We Still Teach Debuts Special TV Event: Black Lives Matter At School

Dear family and friends, 

I hope this finds you well as can be at this time. 

We Still Teach, the TV show I've been exec-producing with the Chicago Teachers Union & our local-affiliate, Fox32/My50 Chicago has dedicated today's show to a special episode featuring entirely Black Lives Matter At School curriculum, and showcases some powerful community content contextualized through video segments by teachers and students to help unpack the difficult subject subject matter of police violence, and systemic racism.

Today's show is meant for all ages but especially for families -- as I know many of my friends have been struggling with how to have these important conversations with their children and while our all-ages show definitely skews a bit older than my own kids, they're going to watch and we'll meet them where they are at and take the discussion from there. 

Our special TV event features the following segments:  I Am Black History: Perspectives of a Black Teacher by Erik Young Reparations Won by Dave Stieber Chicago Torture Justice Memorials: Reparations for Survivors of CPD Police Torture with Joey Mogul and Survivor Anthony Holmes by CTJC Activism Through the Ages: Conversations with Chicago Activists featuring Rosie Simpson, and youth activists: Amber Jones, and Jonathan Williams  '63 Boycott by Gordon Quinn, Rachel Dickson, and Tracye Matthews, produced by Kartemquin Films 

Tune in to Fox32/My50 at 11AM TODAY (viewing info below) and if you are not in Chicago, you can catch the show after it airs on their website. Among this content is the full screening of Kartemquin Films’ ‘63 Boycott, short-listed for an Academy Award in 2019. This short documentary tells the story of how 250,000 students boycotted Chicago Public Schools to protest racial segregation on October 22, 1963. The film connects the forgotten story of one of the largest northern civil rights demonstrations to contemporary issues around race, education and youth activism.  

We know we have an incredible platform, and a strong pathway to elevate diverse voices and inclusive perspectives, and have furthermore been empowered by our partners with the mandate to do  "all we can" to fight racial injustice at this time.  So, we are meeting our anguish with action and educating kids, families, and the community as one way to empower and engage folks to sustain the momentum of this movement. This week and next, for the final two weeks of our run, we've centered our show around the Black Lives Matter At School (BLM AS) curriculum (a national movement in K-12 education), featuring BLM-centric lessons daily Mondays and Thursdays. This week's lessons can all be found in the Fox32/My50 archives here. Every episode next Mon-Thurs will feature additional anti-racist content, that specifically explores anti-racist social and emotional learning and critical thinking lessons, as well as topically unpacking racism, and systemic inequity.   CHICAGO/Chicagoland area: find your channel based on provider below: Comcast / Xfinity: HD 184 / SD 8 Direct TV, Dish: 50 ATT UVerse: HD 1008 / SD 8 RCN: HD 608 / SD 8 WOW: HD 204 / SD 8 Digital episodes can be found here! https://www.fox32chicago.com/shows/we-still-teach

Peace, 

Kat