Conservatives are banning books in public schools

Critical race theory is an academic framework that explores how racism has shaped public policy in the United States. But conservatives have hijacked the term as a strawman to justify the banning of Black history education in public schools across the country.

That includes banning stories like that of the Bridges family. In November 1960, six-year-old Ruby Bridges and her parents braved an angry mob of segregationist parents who were screaming vicious slurs. Ruby became the first Black student to integrate an all-white elementary school in the South. The Bridges family suffered for their courage: Her father lost his job, but grocery stores refused to sell to them, and her grandparents lost their farm.

All children in America should learn about the bravery the Bridges family showed that day in 1960; as all children should understand the sacrifices Black families made and continue to make to ensure equal opportunity for their children. But Republicans are doing everything in their power to ban books that tell Ruby’s story and that of other Black movement leaders in an attempt to exploit Black history education as a wedge issue.

As Daily Kos reflects on actions to commemorate Black History Month, we want to prioritize protecting Black history—American history—to better equip future generations with the knowledge and tools to dismantle systems of oppression.

Here’s one way you can take action to support Black history education:

Midterm primaries are underway

Primaries for the 2022 midterms are underway and Daily Kos is supporting a fantastic progressive candidate, Jessica Cisneros, in her campaign for a House seat in Texas. Cisneros is a human rights attorney and daughter of working-class immigrants from Mexico. She believes in a pathway to citizenship, universal health care, expanding Social Security, and protecting reproductive rights. And she is running against Rep. Henry Cuellar, a right-wing, anti-choice Democrat who recently had his home raided by the FBI.

If you’d like to help Cisneros win her March 1 primary, you can phonebank (reaching Texas voters) from anywhere in the country, and all you need is an Internet connection. You will receive training to get started, and there will be a co-host on Zoom to support you the entire time.

Help us elect more progressives to the House:

The No Ban Act

Five years ago, the Trump administration enacted its Muslim ban, barring travel from Muslim majority countries. And although President Joe Biden called it “a stain on our national conscience,” he is now implementing a travel ban of his own on Southern African countries.  

One Syrian American spoke to the ACLU about the enduring harms of Trump’s Muslim ban: “I couldn’t believe that a country that prides itself on its commitment to freedom and justice would close its doors on refugees and immigrants seeking help.”

The No Ban Act would limit U.S. immigration law so that no future president can single-handedly issue bans that bar immigrants based on their national origin or religion. As we reflect on the enduring harms that Muslim and African communities have faced as a result of these xenophobic executive policies, we must work to ensure that bans like these never resurface to plunge even more communities into harm’s way

If you’d like to join us in support of the No Ban Act, take action below:

Thank you, dear Daily Kos readers, for your continued support. Let us know what you think about this week’s actions below, and what you’d like to see us work on next.