Statement of Solidarity

Education is inherently political. As educators, we understand the important role that knowledge has in shaping the future of our society and the world.

The protests in response to the recent murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Ahmaud Arbery and others have given renewed strength to the long fight against anti-Black racism. We acknowledge the range of emotions that our community may be experiencing, including the emotional trauma that these deaths evoke. Society has built false constructs intended to divide and keep whole classes of people down for generations. The fact is we are all members of one race, the human race; and so we must lift up universal principles that unite us. Therefore, we stand in solidarity with the current movements, individuals, and youth who are in pain and demand justice. These young people continue to teach us about the urgency of the fight and the importance of our work as educators.

Amana Academy was born out of an expression of social justice. Following the tragic events of 9/11, our founders recognized the power of school communities to build bridges among people. Now entering our 15th year, we are proud to serve a student body that is among the most diverse in Georgia and performing at the highest levels academically—students who work to become ethical people by treating others well and standing up for what is right. We’re drawing inspiration from our own graduates who uphold this legacy and are organizing, leading, and protesting against unjust systems.

Our Crew is constantly examining our role as educators, and in addition to promoting multiculturalism and educational equity, we recognize passive non-racism isn’t good enough. Schools are powerful places, and it is our obligation to listen and support our students, parents, and staff that are hurt, marginalized and angry. We must continue educating ourselves about our shared history, no matter how uncomfortable and difficult it may be, and evaluate and adjust our practices. And, we will dedicate ourselves to more active forms of anti-racism within our school community and seek partners who are committed to doing the same. To the extent we do this, we will fulfill Amana’s stewardship ethic by preparing children who grow to help us build bridges toward a better, more just and equitable society. We welcome your input, so please take a moment to let us know if you’re interested in participating in a series of small group discussions around how we can better address systems of inequity, not just in our school, but in our community as well.

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