Black Lives Matter at School

Black Lives Matter at School


Week of Action is Feb. 4-Feb. 8

Black Lives Matter at School

Educators from across the country are participating in a week of action to promote racial equity and counter racism and xenophobia in our schools. The effort is part of the national Black Lives Matter at School movement — which has been officially endorsed by the MTA Board of Directors — and is aimed at engaging classrooms and communities to support racial and social justice.

The week of action runs through Feb. 8. During the week, educators will wear Black Lives Matter T-shirts to school and teach lessons such as structural racism, intersectional black identities, black history and anti-racist movements. Inspired by the Black Lives at School Day organized by educators in Seattle, a group of teachers in Philadelphia took the concept a step further, sponsoring a whole week of events around the guiding principles of Black Lives Matter.

Black Lives Matter at School is centered around these demands:

  • End "zero tolerance" and implement restorative justice in all schools
  • Hire more black teachers in our schools
  • Mandate black history & ethnic studies in preK-12 schools
  • Fund counselors, not cops

Teaching about black history

Educator Resources

  • Black Lives Matter at School Week of Action: Resources, ideas and stories highlighting Black Lives Matter at School compiled by the NEA

  • Suggested Lessons, Films, Books, Readings and General Teaching Guides from D.C. Area Educators for Social Justice

  • BLM at School Curriculum Resource Guide: Lesson plans, Classroom Resources for All Ages

  • Black Lives Matter at School: Official Website of the National Coalition That Founded #BLMATSchool

  • The National Black Lives Matter Week of Action in Our Schools on Facebook