Educators Against Racism and Apartheid was founded by educators in 1985 in New York City as Educators Against Apartheid. The name was changed because members of the group thought it important that educators deal with issues of racism in the United States at the same time that they dealt with apartheid in South Africa. The organization met monthly (except in summer), usually in the Riverside Church. The organization developed educational materials including a monthly newsletter, which went to teachers all over the United States. The organization published two editions of Apartheid Is Wrong: A Curriculum for Young People, which was funded in part by the United Nations Special Commission on Apartheid. The curriculum had lessons for teachers in all curriculum areas. It was used by teachers from early childhood classrooms all the way through universities. The group produced a filmstrip about many aspects of apartheid, particularly issues that impacted young people, with a cassette narrated by the Ruby Dee, who contributed her labor for the project.

One of the organization’s projects was a boycott of Kellogg’s cereals because children could relate to Kellogg’s as opposed to other corporations that were involved in South Africa. Many young people participated in that boycott. The organization worked to get the Teacher’s Retirement System to divest itself from corporations doing business in South Africa. Members organized and participated in many demonstrations.

The archive includes copies of the curriculum guide and the newsletter, some original and copied correspondence (for example with Oliver Tambo and young American children from the 1980s), both editions of the curriculum, anti-apartheid flyers, buttons, and photographs and videocassettes of group-sponsored events and performances (including a children’s play and a school class) from 1990 to 1993.