Celebrating Black History at Mustard Seed School

“But blessed are your eyes because they see, 

and your ears because they hear.”  Matthew 13:16

Black history is American history. At Mustard Seed School we take time to zoom in, focus, and celebrate what matters to our community.  Everyday, we take time to zoom in on God’s love for each of us.  We constantly ask, how can we follow you well today God? Once a year– for a short month–we take time to celebrate the powerful and beautiful lives of Black Americans.  We celebrate Black history.  We notice, learn, and celebrate Black contributions, Black excellence, Black art, Black joy.  We look and listen once more because bias impacts our seeing and knowing.  We must disrupt bias.  How?  

All Mustard Seed students have been seeing, listening, and exploring the contributions of Black Americans.  In homerooms, students engage each other, read, discuss, and create art to express their thinking, learning and wonderings. It is one way we look again and see better.  

How else can we disrupt bias? Research tells us that one key way to disrupt bias is by developing authentic friendships across our racial and cultural differences.  Developing friendship where there is an equal power dynamic impacts what we see and what we believe about one another.  

As it turns out, making real friendships, learning to share, holding hands, taking turns- skills we learn at school– can help us disrupt bias too.   We can only see authentically, when we learn to be friends with others not like us.  

Please join us in our commitment for equity.  Pray with us that Mustard Seed School would grow to be a place where every nation, tribe, and people find a place of welcome.   

Come visit us!  Take a look at the “Scrapbook” Black History Walls where students highlight their learning and celebrate Black excellence; where we practice seeing well.  And if you cannot come in person, take a look at the photos below and check out the resources.  

PBS preschool resources on talking to young children about race and racism..

Prayer:  Wake Me Up Lord  

Wake me up Lord, so that the evil of racism

finds no home within me.

Keep watch over my heart Lord,

and remove from me any barriers to your grace,

that may oppress and offend my brothers and sisters.

Fill my spirit Lord, so that I may give

services of justice and peace.

Clear my mind Lord, and use it for your glory.

And finally, remind us Lord that you said,

“blessed are the peacemakers,

for they shall be called children of God.”

Amen.