Antiracist_Jubilee_Symposium (Celebrate.Educate.Cultivate) April 25, 2021
Our AntiRacist_Jubilee_Symposium Team, Ivy, Zoi, Paul, and Eleanor is committed to breaking down racist barriers, each month, as we celebrate our victories, continue educating ourselves, learning from others, and cultivating friendships, partnerships, and allies, nationwide.
Our April 25, 2021, event was facilitated by team members Ivy, Paul, and Evelyn. Team members, and attendees, were so encouraged by our support team members and Allies. Our words of gratitude are small, in comparison to the support that Carmen, Casey, and Amy shared. With their help and words of motivation, the event was amazingly productive. Our keynote speakers were Carter and Karen Paysinger, from California.
Recap of key points from support team members
Carmen Vela “Say Their Names. “My sister and I attended an action day, here in the Capitol of Texas, in Austin, about three years ago. One of the experts that the opposition had invited, because they were trying to arm classroom teachers, said that children can be taught to control their physiological responses to an armed intruder. In other words, they can control their fears, and their terror, to confront an armed intruder. Yet police officers cannot control their physiological response when children are holding a weapon. That just doesn’t seem right. They wanted children to throw things at an armed intruder. So why couldn’t police throw something at a young girl holding a knife instead of shooting her in the chest?”
“Say their names!” {Sandra Bland, Andrew Brown, Jr., Jordan Edwards, Brionna Taylor, Tamir Rice, Duante Wright, Debra Danner, Elijah McClain, Ma’ Khia Bryant, and Micah Xavier Johnson}” There are far too many more. Let’s not forget them.
Kate “The Bouquet of Humanity.” Attorney General, Keith Ellison, recognized people of all colors, and races, who served as witnesses on behalf of George Floyd, during the Chauvin trial. The witnesses did not allow George Floyd’s humanity to cease. The Bouquet of Humanity were the brave people who did not know each other, or George Floyd. I hope this Bouquet of Humanity encourages the rest of us to have that bold strength to speak up, no matter what’s happening, and to never, ever, deny someone their humanity. “
Casey takes on Ally ship. “ As a White person of privilege, I think a lot about trying to use my privilege and my voice to help rid our nation of oppression, and to build a community that is inclusive and puts an end to systemic racism. I try to take directions from friends of color, and leaders, whom I respect, in the Civil Rights space. I think that the most important job I have, as an ally, revolves around what goes on in my own household.”
Casey and her husband have two daughters. Her oldest daughter, through a school initiative, has participated in a class entitled “Incarcerated Americans.” In the class, students have read “The New Jim Crow” by Michelle Alexander and “Stamped from the Beginning” by Ibram X. Kendi. Additionally, the school did fieldwork with an organization that helps inmates with job placements upon re-entry. Casey also stated, “ I try to read a lot to understand how we got where we are so I can understand my place in moving forward. I talk with candidates and get involved with candidates whose campaigns specifically have anti-racist platforms.”
Event Recap with Keynote speakers
Amy introduced the keynote speakers. Amy’s first job, as an administrator, was at Beverly Hills High School. Carter was the principal. Amy stated, “Upon meeting Carter, he was kind and welcoming, and I knew instantly that I wanted to be part of his circle. Carter had been a student, coach, assistant principal, the Athletic Director, and now, the first Black principal at Beverly Hills High School. Carter is a legend. He has touched so many lives. Karen, Carter’s wife, has been in education for twenty-four years. She’s been a kindergarten teacher, a Reading Specialist, assistant-principal, and now principal. It’s truly inspiring to be in their presence. I am honored that we call each other family. There are people who come into your life for a reason, a season ,or a lifetime. Carter and Karen are in it for a lifetime. It’s an honor to introduce you to this group. Thank you for all that you have done for students, teachers, and me…..Karen and Carter Paysinger”
Keynote speakers Carter and Karen Paysinger
Carter “ Thank you, Amy. Evelyn, thank you so much for inviting us to speak with your group. It’s great being a part..When it comes to racism, we’re pretty passionate about things that are happening in our society. I grew up with parents that were Martin Luther King Jr. disciples. My three brothers and I understood that our parents wanted the best for us. Part of that was, we didn’t talk about racism in our house. In my parent’s opinion, people that were racist had the problem. We didn’t have that problem, and it wasn’t for us to discuss problems that other folks had. My parents wanted us to know that we could have and do whatever in life if we put in the work, time ,and efforts, and did the right things. Our upbringing was basically that.”
