tell you while we’re waiting
here to tell you while we’re waiting
here to tell you while we’re waiting injustice abounds and inequities persist
injustice abounds and inequities persist
injustice abounds and inequities persist and honestly truly the hero is in us
and honestly truly the hero is in us
and honestly truly the hero is in us there’s some choices we can make to
there’s some choices we can make to
there’s some choices we can make to build power and Ally ourselves with
build power and Ally ourselves with
build power and Ally ourselves with movements that matter there’s so many
movements that matter there’s so many
movements that matter there’s so many examples of everyday people like my
examples of everyday people like my
examples of everyday people like my friend chase iron eyes who are making
friend chase iron eyes who are making
friend chase iron eyes who are making change who are standing up and speaking
change who are standing up and speaking
change who are standing up and speaking up and acting up the thing about being
up and acting up the thing about being
up and acting up the thing about being an upstander is you have to understand
an upstander is you have to understand
an upstander is you have to understand how you’re going to respond you have to
how you’re going to respond you have to
how you’re going to respond you have to make that choice here are a few
make that choice here are a few
make that choice here are a few responses that stand out to me of people
responses that stand out to me of people
responses that stand out to me of people I think you should know standing up what
I think you should know standing up what
I think you should know standing up what does that mean
does that mean
does that mean volunteer educate uplift community use
volunteer educate uplift community use
volunteer educate uplift community use your presence to advocate for justice
your presence to advocate for justice
your presence to advocate for justice the journal arrow app who was started by
the journal arrow app who was started by
the journal arrow app who was started by artist Sol era Mindy is a great example
artist Sol era Mindy is a great example
artist Sol era Mindy is a great example of standing up this app works with
of standing up this app works with
of standing up this app works with marginalized immigrant workers drawing
marginalized immigrant workers drawing
marginalized immigrant workers drawing upon the mantra nothing about us without
upon the mantra nothing about us without
upon the mantra nothing about us without us the smartphone app was developed with
us the smartphone app was developed with
us the smartphone app was developed with New York City’s immigrant communities in
New York City’s immigrant communities in
New York City’s immigrant communities in conjunction with lawyers and artists and
conjunction with lawyers and artists and
conjunction with lawyers and artists and other concerned citizens and it
other concerned citizens and it
other concerned citizens and it crowdsources data to prevent wage theft
crowdsources data to prevent wage theft
crowdsources data to prevent wage theft from the most vulnerable undocumented
from the most vulnerable undocumented
from the most vulnerable undocumented workers standing up to bosses who cheat
workers standing up to bosses who cheat
workers standing up to bosses who cheat and mistreat them speak up use your
and mistreat them speak up use your
and mistreat them speak up use your voice be heard create a more just
voice be heard create a more just
voice be heard create a more just connected powerful world employ art
connected powerful world employ art
connected powerful world employ art literature and music and media to speak
literature and music and media to speak
literature and music and media to speak out against unfair treatment to quote a
out against unfair treatment to quote a
out against unfair treatment to quote a phrase from the US Department of Arts
phrase from the US Department of Arts
phrase from the US Department of Arts and Culture when we stand rooted in the
and Culture when we stand rooted in the
and Culture when we stand rooted in the power of our culture our stories and our
power of our culture our stories and our
power of our culture our stories and our songs we can arise together against hate
songs we can arise together against hate
songs we can arise together against hate and injustice celebrities and musicians
and injustice celebrities and musicians
and injustice celebrities and musicians do a great job of
do a great job of
do a great job of speaking of using their platform to
speaking of using their platform to
speaking of using their platform to engage listeners and fans there are
engage listeners and fans there are
engage listeners and fans there are recent albums that you might be aware of
recent albums that you might be aware of
recent albums that you might be aware of that are really raising the
that are really raising the
that are really raising the consciousness of us all a seat at the
consciousness of us all a seat at the
consciousness of us all a seat at the table by singer Solange black America
table by singer Solange black America
table by singer Solange black America again by rapper common all of these are
again by rapper common all of these are
again by rapper common all of these are speaking out around the issues black
speaking out around the issues black
speaking out around the issues black lives matter
lives matter
lives matter senseless violence cultural
senseless violence cultural
senseless violence cultural appropriation and fostering this
appropriation and fostering this
appropriation and fostering this creative resilience and people are
creative resilience and people are
creative resilience and people are listening one of my favs chance the
listening one of my favs chance the
listening one of my favs chance the rapper he recently did this amazing
rapper he recently did this amazing
rapper he recently did this amazing thing right amazing thing he led
thing right amazing thing he led
thing right amazing thing he led thousands in Chicago on a parade to the
thousands in Chicago on a parade to the
thousands in Chicago on a parade to the polls getting people to exercise their
polls getting people to exercise their
polls getting people to exercise their right to vote early and culminating that
right to vote early and culminating that
right to vote early and culminating that with a black party that celebrated civic
with a black party that celebrated civic
with a black party that celebrated civic engagement acting up last but not least
engagement acting up last but not least
engagement acting up last but not least protest boycott rally picket organize
protest boycott rally picket organize
