Black History Today 2024: Deionte Petty, glorifying his community through humble service

Black History Today, created by Marcus Harden in honor of Black History Month, pays tribute to the living legacy of Black history in our community and recognizes the people like Deionte Petty who are boldly shaping the future. The 2024 installment marks the sixth Black History Today series published on Rise Up for Students since 2018.

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Black History Today 2024: Shirley Franklin, pioneering leader and agent of change

Black History Today 2024: Shirley Franklin, pioneering leader and agent of change

Black History Today, created by Marcus Harden in honor of Black History Month, pays tribute to the living legacy of Black history in our community and recognizes the people like Shirley Franklin who are boldly shaping the future. The 2024 installment marks the sixth Black History Today series published on Rise Up for Students since 2018.

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Black History Today 2024: Josephine Howell, turning life’s joys and trials into beautiful music

Black History Today 2024: Josephine Howell, turning life’s joys and trials into beautiful music

Black History Today, created by Marcus Harden in honor of Black History Month, pays tribute to the living legacy of Black history in our community and recognizes the people like Josephine Howell who are boldly shaping the future. The 2024 installment marks the sixth Black History Today series published on Rise Up for Students since 2018.

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A letter to students and families in Washington State from the Wet’suwet’en people as they fight to protect their ancestral homelands

A letter to students and families in Washington State from the Wet’suwet’en people as they fight to protect their ancestral homelands

Dr. Karla Tait, Director of Clinical Programming at the Unist’ot’en Healing Centre on the “frontlines” of the Wet’suwet’en lands, took the time to write a letter to students and families in Washington discussing how their struggle connects to our lives and the lives of all people.

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I Was Right. Duh.

I Was Right. Duh.

Four years ago, I wrote a weird essay about Seattle’s choice to hire Denise Juneau as superintendent of schools.

“I like this decision,” I wrote, “but it’s more of a long-term play than an immediate game-changer. And since our long-term plays have literally never worked, well, is this going to be different?”

Unfortunately, no.

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Black History Today: Natalie Hester, champion for all children

Black History Today: Natalie Hester, champion for all children

Black History Today, created by Marcus Harden in honor of Black History Month, pays tribute to the living legacy of Black history in our community and beyond, and recognizes the people like Natalie Hester who are shaping the future.

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Black History Today: Omari Salisbury, uplifting and empowering his community by sharing the truth at any cost

Black History Today: Omari Salisbury, uplifting and empowering his community by sharing the truth at any cost

Black History Today, created by Marcus Harden in honor of Black History Month, pays tribute to the living legacy of Black history in our community and beyond, and recognizes the people like Omari Salisbury who are shaping the future.

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Black History Today: Dr. Kristina Bellamy, actualizing her dreams in service of others

Black History Today: Dr. Kristina Bellamy, actualizing her dreams in service of others

Black History Today, created by Marcus Harden in honor of Black History Month, pays tribute to the living legacy of Black history in our community and beyond, and recognizes the people like Dr. Kristina Bellamy who are shaping the future.

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Black History Today: Derrick Wheeler-Smith

Black History Today: Derrick Wheeler-Smith

Black History Today, created by Marcus Harden in honor of Black History Month, pays tribute to the living legacy of Black history in our community and beyond, and recognizes the people like Derrick Wheeler-Smith who are shaping the future.

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A timid Seattle votes to sweep its problems — and promises — under the rug

A timid Seattle votes to sweep its problems — and promises — under the rug

With local elections upon us, I’ve found myself thinking a lot about the uprising of 2020 — or more specifically, about the daytime marches during the uprising of 2020.

People came out of the woodwork, both nationally and in the Seattle area, and many of these marchers were out there for the first time — feeling compelled for the first time to make a visible stand against racism and police violence.

But now, when it comes time to vote based on these new values, the packed streets look in retrospect like a mirage.

Were the marches really that meaningless? Was the anger really so momentary?

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What am I supposed to do with my kids this fall?

What am I supposed to do with my kids this fall?

It’s been hard to find the right words during this pandemic. And as a dad with four kids — two toddlers, a would-be first-grader, and a newly moody teenager — it’s been hard to even find moments alone to think about what those words might be, let alone to write them down.

But look at me now! Alone in front of a computer. Still, each time I start to write, I start to feel overwhelmed. There’s too much to try to figure out all at once.

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The subtle racism of Seattle's 'trusted institutions' continues to impact our kids

The subtle racism of Seattle's 'trusted institutions' continues to impact our kids

The increase in physical violence against Asian Americans is not a mysterious aberration. It’s the result of hateful rhetoric from our last President, among others. It’s part of a history of anti-Asian racism and violence that is too often overlooked or minimized. And it’s also being made possible by insensitive, dehumanizing language that has been normalized.

Take this sign, hanging casually in a Swedish Hospital health facility, perpetuating dangerous stereotypes during a time of such specific violence.

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Black History Today: Brad Brown, trusted mentor and guidepost

Black History Today: Brad Brown, trusted mentor and guidepost

Black History Today, created by Marcus Harden in honor of Black History Month, pays tribute to the living legacy of Black history in our community and beyond, and recognizes the people like Brad Brown who are shaping the future.

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Black History Today: Roxanne Christian-Dancer, a brilliant reminder of what's possible

Black History Today: Roxanne Christian-Dancer, a brilliant reminder of what's possible

Black History Today, created by Marcus Harden in honor of Black History Month, pays tribute to the living legacy of Black history in our community and beyond, and recognizes the people like Roxanne Christian-Dancer who are shaping the future.

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Black History Today: Gary Ladd, lifting a powerful legacy to new heights

Black History Today: Gary Ladd, lifting a powerful legacy to new heights

Black History Today, created by Marcus Harden in honor of Black History Month, pays tribute to the living legacy of Black history in our community and beyond, and recognizes the people like Gary Ladd II who are shaping the future.

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Black History Today: Dr. Keisha Sopher-Scarlett, guiding light for Seattle's students

Black History Today: Dr. Keisha Sopher-Scarlett, guiding light for Seattle's students

Black History Today, created by Marcus Harden in honor of Black History Month, pays tribute to the living legacy of Black history in our community and beyond, and recognizes the people like Dr. Keisha Sopher-Scarlett who are shaping the future.

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Black History Today: Danny Cage, Jr., leading through loving example

Black History Today: Danny Cage, Jr., leading through loving example

By Marcus Harden

Black History Today, created by Marcus Harden in honor of Black History Month, pays tribute to the living legacy of Black history in our community and beyond, and recognizes the people like Danny Cage, Jr., who are shaping the future.

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