This is the “landing page” for the Stories for Equity in Early Education 3-part video series developed by families and teachers in Buncombe County. The videos highlight real experiences in our community, and how families wish they had been handled differently.
The videos highlight real experiences in our community, and help educators see the difference between our intentions in a situation and the far-reaching impacts on children and families.
“We may be uncomfortable talking about race, but we can no longer afford to be silent. We have chosen a profession that—like parenting—requires us to put our comforts second to those of children.” –Jamilah Pitts
Finished the videos, and want more resources? This list may be useful to extend the conversation or learn more.
Basic concepts and research touched on in the video series:
- Hidden/implicit/unconscious bias—what is it?
“If you are Human, you are biased.” Smithsonian web page exploring bias, with definitions, explanations, and several videos. - Walter Gilliam’s study tracking preschool teachers’ eyes as they observe students.
- 4-minute NPR story (audio and text)
- Short article with infographic on Yale’s Child Study Center website
- Microaggressions—This word wasn’t used in the videos, but the idea/concept came up a lot. Microaggressions are brief comments or actions – often not intended to cause harm – that can be quite harmful to people who experience them on a daily basis.
- 2-minute video Teenagers Discuss Microaggressions
- 3-minute video Microaggressions: A Cumulative Effect
- Cultural humility—This is another word that wasn’t said in the video, but the idea is incredibly important. Teachers don’t have to know everything about their students’ cultures to be welcoming, but they do have to be curious and open to learning about those cultures and see families’ differences as gifts, not problems
- 2-minute video What is Cultural Humility?
Interested in learning more? Check out these materials to go deeper:
- Implicit Association Test from Harvard University.
- Harvard offers several tests for anyone interested in exploring their own personal unconscious biases and blind spots towards different types of people. Remember: results from these short exercises are not character judgements! They are a reflection of how we have internalized the unspoken values of the world around us, unintentionally, just by living.
- TED Talk “The Danger of a Single Story”
A young writer talks about the power of stories; how telling only one story of a thing limits how the world views and understands that thing; the importance of telling many stories from many angles; and the empowering feeling of seeing yourself in the stories around you. - Racial Justice Workshop provided by YWCA of Asheville.
This 2-hour workshop is for anyone interested in further understanding bias and racial justice. Workshops are offered in person or virtually. More info at the link! - Video from Holy Post “Race in America.”
Starting with the question, “Why are people angry?” this video takes a look at lesser-known history to explain why and how racial oppression still exists, even 60 years after the Civil Rights Movement. - Is Everyone Really Equal? Book by Özlem Sensoy and Robin DiAngelo
Written for students in high school, college, and lifelong learners, this book takes a closer look at equality and equity, exploring common questions and fundamental concepts. A very engaging and short text, this book is recommended for teachers who want their classrooms to be just and fair to all students.
Recommended materials to consider for your classroom:
The internet is full of book lists on just about every topic, for just about every reading level! Here are a few to check out.
- The Pragmatic Mom website and blog is chock full of book lists, and they have a master compilation of those lists on their site. But if sorting through over sixty different lists sounds tiresome, you can check out a few selections below!
- With continued wars overseas, we are seeing an increase in first-generation immigrant children in local schools. Check out this list of picture books about Modern Immigration and Refugee Experiences.
- Picture Books About Homelessness
- For teachers working with slightly older children (ages 4 to 16), a list on Diverse Learners (sometimes referred to as “special needs”).
- Stories about Adoption
- Bilingual Picture Books in Spanish and English.
Lists of books that correspond to different holidays your children and families may celebrate (also compiled by the Pragmatic Mom blog)
- Variations of The Gingerbread Man to accompany many different holidays including Hannukah and Christmas.
- Chinese New Year
- Martin Luther King Jr Day
- Black History Month in general, for various ages
- The Fourth of July
- Books on Gratitude, which may mesh nicely with lessons around Thanksgiving or Christmas.
Do you have a favorite article, video, podcast, etc. that you would like to see mentioned here? Are there other topics or types of resources you wish we had included? We are very open to your suggestions! Please contact us. We look forward to hearing from you.
Thank you for taking the time to review these resources. You are making our community a safer, warmer, and better place for all children and families.
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Asheville, NC 28801
Phone: 828-285-9333
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