Happy New Year! We hope everyone had a fun and restful holiday season. Let’s honor Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s legacy on January 16th and every day as we take action in support of an anti-racist Day, Newton, Massachusetts, and United States.
It was disheartening, but not surprising, to read Principal Mann’s December 18th newsletter describing the frequent occurrence of racially and religiously charged incidents happening at Day. As we all know, adolescence is a time of significant physical changes, identity exploration, and yearning for independence. It is also a time often fraught with unwanted or confusing thoughts and feelings. The scapegoating of others is a simple, often unconscious, way of coping with negative thoughts and feelings. Scapegoating is always harmful to others and provides only a temporary relief from the negativity felt inside. To paraphrase the READ article below, there are parts we cannot bear to see in ourselves, like vulnerability or weakness, and instead of addressing these intolerable parts, we project our perceived negative traits onto others, which leads to a false, temporary sense empowerment and protection.
We are grateful for Principal Mann’s leadership to help our students and school community grapple with this unconscious and harmful process while we continue to work toward becoming a safe and inclusive school for all. FORJ is committed to this work and we hope you will join us.
Please scroll down for meaningful, educational, and entertaining experiences for you and your family to LISTEN, DO, READ, & WATCH including the unveiling of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr & Coretta Scott King “Embrace” memorial statue on Boston Common!
-Your Day FORJ Committee
LISTEN:
The Sum of Us podcast: “Heather McGhee embarks on a road trip across Covid-era America, unearthing stories of American solidarity and hope in a time of great division and peril for our democracy. Join Heather as she travels from rural Maine to the California coast and everywhere in between, meeting extraordinary Americans who are crossing demographic, cultural, and political lines to build a better future for all of us. “
DO:
Friday, January 13, Boston Common, 115 Boylston Street, Boston, 1:00-3:00 pm: Attend the unveiling of the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. & Coretta Scott King “Embrace” statue. Click here to learn about the monument, which is the largest monument dedicated to racial equity in the country, and Boston’s unique history with Dr. & Mrs. King.
Donate to Indigenous Peoples Day Newton to “build community, celebrate the resilience of Indigenous peoples, and uplift Indigenous voices in Newton.” Donate Here.
READ:
How Unconscious Feelings About Ourselves Drive Scapegoating. Washington Post, 7/19/22.
WATCH:
White People Challenging Racism - Moving from Talk to Action: Informative video & workshops. Click Here to Watch & Learn More.
If you are interested in getting involved with Day FORJ to help build an anti-racist community or if you’d like publicize any future events, recommend videos, movies, podcasts, or books, please email forj.faday@gmail.com.
FORJ Mission: To build an antiracist city. Educating families, schools, community members, and civic leaders through education, action, and systemic reforms. Empowering residents to stand up for racial justice and build a network of support for racial equity.
Check out forj.org or www.facebook.com/FORJNewton to learn more about FORJ Newton. To receive the monthly, district-wide, FORJ email that includes information about lectures on race and diversity, discussion groups, community events, and Newton Public Schools updates, please email forjnewton@gmail.com.
