The Connection between Buffalo, Uvalde, Your Own School District and Your Workplace

I had lunch with a dear friend yesterday, and we discussed how neither of us have had the bandwidth to write about the Buffalo massacre that had taken place just ten days ago. We were ignorant to the fact that while this conversation was taking place, another mass shooting was happening in Texas- but instead of a grocery store, a school was the target.

I actually didn’t hear about the shooting until I was at my 6 year old son’s baseball game, and a fellow parent, educator and friend told me. My heart sank into the pit of my stomach. She added that the last day of school was supposed to be this Thursday. My heart broke into a few more pieces.

I eventually learned more details: 1 teacher and 18 students were killed (with more children and adults in the hospital), and the shooter was an 18 year old (assumed to be Latino) young man who was killed by law enforcement.

Between these two mass shootings, local school board elections took place that personally had me on “high alert” as I saw my local school district’s parent page become a battleground of toxic and harmful ideologies that actually illustrate part of the root problem we see in these two national tragedies.?

Allow me to explain the connections…

One of the school board candidates was running her campaign based on the premise that she would be “The Voice of the Parents” and had a lot of rhetoric that was basically anti-Culturally Responsive-Sustaining Education (CR-SE) and attempted to classify CR-SE efforts as “non-academic” and asserted that they should be “optional.” She also cited US “rankings” in math and science and sought to use these numbers to insinuate that schools needed to focus more on academics than CR-SE. She unfortunately is NOT unique in her strategic approach to perpetuate a false dichotomy of “traditional subjects” vs. CR-SE instead of recognizing that CR-SE is actually a MEANS to ENHANCE student learning and performance in traditional subjects.

Perhaps you’re wondering why I'm bringing this up right now. Well, here’s why: an alarmingly growing number of parents in this country are fighting AGAINST Culturally Responsive-Sustaining Education. Much of it is steeped in misguided (and in some cases- straight up malicious) conspiracy theories, like that CR-SE is just a Trojan Horse for Critical Race Theory, and many of these parent groups are trying to PREVENT children from learning real history, developing esteem for self and genuine empathy for others, cultivating individual cultural pride while strengthening collective cultural competency, appreciation and community. And how does this connect to these shootings?

Both of the shooters were 18 years old- yes, technically “adults”…but still relative BABIES in my book. And here’s the thing about babies- they don’t come out of the womb as racists (Buffalo) or killers (both). Racism is a LEARNED belief. The Buffalo shooter was indoctrinated into the heresy of “replacement theory” that is propagated by white supremacist groups (and he apparently didn’t have exposure- or enough exposure- to anything that would counter that abhorrent ideology). Marginalization- whether from structural “isms” or bullying- becomes a breeding ground for hate and violence. Moreover, the killing of innocent people requires the absence of a respect for the inherent sacredness of human life (not to mention the love of SELF), the understanding of the universality of the human condition and the recognition of our interconnectedness.

I can’t help but to wonder if these two young men could have potentially had different fates if they had received more robust Culturally Responsive-Sustaining Education coupled with Social Emotional Learning (SEL). According to research shared by the nonprofit, New America, “Culturally responsive teaching also has critical synergies with other reform efforts in education, such as initiatives to improve school climate and implement social-emotional learning. For instance, research shows that students who develop a positive sense of racial and ethnic identity are more interested in befriending people of different backgrounds. Other studies have found that a strong racial-ethnic identity is linked to higher self-esteem, academic attitudes, well-being, and the ability to navigate discrimination.”

As someone who is currently a consultant on a project for NYSED as one of the CR-SE subject experts, I have read tons of research on the case for the necessity of the integration of CR-SE from a pedagogical perspective to ensure Equity & Excellence for All. And while I don’t have delusions of grandeur that any one person, curriculum or framework can eliminate all potential tragedies, what I do believe is that we CAN take a SYSTEMIC and COMMUNAL approach to creating a world that is less fertile for these unfathomable acts of domestic terrorism by promoting Faith, Love, Optimism, Unity, Reverence, Integrity, Service and Hope.

I obviously don’t know the precise reasons why these young men did what they did. I do know some will call them “animals” or “pure evil,” and while I understand the sentiments, I can’t bring myself to classify them as such because the faith I clutch and cling onto in times when I am unable to make sense out of nonsense declares that ALL of us are Imago Dei (made in the image of God), and I refuse to perpetuate the dehumanization they continued (not began) in their killing sprees.?

Horrific events like this don’t simply make me look out into an abyss or point fingers of blame and shame in every direction; they prompt me to go INWARD, then UPWARD, then OUTWARD.?

These murders rouse me to ask: when have **I** felt deep rage, alienation, envy, loneliness or frustration…and what prevented me from harming others or myself to this degree? It is NOT my moral superiority or remarkable character or exceptional self-discipline (none of which I claim to possess). It is a combination of God’s grace and a COMMUNITY that has edified, nurtured and honored me in such a way that I can wrestle with my doubts, navigate my emotions, express my concerns, work through my fears and course correct my mistakes.

These abominations impel me to implore: PLEASE GOD- REDEEM, RESTORE AND RENEW THIS WORLD! And I have to reconcile how a good God permits evil…except that we can’t have a good God who gives us free will without having the option not to do His will, so I have to be comforted by knowing that He can make all things happen FOR the good of those who love Him and have been called according to His purpose. However, I also understand when people throw up their hands in disgust and are disheartened by references to bible verses and “thoughts and prayers” from politicians. Therefore, we have to put our faith filled words into ACTION that can proactively stop the madness.

These acts of calculated mayhem urge me to ask: how can **I** contribute to my little corner of the world and utilize my sphere of influence to provide the folks around me with what they need to FLOURISH? People who are holistically flourishing do NOT initiate massacres, so I am begging anyone who reads this to fight back in every way you can.? Ask yourself how you can create a more just, equitable and flourishing home, school, hospital, court, etc.- WHATEVER space you occupy? You can make it better. WE can make it better…and we MUST.