The Comic-Con International show kicks off today in San Diego, CA. The massive crowds that flock to this convention make it one of the can’t-miss annual events for lovers of popular arts and comics. The conference presents an opportunity for creative interventions uplifting the powerful impact of pop culture representation—#PowerofPop—to shape narratives through the stories we love. Cite the values of voice, economic opportunity, and equity.
Tag: racial justice
Eric Garner
On this day in 2014, New York City police officers killed Eric Garner for selling single cigarettes. He was put in a chokehold which resulted in his death. Garner was recorded saying, “I can’t breathe,” which has remained a rallying cry against police brutality following the murder of George Floyd. Honor Garner and discuss policing and racial justice issues by citing the values of voice, equity, and safety.
Ida B. Wells
On this day in 1862, Ida B. Wells was born. Wells founded the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and was a pioneering journalist, one of the first to investigate lynchings across the United States. Use her birthday as a hook to discuss the importance of working for racial and economic justice. Cite the values of economic opportunity, equity, and voice.
Sandra Bland
On this day in 2015, Sandra Bland mysteriously died in police custody. Days earlier she was arrested for a minor traffic violation by Texas state troopers. Cell phone footage from her phone, released years after her death, renewed questions regarding the officer’s testimony. On this anniversary, discuss the values of equity and safety.
To Kill a Mockingbird
On this day in 1960, the American classic novel, To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, was published. The book focused on racial inequality and went on to win the Pulitzer Prize. Use this anniversary to talk about the need for writers and other artists to challenge injustice. Refer to the values of voice and community.
Niagara Movement
On July 11, 1905, W.E.B Du Bois and William Monroe Trotter gathered Black leaders and launched the Niagara Movement, one of the organizations that paved the way for the formation of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). The convening met at Niagara Falls, in Ontario, Canada, because hotels on the U.S. side of the falls barred Black people. Among their platform’s demands was the abolition of all caste distinctions based on race or color. Discuss this anniversary by citing the values of voice and equity.
14th Amendment Ratified
On this day in 1868, Congress ratified the 14th Amendment to the Constitution, which granted citizenship and rights to African Americans and formerly enslaved people. It also forms the basis of “birthright citizenship” for children of non-citizen immigrants. Use this anniversary to discuss the ongoing struggle for civil and immigrant rights by citing the values of equity, community, and voice.
Philando Castile
On this day in 2016, Philando Castile was killed by Minnesota police officer Jeronime Yanez during a routine traffic stop. Castile’s girlfriend recorded the encounter while her infant daughter sat in the back seat. On this anniversary, discuss the ongoing need to end police brutality using the values of safety and equity.
Alton Sterling
On this day in 2016, Alton Sterling was fatally shot several times at close range by Baton Rouge Police Department officers. Sterling had been selling CDs in a parking lot. His death was video recorded by several bystanders. On this anniversary, honor Alton by lifting up his life and discussing the values of safety and equity.
Civil Rights Act of 1964
On this day, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed into law the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the landmark civil rights and labor law that prohibits discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. Use this anniversary to reaffirm the values of voice, economic opportunity, and community.
