Iowa school cancels African American Read-In, 1619 Freedom School steps in

Waterloo Schools pulled out of an event focused on promoting Black literacy over fears of losing federal funding under Trump’s new anti-DEI directives. In response,  the 1619 Freedom School is stepping in to host its own event this Saturday.

In a move that has drawn statewide attention, the Waterloo Community School District recently withdrew from the University of Northern Iowa’s annual African American Read-In. The district cited concerns about potential violations of federal directives against diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. 

The district has become the only one in Iowa to pull out of the event that reaches nearly 3,500 first-graders across the state. Waterloo has the highest percentage of Black public school enrollment in Iowa, with approximately 27% of students identifying as Black. The situation highlights growing tensions between federal mandates, state laws like Iowa’s “divisive concepts” legislation, and local educational priorities, especially in diverse communities like Waterloo.

The district’s decision came after the Trump administration announced that K-12 schools had to eliminate DEI programs or risk losing federal funding. According to district spokesperson Emily Frederick, Waterloo Schools could not risk the potential loss of funding despite having participated in the event for years.

At issue was the featured book “All Because You Matter” by Tami Charles, which includes an illustration of a child standing in front of a Black Lives Matter sign on its final page.

In response, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and Waterloo native Nikole Hannah-Jones has organized an alternative read-in through her 1619 Freedom School, scheduled for Saturday, March 15, at Waterloo West High School’s Kersenbrock Auditorium.

“What’s so appalling to me is we know that there’s a gaping achievement gap in Waterloo. That’s why the 1619 Freedom School exists. We know that the typical black student in Waterloo reads at one to two grade levels behind the typical white student,” Hannah-Jones told Iowa Starting Line. “That you would not be able to hand out a book for a child to take home that affirms that child’s identity, that is an ugly society that does something like that. And that is a society that is not actually interested in ensuring that our children get a quality education, that they’re able to read and love books.”

The event has drawn significant interest, with over 800 people registered to attend as of Wednesday. Hannah-Jones has assembled a lineup of authors, including Tami Charles herself, along with award-winning writers Derrick Barnes and Jacqueline Woodson.

“I’m disappointed the district made that decision, but I understand it because we do know that the Trump administration is pulling funds from schools and that there could be retribution,” Hannah-Jones said. 

The 1619 Freedom School will host a free Community African American Read-In on Saturday, March 15th from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Waterloo West High School’s auditorium. The first 300 families attending Saturday’s event will receive tote bags containing books, including copies of “All Because You Matter.” The event is free and open to the public. You can register here.

“What I think is important is people understand we do have power. That it does feel like so much is happening to us that the times do feel very dark, but we do have power and we can find ways to resist both individually and as a community,” Hannah-Jones said.