Lingua Natal

There are moments when the heart is generous, and then it knows that for better or worse our lives are woven together here, one with one another and with the p...lace and all the living things. Wendell Berry May the powerful spirit of love guide the healing of our communities and bless all our relations. Art by Alima Newton, Artist.

I’ve been trying to process what can be said or heard in this moment. I haven’t been able to get the image of the knee on his neck out of my head. It’s there ev...ery morning when I rise and when I go through the ordinary duties of the day. While pouring coffee, lacing my shoes, and taking a breath, I think: He doesn’t get to do this. And now the video from the other angle of two other officers pinning him down. My heart sinks even deeper. His family and friends say he was a gentle giant. His death has now shown us he had a giant soul. If the largeness of a soul is determined by its sphere of influence, George Floyd is a Mighty soul. #GeorgeFloyd: We speak your name. But this time we will not let your name be just a hashtag. Your spirit is lifted by the cries of all of us who call for justice in your name!

Don't worry, you won't traumatize your kids or students or make them more prone to becoming racist--or internalizing others' racism towards them-- by teaching t...hem about race. Infants notice differences in skin color and toddlers pick up on racial biases and preferences from their parents, the books and media they see. By proactively working on and teaching about race and racism in your own home or classroom you are helping raise a generation that will work to advance justice, equity, and safety for all. Here are some tools to support you in this challenging and vital work. Overview of talking to kids about police brutality and racism: https://www.ahaparenting.com//talking-with-children-about- Age-by-Age guide to teaching kids about bias and racism: https://www.tolerance.org///general/beyond_golden_rule.pdf Article on how white families can unintentionally perpetuate racism (and what they can do about it): https://www.theatlantic.com//20/09/white-kids-race/569185/ Toolkit on Talking to Kids about Racism (and how to start with your own behaviors, which kids learn the most from) https://www.parenttoolkit.com//how-to-talk-to-kids-about-r