Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
The Grosse Pointe Academy is dedicated to providing a culture of diversity, equity and inclusion. The Grosse Pointe Academy does not discriminate on the basis of and welcomes students of any race, ethnicity, gender identity, socioeconomic background, learning style, family structure and religion/beliefs.
As an academic institution, we realize that there is always room for growth and learning, and we embrace this tumultuous time as an opportunity for both. We will continue to listen, engage in conversation and support and respect one another, so we can help build a more equitable world.
Below are a list of resources compiled by the NAIS (National Association of Independent Schools), as well as those suggested by our Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Committee. This is a growing list.
If you would like to be a part of The Grosse Pointe Academy’s ongoing conversation on inclusion, diversity and equity, please contact our Head of School, Tommy Adams.
Equity Resources
How to speak to children about traumatic events – NAIS
- Talking to children after racial incidents (Penn GSE)
- “George Floyd. Ahmaud Arbery. Breonna Taylor. What do we tell our children?” (USA Today)
How to teach about racism and civil unrest
- Talking About Race (National Museum of African American History & Culture)
- Beyond the Golden Rule: A Parent’s Guide to Preventing and Responding to Prejudice (Teaching Tolerance)
- Understanding Race and Privilege (National Association of School Psychologists)
- How do I make sure I’m not raising the next Amy Cooper? a webinar from Dr. Jennifer Harvey.
- Recommendation from McMillan Speaker, Dr. Devorah Heitner, “Talking to Kids About Racism”
How students can take action
- Author Jason Reynolds helps young people understand what led to the protests we’ve seen over the past week and what children can do to build a less racist society.
Ted Talks – Recommended by Megan Black, our Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Chair
- The Danger of a Single Story by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
- You Have the Rite by Marc Mabuthi Joseph
- We Need to Talk About Injustice by Bryan Stevenson
- Color Blind or Color Brave? by Mellody Hobson
- How to Overcome our Biases? Walk Boldly Toward Them by Verna Myers
- How to Deconstruct Racism One Headline at a Time by Baratunde Thurston
- The Urgency of Intersectionality by Kimberle’ Crenshaw
Books
The Brown Bookshelf
Social Justice Books for Kids / We Are Kid Lit Collective
Social Justice Books for Middle School
Preschool and up
“The Day You Begin” by Jacqueline Woodson
“Harlem’s Little Blackbird: The Story of Florence Mills” by Renée Watson
“It Began with a Page: How Gyo Fujikawa Drew the Way” by Kyo Maclear
“Daddy Calls Me Man” by Angela Johnson
“Everywhere Babies” by Susan Meyers
Grades 1 and up
“Let the Children March” by Monica Clark-Robinson
“Malcolm Little: They Boy Who Grew Up to Become Malcolm X” by Ilyasah Shabazz
“Separate is Never Equal: Sylvia Mendez & Her Family’s Fight for Desegregation” by Duncan Tonatiuh
“Schomburg: The Man Who Built a Library” by Carole Boston Weatherford (ages 8+)
“My Hair is a Garden” by Cozbi A. Cabrera
“Shining Star: The Anna May Wong Story” by Paula Yoo
“The Whispering Town” by Jennifer Elvgren
Grades 5 and up
“Revenge of the Red Club” by Kim Harrington
“A Good Kind of Trouble” by Lisa Moore
“Front Desk” by Kelly Yang
Middle School
“Ghost Boys” by Jewell Parker Rhodes
“Harbor Me” by Jacqueline Woodson
“An Indigenous People’s History of the United States for Young People” by Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz
Middle School fantasy books that feature children of color
“Confronting Prejudice: How to Protect Yourself and Help Others”
A blog post from Pepperdine University