This month, Black History Month has commenced in America despite executive orders attacking diversity, equity, and inclusion programs. This year’s theme is “African-Americans and Labor”.
“We can’t rely on the government to celebrate,” said NaTisha Hutson, founder of Restorative Impact. Restorative Impact is the use of consultant-practitioners that partner with clients to plan, facilitate and implement restorative justice through the use of restorative practices—the methods by which restorative justice is achieved. She also led a professional development workshop at American River College on Feb. 4.
What does African-American and Labor mean?
“African Americans and Labor focuses on the various and profound ways that work and working of all kinds – free and unfree…intersect with the collective experiences of Black People,” according to the Association for the Study of African American Life and History.
Carter G. Woodson, who founded Black History Month in 1926, thought it was best to highlight different aspects of Black History, not to diminish other parts, but to shine light on not so common things stated by ASALH.
Hutson and Jonathan Henderson, an instructional designer at Southwestern Community College in Chula Vista, tasked with creating curriculum, spoke on how to support Black students through equity-centered leadership and institutional practice. They explained the exploration of Black labor through the decades and how it impacts today.
“[Amid the executive orders], this causes Black people to look more into history,” Henderson said.
ARC’s Black Student Success Center staff is hosting a multitude of events throughout the month along with the other Los Rios colleges. The center is hosting a Tiny Desk series on Feb. 12 and 26, which will feature many artists performances, a business etiquette workshop on Feb. 13, and a women’s lunch on Feb. 19.
“[The executive orders are] trying to send a message we have the power to reject,” Hutson said.
Progress and change can only happen with resistance in any form, said Henderson.
“Resist anyway you can,” Henderson said. “It can be as simple as turning off the TV and being with your family.”
