TXNAME Social Action March

1621 South 3rd Street,Waco TX 76706

28 April, 2023

Description

The 22nd Annual 2023 Region 5-Texas NAME Conference will be held in Waco, Texas. This city has a sordid past with a legacy that still darkens its streets. To recognize and honor the victims of racism in Waco, we organized within the Social Action Committee (TXSAC) to create a space for healing during the conference. Our plan, with the support of NAME and in collaboration with Waco Community Race Relations Coalition (WCRRC), is to organize a solidarity walk in memory of Jesse Washington and all victims of racism and institutionalized racism in this area. The mission of NAME states that it is an organization that “advances and advocates for social justice and educational equity through multicultural education” (nameorg.org, 2022). NAME seeks to achieve this through promoting the “understanding of unique cultural and ethnic heritage”. The Jesse Washington Historical March definitely highlights the cultural history of Waco, our conference location. Additionally, NAME “promote[s] the development of culturally responsible and responsive curricula.” In an age where Texas schools are fighting for the opportunity to share inclusive and critical histories, it is our duty to highlight silenced narratives. This march brings that conversation to the forefront. Finally, NAME states a desire to “eliminate racism and discrimination in society.” While this march to the historical marker is a symbolic gesture, events such as these inspire continued action. While reviewing the website, we also read the following objective regarding NAME’s future direction: “Provide opportunities for learning in order to advance multicultural education, equity, and social justice.” For our conference attendees to hear this particular story of racism and resilience would be a powerful space for learning.