The Inauguration has come and gone and I’ve heard this question more times than I can count.
What do we tell our children about justice? About fairness? About history?
We tell them the truth.
That history doesn’t move in a straight line—it’s a tangled knot, full of stops and starts, victories and setbacks.
There have been moments of progress:
- 1863-1877 – The Civil War and Reconstruction
- 1920 – Women gain the right to vote
- 1924 – Native Americans receive US citizenship
- 1948 – The US Military desegregates
- 1955-1968 – Civil Rights Movement & Immigration Reform
- 2008-2016 – Obama is elected, Marriage Equality for the LGBTQ+ community, the Affordable Care Act
And each time, backlash followed.
So, when will the next blip of progress happen? I don’t know. But I do know that it won’t come if we give up.
Forty years passed between the assassinations of 1968, the election of Richard Nixon, and the election of Barack Obama. 40 years.
And yet—freedom-loving people didn’t stop. They worked. They organized. They built the foundation for the next wave of progress.
Even during difficult times:
- The Harlem Renaissance flourished at the same time that race-based lynching was the scourge of African Americans
- The American Indian freedom movement gained momentum in the 1970s
- Roe v. Wade was decided at the same time the Equal Rights Amendment was flailing
Progress is still possible, even in difficult times.
So what do we tell our children? We tell them that their voices matter. That their actions matter. That they are part of a long, ongoing story—one that bends toward justice, as long as we keep bending it.
We have the responsibility now to run and not grow weary. As our forebears never gave up, as they fought for their vision of the best country they could dream of, we too, have to operate from a place of determined hope and community.
If you’re ready to take the next step in raising brave, inclusive, and antiracist kids who will heal our country, I invite you to join:
- Transformational Stories: A Parent’s Guide to Antiracism Using The Jambo Method – a course designed to give you the confidence and tools to have meaningful conversations about race with your children.
- Jambo Together – a supportive community of like-minded parents and educators committed to equity, justice, and belonging.
Not ready yet? Join my mailing list to stay updated on resources, tips, and inspiration for this important journey.
✨ Let’s create a brighter, more inclusive future together.
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