Freedom - “by any means necessary” is a quote of Malcolm X’s that rings loudly and, to be honest, in a time where Black communities are still being targeted at what we believed to be our safest of places, our homes, supermarkets, or churches, it gets louder. While writing this, we often wonder how much further do we have to go? Especially when we stand on such impressive shoulders. On Malcolm X Day, we will honor him for his massive impact on America and Black ideology. He has impacted us in such a way that we know that we have always been and always will be worth fighting for.

Whether a teacher, student, or parent, there are benefits to actively integrating SEL practices into our daily lives. As a reminder, SEL (Social Emotional Learning) is defined as “how we manage and understand our emotions while responding to the world around us. This includes how we process empathy and maintain healthy relationships" (Luminex, 2021). With SEL, we understand that the cognitive load decreases for students and adults if their basic or emotional needs are left unmet.

We acknowledge your dedication, your sacrifice, and mostly you. You in entirety. Not just the beautiful part of you that is a Mother but also the you that dreams, that hustles, and the you that, despite all you do, deserves rest.