GFA Holds Conversation on Diversity with Activist Nyle Fort
By: AJ Tenser '23
With identity and diversity taking center stage in the current climate, GFA hosted Nyle Fort to clear up misconceptions surrounding race and to give an opportunity for members of the community to talk about diversity.
At GFA, efforts to make the school a more inclusive and accepting environment have been made, including the recent step of inviting a proponent of the Black Lives Matter movement, Nyle Fort.
Fort himself has been an active advocate for Black lives since 2014, when he participated in the movement in Ferguson, Missouri. His first-hand knowledge of being a student activist struck a note with those who watched the conversation between junior Madison Gordon, English teacher Daniel Jump, and Fort via Zoom.
This experience “allow[ed] students in particular to ask questions,” Director of Inclusion and Equity Shanelle Henry said. “No one wants to say the wrong thing.”
Though the visiting speaker helped by kindling the topic with “an open and candid conversation,” Henry urges students to “take it out of the classroom.”
“Bring it into more informal and social spaces,” she added.
While Fort may have amplified the conversation about race and social justice, students have to carry it on. Henry pointed out the need for more opportunities for students to have conversations after speakers.
Other than discussions moderated by the school, if one wanted to be more active in the movement, clubs are a good launching point to getting more involved. Besides clubs, impromptu conversations are also a good place to learn.
“Don’t be afraid to ask questions,” Henry said. “Hesitation makes us silent.”
While hearing from people outside of GFA introduces different perspectives and experiences, learning from each other also can provide helpful insight.
“Enter from wherever you are,” Henry said. “You don’t have to know a lot to be able to enter a conversation.”
Learning is not always easy, especially when it involves a sensitive topic, but it’s important to “be open to hearing, be open to listening, be open to being uncomfortable,” Henry said.
Concerning talks similar to the one with Fort for the future, Henry “hope[s] [the school] is able to create more spaces like that.” However, the school alone is not responsible for bringing in speakers such as this one. “If students have ideas about what to talk about and who to talk to, bring it to the administration,” she said.
