Child Care and the Black Lives Matter Movement
June 16, 2020
The last few weeks have been very intense – especially since George Floyd was killed by the police. This is a harsh reminder of the systemic and structural racism in our society.
Black women – and women of color – have been demeaned for too long by lawmakers who have refused to fund child care adequately or accept recommendations to create an equitable child care program.
Standing up for justice and equity is the Child Care Law Center’s mission. We bring to light the inequitable child care policies that deny black children equal rights to education. We are demanding that the government increase funds to subsidized child care programs – which care for a majority of children of color and are staffed primarily by women of color – during the coronavirus pandemic.
We are telling the Legislature to reinstate Proposition 16 by putting a repeal of Prop 209 on the ballot. We are applying a race-equity lens to all the policies we support.
We know you are pro-racial justice. Here are some actions you can take:
- Ask Congress to support the Child Care is Essential Act
- Vote to end discriminatory practicesin November
- Learn about how racism is embedded in early childhood policy in this paper from CLASP
Whichever action you choose, you will make a difference. As the leaders of the Law Center’s board of directors, where people of color are the majority and black women are leaders, we can tell you that we are involved in the Law Center because child care is a racial justice issue.
Thank you for your unwavering support for the Law Center, for justice for black families, for children.
Sincerely,
Rachel Boyce, Chair & Lisa Holder, Vice Chair
Child Care Law Center Board of Directors
