Cynthia Hurd – Susie Jackson - Ethel Lance – Reverend DePayne Middleton-Doctor -
The Honorable Reverend Clementa Pinckney - Tywanza Sanders –
Reverend Daniel Simmons, Sr. – Reverend Sharonda Singleton - Myra Thompson
Their lives were taken from us two days ago as they engaged in Bible study at Emmanuel AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina. Our hearts break as we honor them and send our warmest embrace to their families, their church family, and the people of Charleston.
We urge our friends and colleagues not to think of this as the isolated action of a crazy person but as one more in a long string of racist actions that remind us all too vividly of the racist acts of years gone by, recognizing that racism is enacted in these very visible ways but also subtly, insidiously in worlds in which we interact every day. We believe strongly that, as early childhood educators, we have a clear responsibility and essential role to play in educating tomorrow's adults so that this kind of hatred and racism is no longer a possibility. We turn to South Carolina Congressman James Clyburn who called out "the appalling silence of good people" and we urge educators everywhere to work with others to break that silence. The statement below was written and posted by our committee two days before the Charleston murders. With this preface, we offer it once more.
The Affirmative Action Committee of the Early Childhood Education Assembly
June 19, 2015
The Honorable Reverend Clementa Pinckney - Tywanza Sanders –
Reverend Daniel Simmons, Sr. – Reverend Sharonda Singleton - Myra Thompson
Their lives were taken from us two days ago as they engaged in Bible study at Emmanuel AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina. Our hearts break as we honor them and send our warmest embrace to their families, their church family, and the people of Charleston.
We urge our friends and colleagues not to think of this as the isolated action of a crazy person but as one more in a long string of racist actions that remind us all too vividly of the racist acts of years gone by, recognizing that racism is enacted in these very visible ways but also subtly, insidiously in worlds in which we interact every day. We believe strongly that, as early childhood educators, we have a clear responsibility and essential role to play in educating tomorrow's adults so that this kind of hatred and racism is no longer a possibility. We turn to South Carolina Congressman James Clyburn who called out "the appalling silence of good people" and we urge educators everywhere to work with others to break that silence. The statement below was written and posted by our committee two days before the Charleston murders. With this preface, we offer it once more.
The Affirmative Action Committee of the Early Childhood Education Assembly
June 19, 2015
