Finding Inspiration from James Loewen (and a little love from RFK)

Today I attended a lecture given by sociologist James Loewen, author of Lies My Teacher Told Me, about his new book, Sundown Towns. ("Sundown towns" were towns where white people banned African-Americans from taking residence, thereby creating "whites only" communities, resulting in extreme racial exclusion throughout the country.)

What I found the most interesting was his take on why certain towns DID NOT become "sundown towns". He said that all it took was for one person to stand up and oppose the banning of blacks to live in their community, for the ordinance or motion to be eradicated.

His point immediately reminded me of my old job where RFK's "ripple" quote was used regularly:

Each time a man stands up for an ideal,...or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope, and crossing each other from a million different centers of energy and daring those ripples build a current which can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance.

Loewen and RFK's ideas are relevant to policy work in education. Even though working in policy can be daunting, frustrating, and slowmoving to the point where you feel like nothing will ever change, these two men reminded me of what is important...

Change really does just take one person; to stand up against injustice, to refuse to accept the status quo, and to send out a "ripple of hope". And if we daily strive to be that 'one person', in the end, change in education will be inevitable.

Thanks James Loewen