As I watched the coverage of George Floyd's funeral Tuesday, I was struck with a mixture of emotion - anger, fear, anguish, resolve, and, finally, hope... Hope because conversations have started happening in this country that I have not witnessed in my lifetime. Hope because it is no longer just Black people I hear proclaiming that yes, Black Lives Matter, and must matter to us all. But hope is just that without sustained commitment to continue the work.
At KIPP, we are committed not just to providing an excellent education and support to our students and alumni in their pursuit of successful college and career paths, but we are also committed to working side by side with our families and communities to build a more just world. A world in which our students are seen, loved and supported. A world in which our families, who are predominately Black, do not have to fear for the lives of their sons and daughters, brothers and sisters, mothers and fathers, simply because they are Black.
Now is the time for sustained commitment to the causes of racial justice and equitable opportunity, both for our students and families at KIPP and for the entire country in which we live. Our KIPPsters can create a world we could only imagine and we must equip, support and stand with them in this fight. Just as I have shared with you the work that we are doing to respond to COVID-19 and ensure the continued education and support of our students and families, I commit to sharing with you the work that we are doing here at KIPP Baltimore in support of racial equity. I hope that you will join us in this work!