Karen When we were growing up, my dad said, “ People should accept you for who you are. Racism is not your problem, it’s theirs. We lived in South Central Los Angeles, and had friends from many races who would visit us, at our homes,and we would go to their homes. That’s how we grew up. We grew up accepting everyone. Everyone is a human being. We’re all God’s creatures.”
Carter He shared a perspective about a comment made by a GOP spokesperson/guest, on a well known cable network news show, regarding DC Statehood. The person said, “ DC is a working class city and if it becomes a State, it would take away from their identity.” According to Carter, “Those are cold comments, meant to keep people in their place. Carter stated that he’ll talk with anyone about racism. He finds it difficult when people mention that they were/are unaware of racism against Blacks, and Asians. Carter clearly stated ,”We’ve been trying to tell you.” He said,” I do not know of a Black male who has not experienced police abnormality.
Carter shared the following personal story/experience with us. “I was going home one evening, from playing basketball. I was stopped and frisked by the police. He told me to sit on the sidewalk. The officer tore my car apart. He pulled part of the dashboard off, and after about 15 minutes, or so, he informed me that he was looking for drugs, and didn’t find any, and told me that I could go about my way. Well, I had to put my car back together , first, before I could go on my way. At this point, keep in mind, I had been stopped multiple times.
Carter shared,” As a young Black teacher at Beverly Hills High School, he was stopped by the police.” He told the officer,”Listen, I work in the school district. I’m a teacher at the High School. The officer apologized and said that during their roll call, earlier that morning, they had been instructed to stop every Black male between the ages of 18-35.”
“Later on, I became principal at Beverly Hills High School , and I have no way of knowing if this is true, but I thought to myself, what I’m going through must be a small piece of what Barack Obama went through when he became President of the United States, because when I became principal, I thought, we did it; we’re there. That was just the beginning.” I became principal on a 3/2 vote.”
“We had the highest test scores in the school’s history, during my first year and the third highest test scores in the school’s history in the first three years.” A board member, at one of our school board meetings said to me, publicly,I’d like to talk with you privately to find out what you did, inferring we did something illegal to get the test scores as high as we’d gotten them.”
There were numerous negative interactions that Carter experienced before he became principal at Beverly Hills High School. He was motivated to continue pursuing the Principalship because of the negatives. Carter said, “There are too many Black people who have fought and died to give us the opportunities that we have today. The question that Evelyn asked us to respond to, in the chat box was “What legacy will we leave behind in terms of breaking down racism/and advocating for AntiRacism?” “Well, Karen and I want to show, by example, that you do not have to allow society to dictate who you are. We’re moving forward. I’m so inspired by the number of people, all races, who have stepped up to acknowledge what is happening and to fight for change. I think the biggest difference between what happened in the 60’s and what’s happening today’s has to do with access to social media, technology, video cameras, etc. As an example, the Emmett Till story just rides with me, wherever I go. It’s something that just won’t leave me.” Think about that.
Karen “The only way we can change things is to have a forum, like you’re having today, but to also make friends with people who don’t know you and don’t look like you. Learn their stories and cultures. We’re all basically the same. When we’re cut, everybody’s blood is red. We all have the same organs. I mean, the differences may be our cultural, economic, and geographical experiences. These are really the only differences. We all, pretty much aspire for the same things….to be able to provide for our families..to make sure that our children, grandchildren and their families are safe and healthy. We want an educational system that educates everybody…not just those who can afford an education. We want opportunities. We all want the same things, and I think that once we get to know each other, talk with one another and listen, that’s when things will start to change. “
Karen said, “Our young people are the ones who are going to lead the change. Carter clearly stated,” There’s so much for all of us to learn about each other. We’re all in this together.”You can learn more about Carter from the book he co-authored with Steven Fenton, “Where A Man Stands (Two Different Worlds, an impossible Situation, and the Unexpected Friendship that Changed Everything.
AntiRacist.Conversations (Uncover the Facts). Celebrate.Educate.Cultivate 
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