John,

As the school year begins, we’re reflecting on the educators who have shaped our lives and our communities. Teachers who saw our brilliance, nurtured our creativity, and reminded us that Black futures matter.

Schools are more than classrooms. They are hubs of Black play — where laughter, art, sports, and imagination live side by side with learning. It’s where we learn about and celebrate Black history and Black legacy. They are spaces where Black children discover their voices, stretch their possibilities, and grow into who they are becoming.

We know that without the teachers who pour into us, encourage us, and fight for us, so much of that magic wouldn’t be possible.

That’s why we want to hear from you: Who’s a teacher who made an impact on your life?

Reply to this email and share the name of a teacher, coach, or mentor you want to celebrate. We’ll be lifting up your stories throughout the back-to-school season as we honor the power of Black education and Black play. And we could all use some positivity and joy during these times!

Because every lesson, every encouragement, every moment of joy in the classroom or on the playground adds up to something bigger: a vision of Black freedom rooted in care, creativity, and possibility.

With gratitude,

Black Lives Matter

Black Lives Matter imagines a world where Black people across the diaspora thrive, experience joy, and are not defined by their struggles. In pursuing liberation, we envision a future fully divested from police, prisons, and all punishment paradigms and which invests in justice, joy, and culture. Email is the most important way we keep in touch with our supporters. But we know there's a lot going on. If you’d like to receive fewer emails, you can do so by clicking here.

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