An Antiracism District

WCCUSD Statement

we are committed to The conscious and active effort to identify, challenge, and correct racial inequities in the systems and institutions within our schools and community.

On August 7, the WCCUSD Board of Education approved the first school district Antiracism Policy in Contra Costa County and the second in the state of California. Join us in actively fighting against racial injustice wherever we find it: within the curriculum, within educational spaces, and within ourselves, and join us on the road to becoming an anti-racist district.

Racism, explicit or implicit, stands in direct conflict to the fundamental principles of WCCUSD education. To carry WCCUSD education into the future, we recognize that we must continually renew and reflect on the roots of racism and develop new ideas to meet the times.

Unjust ideas and policies, and the racial inequity they produce, have shaped us, our schools, and our society. We strive to uncover unconscious biases and practice anti-racism as individuals and as Board members. We challenge ourselves to persist through the discomfort necessary for growth and learning, to deepen our listening and our examination of racism and oppression, and to develop a strong understanding of how our personal experiences and feelings fit into a larger picture of continual oppression.

Each member of our school board, individually and collectively, is responsible for creating and nurturing an antiracist learning environment where each student, staff member, and community partner is a respected and valued member of the WCCUSD community. We are uniquely positioned, and it is our responsibility to identify and dismantle racist ideas and inequitable policies in ourselves and across the district.

Therefore, we commit to supporting anti-racist policies, programs, and practices for our children’s education and well-being, while building strong and inclusive school communities. We commit to holding each board member accountable towards these goals and moving the work of antiracism forward. We also commit to holding West Contra Costa Unified School District staff, students, and community to living these standards of anti-racism in our schools.

Resources

Articles

1) White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack (Peggy McIntonsh)

2) Walking While Black (Garnette Cadogan)

3) Dear White Teachers: You can’t love your Black students if you don’t know them (Bettina Love)

4) The Uses of Anger: Women Responding to Racism (Audre Lorde)

5) "When Feminism is White Supremacy in Heels" (Rachel Elizabeth Cargle)

6) Rooted in Enslavement: How American Medicine Was Built on the Oppression, Experimentation and Commodification of the Black Body (Dante King)

7) Let’s Talk: Discussing Race, Racism, and Other Difficult Topics with Students (Teaching Tolerance)

8) Talking about Racial Inequality at Work is Difficult- Here’s how to Try (CNBC)

9) Facilitating Difficult Race Discussions (Derald Wing Sue)

Books

The new Jim Crow: Mass incarceration in the age of colorblindness.
Alexander, M. (2020), The New Press.

White rage: The unspoken truth of our racial divide.
Anderson, C. (2016), Bloomsbury Publishing USA Activit.

The Half Has Never Been Told: Slavery and the Making of American Capitalism.
Baptist, E. (2014), Basic Books.

Birth of a White Nation.
Battalora, J. (2021), Routledge.

A Field Guide to White Supremacy.
Belew, K. & Gutierrez, R. (2021), University of California Press.

The Antiracism handbook.
Bryant, T. & Arrington, E. (2022), New Harbinger Publications.

What’s up with white women? Unpacking sexism and white privilege in pursuit of racial justice. Govan, I. & Smith, T. (2021), New Society Publishers.

Beyond Conversations About Race: A Guide for Discussions with Students, Teachers, and Communities. Collado, W., et al. (2021), Solution Tree Press.

White fragility: Why it's so hard for white people to talk about racism.
DiAngelo, R. (2018), Beacon Press.

Nice Racism: How Progressive white people perpetuate Racial Harm.
DiAngelo, R. (2021), Beacon Press.

Biased: Uncovering the hidden prejudice that shapes what we see, think, and do.
Eberhardt, J. (2020), Penguin Books.

Why I’m no longer talking to white people about race.
Eddo-Lodge, R. (2020), Bloomsbury Publishing.

Jim Crow’s Pink Slip: The Untold Story of Black Principal and Teacher Leadership.
Fenwick, L. (2022), Harvard Education Press.

The Four Pivots.
Ginwright, S. (2022), North Atlantic Books.

Fugitive Pedagogy: Carter G. Woodson and the Art of Black Teaching.
Given, J. (2023), Harvard University Press.

Download the full list...

Activities

Videos

Journey To An Anti-Racist District

Milestones

December 2024 - City Schools Tour Showcasing Anti-Racism Initiatives

December 6, 2024 - The West Contra Costa Unified School District (WCCUSD) hosted its second annual City Schools Tour on Friday, December 6, 2024, from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM, inviting dignitaries, and elected officials to experience firsthand the transformative work happening across district schools.

The tour began at Richmond High School, where Superintendent Dr. Kenneth Hurst delivered a keynote address outlining the district’s vision for safe, inclusive, and equitable education. Richmond High School Principal Rocio Reyes highlighted the school’s focus on Anti-Slur Practices, emphasizing its commitment to fostering a culture of respect and inclusion.

“The great part of this whole planning process in the past three and a half years is coming up with an ideal state, how are we going to address all of these problems, over the past three and a half years we have come up with a strategic plan and we are going deeper in that work and Dr. Moses has the opportunity to continue leading that work,” said Dr. Chris Hurst Superintendent at WCCUSD.

Throughout the day, participants visited five schools, each showcasing a unique initiative that reflected WCCUSD’s dedication to academic excellence and the district’s Anti-Racism Campaign:

Richmond High School: Anti-Slur Practices
Kensington Elementary School: Community Outreach
Riverside Elementary School: Instructional Practice Guide (IPG) – Math
Pinole Valley High School: Culture and Climate
DeJean Middle School: SEL (Supporting Every Learner) and Academics
Return to Richmond High School: Closing remarks and reflections

Student Trustee Jorge Espinoza, who joined the tour, shared his excitement about the experience: “This tour was amazing, especially for city officials to engage with the schools in our district and learn about the progress being made—not only in these schools but across the district as a whole,” Espinoza said. “From the anti-racist initiatives to curriculum advancements, it has been inspiring. As a student trustee, I’ve learned so much.”

The tour provided a unique opportunity for the community to witness the dedication, innovation, and collaborative spirit that define WCCUSD schools. Each school site showcased the district’s commitment to creating spaces where students felt safe, valued, and empowered to succeed.

Participants also gained a deeper understanding of how these initiatives aligned with the district’s long-term goals and discovered ways to contribute to the continued progress.

This event underscored the district’s dedication to transparency, community engagement, and collaborative efforts to achieve excellence in education.

August 2024 - Anti-Racism Policy Approved

On August 7, the WCCUSD Board of Education approved the anti-racism policy as a commitment to the work of anti-racism through a conscious and active effort to identify, challenge, and correct racial inequities in the systems and institutions within our schools and community. WCCUSD is the first district in Contra Costa County and the second in the state to commit supporting anti-racist policies, programs, and practices for the District's students' education and well-being, while building strong and inclusive school communities.

Click here to view the approved Antiracism Policy.