As Black August Ends, Our Commitment to Justice Continues

Hi Ashley, As Black August draws to a close, we reflect on the journey we've shared over the past month. This period has been a time to honor the legacies of those who have fought - and continue to fight - for Black liberation, equity, and justice, and it commemorates Black resistance against oppression everywhere. At AQE, Black August is more than a commemoration; it is also a call to action that echoes throughout our organization's two-decade struggle for education justice. Each day offers an opportunity to celebrate and document Black resistance and our collective struggles for freedom. Black August's stance against oppression demands that we confront the global impacts of the war on public education. From the troubling Project 2025, which threatens to dissolve the US Department of Education, to attacks on truth through banning books and silencing educators, we face systemic efforts to undermine diversity, equity, and inclusion. The bombing of schools and universities in Gaza, which leaves children without education for a year, the exploitation of child laborers in mines in Congo, and the recruitment and exploitation of children by armed forces in Sudan - all while never getting to go school - should be stark reminders of the urgent need for global solidarity. If we care about children here in New York State, we must also care about and advocate for children and families everywhere. In this light, Black August underscores our shared fight against oppressive systems and highlights the necessity of a global abolitionist response. Our commitment to education justice must address inequities wherever they arise, whether in New York State - in Buffalo, Rochester, East Ramapo, Hempstead, the five boroughs of New York City, and everywhere else in between - or across the Global South. To support your ongoing engagement and solidarity, we've compiled a shortlist of resources: Essay: Angela Davis on standing with Palestinians in America Article: Connecting colonialism, climate futures, and economic justice in the Congo Email: Demand action for Sudan from your elected officials Event: Walk for educational rights in East Ramapo public schools - September 14 at Spring Valley Memorial Park at noon Let Black August inspire and guide us as we step into this new school year, remaining committed to the work ahead in New York State and beyond. We deeply appreciate your commitment to education justice and the better future it promises for us all. In solidarity, Zakiyah Shaakir-Ansari Co-Executive Director Alliance for Quality Education Sent via ActionNetwork.org. To update your email address, change your name or address, or to stop receiving emails from Alliance for Quality Education, please click here.