Tucson COVID Tales No. 13: Art and Diversity, by Amy Acuña

I have chosen to spend my time in isolation to become an antiracist activist. Since I am a teacher, I feel I can help most by reimagining traditional early-childhood, whitewashed social-studies themes to incorporate a global perspective and engage children in that activism. I am doing this through play-based weekly themes that help children learn about our world and appreciate its diversity and beauty, but also to recognize inequity and make a plan for change. For example, traditionally children learn about the “Great Masters” of the art world as a group of white men from Europe. Instead, I did an art week where we learned about great art contributions from men and women from around the world, from Frida Kahlo to the Kenyan Masai people to Yayoi Kusama of Japan. We looked at a bunch of coffee-table art books and discussed the overrepresentation of white male artists. We also had a ton of fun making art, and we culminated the week with a gallery opening where we sold our art and are donating the money to a BLM charity. We can all make a difference if we choose.

Amy Acuña is an elementary school-teaching, volleyball-playing, Chihuahua-loving, wine-drinking, Spanish-speaking, happily married mama of two.

Category: TUCSON COVID TALES