Articles and news stories are constantly pushing me to consider something new, broaden my perspective, or change the way I look at an issue. My husband likes to joke that my brain explodes with something new on a daily basis. These articles – and the brain explosions that result from them – are so beneficial for me that I wanted to create a place where I could share them, in case you might want to read them, too. Learn more about Things that Made My Brain Explode – and see past posts – here. 

Here’s a recent batch of Things that Made my Brain Explode:

• Racism against white people doesn’t exist in America, and here’s why it never will. “To be racist, you have to have both prejudice and power.”

• Stories as Mirrors and Windows: Part 1 – Stories as Mirrors. You’ve probably heard the term “windows and mirrors” from a teacher or book lover in your life. I was so inspired by the way this teacher broke it down for her students, and helped them to understand why both are so important. My wonderful co-teachers and I have been recreating this conversation in the library and the classroom, and every conversation is powerful in its own way.

• Parents magazine has released its first issue with a same-sex couple on the cover, and there have been strong reactions from all over the spectrum. On the Washington Post, one parent responds publicly: Teaching my daughter that love is love.

• Florida bill would make banning books easier… and make it possible to charge teachers and librarians that provide them to students with a third-degree felony.

• Teachers Reportedly Shot ‘Execution Style’ With Pellets In Active Shooter Drill.

• “I’m still learning how to be an accomplice (more than just an ally), but I’ve been wrestling with one difficult but honest question: Would I care this much about disability rights if someone I loved weren’t disabled?” We Can’t Just Show Up For Social Justice Issues When It Impacts Our Own Lives. Teen Vogue is killing it again.

• If you’re more convinced by statistics than stories, this study might be of interest: Study Finds Racial Bias In Police Traffic Stops And Searches. Its findings are similar to this study from 2011: You really can get pulled over for driving while black, federal statistics show.

• Classrooms in Crisis.

• 19 Tweets that Prove that Kids Should Be In Charge of Naming Everything. If you spend a lot of time near kids, you knew this already. (Except books.. because they’ll name them all “The one with the blue cover and I think it’s about a dog?”)

• “Transgender people are often told to hide ourselves from public life, whether it’s before we leave the closet or after we come out and find ourselves judged for failing to conform to strict gender norms. But our visibility is also our greatest strength. By living our lives without fear or shame, we can change our workplaces, our communities, and even the halls of power.” Sanders, Pelosi, Ocasio-Cortez hang transgender pride flags in Congress.

• A wonderful Charlottesville victory: Everybody plays: All-access playground moves forward. We’ve got a long way to go, but I’m so happy to see Bennett’s Village celebrating this major step!

• A helpful chart to explain the difference between support and toxic positivity. These changes in my language have taken my interactions with my middle schoolers from “No way, teachers never understand” to “Do you have a minute?”

• “Let me be clear: I do not think White teachers enter the profession wanting to harm children of color, but they will hurt a child whose culture is viewed as an afterthought.” Dear White Teachers: You Can’t Love Your Black Students If You Don’t Know Them.

• The ‘Queer Eye’ cast meets Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, takes in the cherry blossoms and gallivants around D.C. Following along on Instagram was definitely fun – but the best part was hearing snippets of the group speaking so passionately about LGBTQIA rights and visibility in their discussion at the Library of Congress.

• This week, I shared a readaloud that my students connected with in a special way. A friend reached out to let me know that the puzzle piece icon – which I had used in my post – was seen as offensive to many in the autism community. I had no idea! This wonderfully gentle and informative conversation taught me a lot, and made me want to learn more. If you want some background on the issues of the Light It Up Blue campaign, Autism Speaks, and how they’ve divided the ASD community, I found this article to be helpful. Thank you for helping me to learn, Anne!