Student Voices: Race in GR
After speaking with two students about race in GR there is a clear commonality. The way this town is painted as a very progressive, liberal town welcoming and loving to all is not exactly what crawls within the students of the town. Students detail incidents such as inappropriate micro-aggressions to performative activism, all of which are commonly known throughout students. Specific students also act as a microcosm of this town, their actions portraying the town’s deep-seated racist actions however when being accused of racism, the bullies go back into hiding behind their image. There have been many cases of injustices within the students at Glen Ridge Public Schools which end up easily forgotten or put in the back of the file cabinet. Personally, when racist actions occur (commonly amongst friends) the easiest thing to do is either laugh or ignore, yet acknowledging these injustices isn’t an option that GR’s POC have with confidence that action will be taken.
While it is a common known fact that education combats ignorance, one student claims they are, “not sure what good it would do” and things like educational assemblies would not be beneficial. Both interviewed students claimed that there are no consequences for racist students and racist actions and pinned this to be a large reason for the free-roaming disease of racism floating in the air. When asked about potential ways to increase education and diversity at our schools, one student mentioned the only way to engrave upon adolescent minds for topics such as racism would come through experience - largely meaning more diversity of students and teachers (see our article on the GRBDIA). Said student amplified how diversity within staff at our schools is a large component in whether the students come out better educated. Not only would this provide general diversity and knowledge, yet a different perspective will enter most children’s minds in a way that is almost unnoticeable.
What more is there to be said? Once again I call on the Glen Ridge systems to do better and far worse details were shared in interviews. Personal accounts are clear evidence of basic injustice, these students are tired of this inaction, as am I.
