Hello Strawberry families,

From our learnings about Jamestown and in pursuit of answering the question, “Why do people move?” we are embarking on our study of African enslavement in the US. Today we began our lesson with a, “What we think we know & What we wonder” brainstorm (photo attached), setting some expectations around the language we use to discuss enslavement and those impacted and involved, and our feelings around the subject. As you might imagine, the subject of enslavement brings with it a wide range of gut responses and emotions, all of which are valid. This is especially true for our children, for many of whom this is their first time delving into this aspect of history and its realities.

To teach an accurate history of enslavement in America, we will heavily lean on primary source documents, including journals, schematics, and drawings; as well as podcasts, resources from the 1619 Project, and other multimedia sources. The harsh realities of enslavement can evoke a wide range of emotional responses, and students may process their thoughts and feelings about it at different paces. For instance, the image below—though relatively mild in its depiction given the subject—has already prompted some powerful and surprising realizations. As we continue through this unit, we ask that you welcome an open dialogue with your child around their learnings and feelings on the topic. We ask that you be open to questions, and remember, it’s OK not to have all the answers; we certainly don’t, but we can seek answers together. Please trust that we will gauge students’ sensitivities as we proceed and censor when necessary and appropriate, but we do intend to be honest with them about the reality of enslavement at the time and its continued impact on our country.

Please see here for a few resources that inform our teachings and why it is so important that we teach an accurate history.

NPR – Why Schools Fail To Teach Slavery’s ‘Hard History’ (4 minute listen)

SCRIPPS News – Why Teaching Slavery In Classrooms Matters (Part 1) (15 minute watch)

To build an understanding of the distinct aspects that made the institution of American enslavement, this week we also continued our study by learning about how enslavement has looked in past civilizations of ancient Rome, Egypt, and the Aztec empire.