protest boycott rally picket organize support movements tactics initiatives
support movements tactics initiatives
support movements tactics initiatives that lead to our liberation use your
that lead to our liberation use your
that lead to our liberation use your presence to disrupt bias and withdraw
presence to disrupt bias and withdraw
presence to disrupt bias and withdraw your support from spaces that don’t
your support from spaces that don’t
your support from spaces that don’t support us Native American tribes chase
support us Native American tribes chase
support us Native American tribes chase iron eyes all the allies out there with
iron eyes all the allies out there with
iron eyes all the allies out there with them they are acting up fighting hard to
them they are acting up fighting hard to
them they are acting up fighting hard to protect this earth from people that want
protect this earth from people that want
protect this earth from people that want to pollute it keeping the water the
to pollute it keeping the water the
to pollute it keeping the water the ecosystem the burial grounds sacred
ecosystem the burial grounds sacred
ecosystem the burial grounds sacred they’re demonstrating their speaking
they’re demonstrating their speaking
they’re demonstrating their speaking truth to power they’re challenging
truth to power they’re challenging
truth to power they’re challenging elected officials to stop putting
elected officials to stop putting
elected officials to stop putting capitalism over environment I’m here to
capitalism over environment I’m here to
capitalism over environment I’m here to tell you that environment
tell you that environment
tell you that environment Trump’s capitalism
when social movements like Occupy first
when social movements like Occupy first started the suffragists movement even
started the suffragists movement even
started the suffragists movement even civil rights a lot of people were
civil rights a lot of people were
civil rights a lot of people were hesitant they were on the fence they
hesitant they were on the fence they
hesitant they were on the fence they didn’t know if this would work they
didn’t know if this would work they
didn’t know if this would work they didn’t know what would happen or if a
didn’t know what would happen or if a
didn’t know what would happen or if a change would really be made and later on
change would really be made and later on
change would really be made and later on they witnessed the groundswell and in
they witnessed the groundswell and in
they witnessed the groundswell and in hindsight we can look back and see that
hindsight we can look back and see that
hindsight we can look back and see that those movements were on the right side
those movements were on the right side
those movements were on the right side of history movements come and go but
of history movements come and go but
of history movements come and go but being aligned with your values with the
being aligned with your values with the
being aligned with your values with the highest way of being of acting a
highest way of being of acting a
highest way of being of acting a standing of speaking that’s the right
standing of speaking that’s the right
standing of speaking that’s the right side of history
side of history
side of history here’s what I know I think we’re all
here’s what I know I think we’re all
here’s what I know I think we’re all secretly revolutionaries waiting for a
secretly revolutionaries waiting for a
secretly revolutionaries waiting for a signal the next time injustice occurs
signal the next time injustice occurs
signal the next time injustice occurs don’t worry don’t wait don’t freeze
don’t worry don’t wait don’t freeze
don’t worry don’t wait don’t freeze don’t get trapped in fear and apathy and
don’t get trapped in fear and apathy and
don’t get trapped in fear and apathy and overwhelm find some like-minded people
overwhelm find some like-minded people
overwhelm find some like-minded people dialog make a plan do something it’s up
dialog make a plan do something it’s up
dialog make a plan do something it’s up to us to take action on what’s been in
to us to take action on what’s been in
to us to take action on what’s been in our hearts the whole time change making
our hearts the whole time change making
our hearts the whole time change making is this amazing journey and the signal
is this amazing journey and the signal
is this amazing journey and the signal is here let’s prepare to renew our
is here let’s prepare to renew our
is here let’s prepare to renew our intentions right now Assata Shakur
intentions right now Assata Shakur
intentions right now Assata Shakur taught us it is our duty to fight for
taught us it is our duty to fight for
taught us it is our duty to fight for our freedom it is our duty to win we
our freedom it is our duty to win we
our freedom it is our duty to win we must love and support one another we
must love and support one another we
must love and support one another we have nothing to lose but our chains as a
have nothing to lose but our chains as a
have nothing to lose but our chains as a sign of solidarity and making this world
sign of solidarity and making this world
sign of solidarity and making this world a brilliantly better place we’re going
a brilliantly better place we’re going
a brilliantly better place we’re going to physically stand up together at my
to physically stand up together at my
to physically stand up together at my cue you can do this first think about
cue you can do this first think about
cue you can do this first think about something that matters to you what’s
something that matters to you what’s
something that matters to you what’s keeping you up at night what are you
keeping you up at night what are you
keeping you up at night what are you willing to stand up for next imagine
willing to stand up for next imagine
willing to stand up for next imagine yourself an upstander what will it feel
yourself an upstander what will it feel
yourself an upstander what will it feel like be like look like smell like taste
like be like look like smell like taste
like be like look like smell like taste like when you’re channeling your empathy
like when you’re channeling your empathy
like when you’re channeling your empathy your energy your actions to standing and
your energy your actions to standing and
your energy your actions to standing and speaking and acting now ready yourself
speaking and acting now ready yourself
speaking and acting now ready yourself on the count of three join me in
on the count of three join me in
on the count of three join me in standing for your beliefs one two three
standing for your beliefs one two three
standing for your beliefs one two three stand out
stand out
stand out thank you
”
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