Page 7 - Mar Apr 2021-REV

Lincoln NFP Chapter Continues

‘Truth and Reconciliation’ Work

by Kathleen Rutledge, Bill Arfmann Center; Dr. Jeannette Eileen Jones, as- were removed from elsewhere to here,
and Paul Olson sociate professor of History and Ethnic then pick up with the Kansas-Nebraska
Studies, UNL; Dr. Gregory E. Rut- Act in 1854. As Dr. Jones commented,
The Nelson Mandela birthday picnics ledge, associate professor of English “I want people to understand why this
that brought the African-American and Ethnic Studies, UNL; and Takako is such a conflicted space.” We hope,
and other communities together in Olson, Lincoln Public Schools director too, to show what effects racism has
Lincoln for some years are not dead of curriculum and instruction. We are had on the social structure in Lincoln
but resurrected in a new form. During very lucky to have as the coordinator of and beyond; in other words, “Why are
2020, we were not able to continue our the project Kathleen Rutledge, retired we the way we are?” as Dr. Mays put
Mandela-inspired, in-person ‘Truth and editor, Lincoln Journal Star. Additional it. Although successes and achieve-
Reconciliation’ work in Lincoln, given LPS resource people are Dr. Rob McIn- ments are not the primary focus of this
the pandemic. That does not mean, tarffer, assessment evaluation specialist history, these will be part of putting
however, that we ceased and gave up. and Jaci Kellison, K-12 social studies into context the pains and struggles of
We have been working on two curriculum specialist. these groups of people and how they
main educational goals: (1) generat- prevailed in many ways.
ing a history of race and racism in In the Truth and The steering committee is also
Nebraska history and (2) encouraging generating names of people steeped
a sense of urgency in Lincoln Public Reconciliation process, in knowledge of these ethnic groups
Schools to act to improve the experi- who can be consultants. “We’re not the
ences of students of color in the district. first comes Truth. experts,” Dr. Jones has observed.
The Truth and Reconciliation work is a We wish to thank the generous
joint project of the Lincoln Chapter of The committee is very pleased members of NFP who contributed
Nebraskans for Peace and the Lincoln that Veronica Duran, a bilingual Ph.D. personal checks to this project. To-
Branch of the NAACP. Co-chairs candidate in history at UNL, has agreed gether with the Lincoln Branch of the
are Dr. Dewayne Mays, president of to assemble the bibliography by May NAACP, we have raised more than
NAACP Lincoln; Dr. Paul Olson, UNL 2021. She will consult with Dr. Jones $14,000. This money made possible our
English professor emeritus; and Wil- and Ms. Rutledge as she does her work. retaining the work of Ms. Duran.
liam Arfmann, retired community and Beginning in June 2021, we intend For the second part of the Truth
union organizer. to engage a researcher or researchers to and Reconciliation Process—urging
In the Truth and Reconciliation write a text that would form the basis LPS to act with urgency to improve the
process, first comes Truth. For the his- for a digital resource that could be used experiences of students of color—we
tory initiative, we wish first to create by educators, community groups, pas- are guided by a group of faith lead-
a bibliography of primary and second- tors and others committed to helping ers and others in the community. One
ary sources to be the foundation for a Nebraskans become more aware of this immediate goal is to bring about a
truthful history of Nebraska that brings history. The working title of the piece is community meeting with school board
light to the pain and conflict that five “Race, Racism and White Supremacy members and administrators to discuss
broad groups of people have experi- in Nebraska History”. Although much recruitment and retention of educators
enced here: Latinos/Latinas, Indigenous of this history may center on Lin- of color, richer curricula, equity plans
people, African-Americans, Asian- coln, Omaha and eastern Nebraska in at each school and interventions to
Americans and recent refugee groups. general, we realize the stories of these address the needs of Native students. A
A steering committee of educa- groups span the state. statistic that drives this: A third of LPS
tors and writers is guiding the history This history would open with a are students of color but only 6.5 per-
project. They are: Dr. Marty Ramirez, section that gives an account of the cent of LPS teachers and administrators
retired counseling psychologist, UNL; people who were here on this land are people of color.
Kevin Abourezk, Lakota Tribe member before dispossession and those who
and managing editor of Indianz.com
and vice chair of the Lincoln Indian MARCH/APRIL 2021 NE REPORT, P. 7