By Danny Mucinskas
National discourse in the United States has been absolutely dominated by two topics this month:
The continuing COVID-19 pandemic, which has put into stark relief the many inequalities in our society and resulted in systemic failures from the government and healthcare system alike; and
The murder of George Floyd and the subsequent outpouring of protest, activism, and commitment to change as the country again grapples with persistent entrenched racism and inequity.
This is a time of intense anguish, trepidation, and anxiety for many people, particularly communities of color and the poor and working classes. The moment also presents many opportunities and possibilities, including collective action, reconciliation, and reparation, deep listening, learning, and understanding, and commitment to do better.
In addition to the posts The Good Project has already authored related to the pandemic and Black Lives Matter movement, we are sharing several recent articles that we found to be informative and thought-provoking.
As we end this month and look to the period ahead, we know that the injustices present in the United States will require people in positions of power (especially white people) to do “good work,” particularly ethical work, to re-shape American society to be fairer and more just, not just for some but for all.
Gillian B. White collects a series of articles from The Atlantic spanning over 150 years, all of which deal with race in the United States. Touching on topics from the abolition of slavery to the civil rights movement to police violence and COVID-19, the readings in this rich collection are useful for anyone who is asking how we got here and can help start the conversation of what can be done.
The Struggle to Teach from Afar
This episode of “The Daily” podcast from The New York Times follows one teacher, Ronda McIntyre of Ohio, as she describes the transition of her elementary school classroom to remote instruction. McIntyre wonders what the future holds for her teaching in the midst of a pandemic and shares the sobering reality that much has been lost for her without face-to-face interaction with her students, making her question her very profession.
When SEL is Used as Another Form of Policing
Cierra Kaler-Jones, a scholar in urban education, writes in Medium with a warning that social-emotional learning curricula must not become another “tool of oppression” that is wielded against Black and Brown students. She makes the case that SEL curricula in schools across the country should be rooted in culturally-affirming practice and should not silence expressions of justified emotions, including anger at historical and present trauma.
Academia Isn’t a Safe Haven for Conversations About Race and Racism
Colleges and universities have a reputation for being bastions of liberalism, yet research and personal testimony reported in Harvard Business Review by Tsedale M. Melaku and Angie Beeman demonstrates that academic environments are still not accepting and in fact, are often hostile to racial minorities. Faced with denial, pressure to conform, and overtly racist comments, Melaku and Beeman question whether their white, purportedly progressive colleagues are willing to put in the work to change their behaviors and the status quo.
How to Support the People You Lead in Times of Uncertainty
Many team and organizational leaders are wondering how best to support their co-workers in a time of stress without the benefits of in-person interaction. Greater Good spotlights the book Helping People Change by Ellen Van Oosten, Melvin L. Smith, and Richard E. Boyatzis, which outlines a model of “coaching with compassion” according to a framework of principles: resonance, empathy, awareness, compassion, hope, and humor.