Black Lives Matter at Rejoice
Dear friends,
As an organization that promotes diversity and spreading love, Rejoice School of Ballet stands with the protests going on all over our country to bring attention to this country’s systemic racism that has remained unspoken for years and gone on way too long. Many Americans are trying to get the attention of politicians, police forces and citizens like you and me that black people are tired. They are telling us they are tired. Tired of being treated as less than, tired of being afraid, tired of being killed, tired of their loved ones being killed. No mother should be afraid that her son may not return home tonight. Every young man should feel safe jogging through his neighborhood. Young women should feel safe in their homes. Not one person should have a policeman hold his knee on his neck and not stop when the person says “I can’t breathe.”
Mothers of African American children shouldn’t have to tell their 5-year-olds that they may be treated differently because of the color of their skin. African American parents should not have to give their teenagers special tools on how to behave if stopped in their car by a policeman. Young African American boys should be able to play with toys and not worry about being killed.
Racism is a blight on America and we all must commit ourselves to the work of anti-racism.
At Rejoice School of Ballet we teach ballet to African American, Hispanic, Asian, and White children. We are committed to equity and equality within every aspect of Rejoice, in hopes that our students will go forth into our community and be the change they wish to see. Instead of just dealing with each other, we allow them to truly understand each other.
Rejoice School of Ballet is a very small organization, however, we want our voice to be heard in support of African Americans in America. We promise to listen and we promise to do what we can to change our country, however small that may be, because we love our African American brothers and sisters and their Black lives matter to us.
Warmly,
Patricia Cross
Founding Executive Director
