Prior to the 1960s the African American school was one of the greatest influencers of hope and identity amid countless obstacles. Here they developed their own mantras for success and community building. The dismantling of these institutions has made African American students more vulnerable to negative messages. In an era where scholars are bombarded by stale ideas about success and media it is important to create stronger story of their purpose-- the counter-narrative. Scholars can start by making affirmations for themselves! We will discuss factors that have lead to poor messaging of expectations to Black youth, and identify the areas in Democracy Prep where developing a strong counter-narrative is happening everyday (and areas where we may need to improve!). Several resources currently exists that support building a greater consciousness for our scholars, so let's explore together! We will practice the practice of affirmations to unpack how to deliver this lesson with scholars. Finally, we will create personalized commitment statements to make this an intentional part of planning at our campuses.
