Guest columnist discusses being a student of color at Whitman

STUDENT STUDENT

THE DUALITY OF THE WHITMAN EXPERIENCE

by Austin Mboijana

We have come to a crossroads, a culmina- doesn’t fully accept any minority, events like tion of events. these reinforce racial stereotypes and prejudic- experiences of students of color at Whitman, A global pandemic and multiple instances es that linger in the back of every person of the community must know that our school of racial prejudice, exposing deeper institution- color’s mind. clearly has shortcomings when it comes to alized racism, have come to the forefront of our Throughout my years of walking Whit- promoting equity and equality for all. In this country’s most pressing conversations. These man’s halls, I’ve overheard fellow students unprecedented year, I’ve seen efforts by my societal challenges have provoked much of my make racist jokes or even say racial slurs. peers — like with the student-led Black Lives generation to demand justice for all, in hopes These words, whether or not they were said Matter march in Bethesda — to better them selves and their communities by acknowledgchange. perpetuate the feeling of isolation that many ing and denouncing racism, but students and Of all the abuses of power publicized, people of color feel at Whitman. This racial community members still must work on being the death of George Floyd in particular deep- insensitivity that students know to be quite actively anti-racist. ly bothered me. To watch a man with hazelnut common at our school is partly a result of the lack of education on both Black history and the munity often lacks the perspective to fully knee on his neck was appalling and terrifying. history of racial slurs that are still used to make comprehend and address its own share of the

While attending a June protest at Black Lives nationwide issues of racial bias and injustice.

Matter Plaza in D.C., I laid on the hot asphalt Programs like OneWhitman that seek to While some of my classmates will never unalongside hundreds of other protestors for eight elevate and share the perspectives of minori- derstand what it’s like to live in this country minutes and 46 seconds, the amount of time ties at Whitman can effectively combat this with dark skin, having honest conversations

George Floyd was held down, and I couldn’t issue. But to conquer racism, students must in- allows us all to gain perspective and better unhelp but think how that could’ve been me un- vest in educating and bettering themselves by derstand the magnitude of the other pandemic der different circumstances. fully engaging in these types of programs. we’re still facing, one that spreads and kills, Why should someone’s skin color cause Let me acknowledge that I’m in a unique too: racism. them to live in fear? It shouldn’t. But in this position compared to country, many people of color still do, and some African Ameri can students at Whitproblem nor a simple one. But it’s a problem man. Having grown that we as a country and a community have a up in the Whitman responsibility to address. While no one of us cluster, I’ve had an is able to single-handedly solve the systemic easy time making racism rooted deeply in our institutions nor the friends early and feelinternalized racism ingrained in the minds of ing welcome in the some Americans, I can offer my perspective community, but many as a student of color at Walt Whitman High other students of col-

School. or come to Whitman under different cir - cumstances and feel tions that made me hyperaware of my race at excluded and unwantour predominantly White school. One day from ed. I’ve seen several the beginning of my freshman year stands out. new students of color enter our school and a White student that ended with the Black stu- have peers stereotype dent being handcuffed and shoved into a po- or judge them solely lice car while the White student was escorted on account of their into the building with a teacher’s hand grasped skin color, home life strongly around his arm. It may sound harsh, but the reality at Whitwhat kind of message does this send to a young man is that students and staff too often fail to

Black bystander surrounded by his predom- admit and rectify their lack of acceptance of inantly White friends? In a society that still some people of color. 20

graphics by SAMANTHA LEVINE