Forty years ago, the Civil Rights Movement paved the way for landmark legislation that outlawed racial discrimination in schools, employment and public places; and finally ensured the right of African-Americans to vote. Today, we celebrate the fruits of that labor: a more diverse nation in which all children can aspire to be anything they want to be, even president of the United States. Our new president, Barack Obama, is the most famous example of the racial/ethnic diversity that makes America such a culturally rich and interesting country.
The election of Barack Obama as president of the United States was a defining and soul-stirring moment in the history of our nation. We all feel a deep sense of pride in the resolve of a country and its people to put racial bias aside to elect this man as our 44th president. As Barack Obama has said many times, "America is a place where all things are possible.”
At Friends Select School, the Families of Color Committee (FOC) celebrates diversity and encourages all members of the school community to embrace it. FOC works with the larger Friends Select community to create and maintain a comfortable and inclusive school environment for students of color and their families.
During February, the Families of Color Committee will celebrate these themes during Friends Select’s annual Black History Month events, including:
• An exhibit in the Select Gallery about the evolution of voting rights
• A traveling exhibit and assembly on February 3 called “Lest We Forget,” presented by the Black Holocaust Museum of Slavery
• A writing competition for upper and middle school students, calling for a 500-word response to the following query: What impact has Barack Obama’s election had upon you and what effect will his election have internationally and in the United States? In addition, do you view his election as something positive or negative and explain why? [Note: All entries must be submitted to Vaishalee Sampat by February 6. Contact her at vaishalees@friends-select for the competition guidelines.]
As co-chairs of Families of Color, we ask you to (re)commit yourselves and your families to participating in the meetings and events of the FOC. As Barack Obama said on the night he was elected, "What we have already achieved gives us hope for what we can and must achieve tomorrow.” We ask that each of you tap into your reservoir of strength and rise to this challenge.
FOC Committee meetings are held on the third Wednesday of each month in the PA room from 6-7:30 p.m. Please join us at the next meeting on February 18.
Please put two other PA activities on your February calendar:
February 11: PA Meeting: Dinner at 5:30 p.m., followed by PA meeting at 6 p.m.
February 21: PA-sponsored swim, 1-3 p.m.; all-Lower School potluck/get together, 3-5 p.m.