Discussion: GFA Student Activists on Black Lives Matter Movement
by Giavanna Bravo, ‘21
As school finished and COVID-19 cases continued to rise, George Floyd’s name and the message of the Black Lives Matter movement spread internationally. Protests, petitions, and discussions sparked our nation, creating question marks about the definitions of equality and justice. While Minneapolis, where the killing of George Floyd took place, is a great distance away for many of us, those who felt connected, whether they be people of color (POC) or allies, were able to bring the discussion of condemning racism and bringing about progress into their smaller communities.
The protests for the BLM movement were seen in Connecticut, whether on I-95, at the Connecticut State Capitol, or on the Ruth Steinkraus-Cohen Memorial Bridge in downtown Westport. The opportunities for local activism were abundant and achieved a wide turn out. In the mix of these crowds, one could find many GFA students eager to use their voice and passion for this cause. In order to better understand how our community can properly be involved in the discussion of racism and inclusivity, I have interviewed several students who have taken on the role of activists.
What prompted you to be involved in the BLM movement? Was there a particular moment where you realized that you had to use your voice?
Alex Modzelewski, ‘22: My sister had been a very prominent activist for POC for a lot of my life, and while I slightly stayed in the corner while she did her thing, I always looked up to her for it. I never realized how important it was to use my voice until recently and if there's anything I've learned, it's that it's okay to "not know" or "not understand,” as long as you do something about it. Reading, watching, and learning about the world and how the lives of POC are being affected made me mad, frustrated, and confused. Ever since then, I've been trying to be actively involved in supporting POC besides just sitting and posting on my Instagram story.
Annie Dizon, ‘23: As a second-generation Filipino-American, the topic of racism is something that has had a presence in my life, but not in a very persistent way. I used to only view racism as something through my own eyes, and in the ways it manifested in my own life rather than how it manifested itself in the lives of other minorities. I had a very self-centered, selfish, and inward-looking perspective on racism, and how it affected me rather than how it affected others to even greater extents. As an Asian, I have never directly felt oppressed, discriminated against, or judged by solely the color of my skin. After the death of George Floyd and the uprising that followed, I felt guilt. I felt a form of white guilt, as well as guilt for only understanding and advocating against forms of racism that were prevalent in the Asian community, rather than for all POC. However, instead of spending my time wallowing in my feelings of guilt, I decided that to make up for the time spent on the sidelines I needed to become educated about BLM, be a better advocate for all POC, and spend more time trying to help others in any ways possible for the movement.
Jah Henry, ‘21: Being a person of color, racial injustice has always been a prevalent issue in my life. When the movement first started in 2013, I was unaware and oblivious to the movement’s importance. Then again I was 11 and having minimal conversations about tough topics such as racism. But as the death of Ahmaud Arbery, George Floyd and others struck the nation, became international news, and quickly prompted the start of another modern day civil rights movement, I became increasingly involved and vocal than ever before. Although I have been more involved than I have in the past, I never hesitated to speak up about injustice whether online or in person. I have been on the receiving end of racial discrimination due to my skin color so this issue is nothing new to me and other people of color.
What were the ways in which you got involved? In which action did you feel you were making the most impact? What advice would you give to students who want to get involved in this movement or any political or social issue that they are passionate about?
Alex Modzelewski, ‘22: As a lot of people know, there were many posts on Instagram stories, Snapchat, and everywhere in general that I took time to look through and repost. I wanted to get people's attention, and I wanted them to feel the frustration that I was feeling, but even more importantly, I wanted them to see why POC were feeling the way they were. While reposting and reading was one way to get involved, I think the most impactful action I took was when I went to a week full of protests. My sister and I agreed we would schedule 1-2 every day, and we did that for a full week. We showed up to demonstrate our support and instead of actively speaking, we actively listened to all the stories that were told.
Annie Dizon, ‘23: I attended protests, I donated to different organizations and bail funds, I signed petitions, I reposted a lot of educational resources and posts on social media, and I created my spreadsheet that was an accumulation of all the above. What I believe had the most impact was the spreadsheet, since I was able to share it with so many people. My advice to anyone who wants to get involved in the movement, or any other political or social issue that they are passionate about, is to always be trying to educate yourself and learn more. The BLM movement is about hugely complex social and political issues that stem from hundreds of years of oppression in this country, so there is never a deficiency of issues to learn about, perspectives to consider, or solutions to employ. As well, trying to be an ally means to be constantly re-evaluating your role in the movement, and considering how you can further assist others while educating yourself in making a difference.
Jah Henry, ‘21: I myself have attended four protests, have signed countless petitions and have gotten in touch with state representatives that represent areas affected by police brutality. Places such as Louisville, Kentucky, where Breonna Taylor was wrongfully murdered and Aurora, Colorado, where Elijah McClain was also murdered wrongfully.The protests to me felt like the most impactful way to get the message out, to stand and be counted, to pick a side. Getting involved is much easier than most people would expect. Outside of attending the numerous protests and vigils around the state, there are a lot of petitions that you can sign. Along with this use your platform, regardless of your follower count, it is prudent that everyone speaks up. Silence is compliance, and not speaking up against injustice is not only immoral but a privilege not everyone has.
At GFA, do you believe that are ways in which we can discuss matters of racism and inclusivity that are progressive? How can we highlight the voices who are passionate about this cause while creating a space to educate others?
Alex Modzelewski, ‘22: I think GFA tries to be very open to matters of racism and inclusivity which can be seen in the surveys they send out, but I wouldn't necessarily say they are all progressive. Sometimes these conversations in classrooms can become one-sided or biased because of what the teacher believes is right. Therefore, students who have different opinions have trouble getting them out. GFA does a good job creating opportunities for students to use their voices on a lot of different platforms - announcements, clubs, coffee house, Beachside Press, etc. But just because those are there doesn't mean any of it is very progressive. I think the information and resources that were provided from social media are what I should be getting from school, and while kids should be making an effort to educate themselves, I think it's also important that unbiased discussions are highlighted in class.
Annie Dizon, ‘23: At GFA, there are student-led groups such as LEAD that are inclusive spaces having discussions regarding racism and inclusivity. I believe that it’s important for all students to be involved in these discussions; however, it’s difficult to ensure that all students are willing to absorb the information in these conversations. To highlight the voices of those who advocate for the cause, there needs to be people who are willing to listen.
Jah Henry, ‘21: I personally believe that there is not a space where conversations can be had in a productive manner. This is a very hard subject to talk about and not enough people are willing to speak about the subject. I myself find it difficult at times to speak. I think the GFA community needs to work towards destigmatising talking about topics like racism to not only better prepare us for life after this sheltered and beautiful bubble we call high school but to help students of color who are struggling and need an outlet where they will be heard and a space where people can listen.
What are the ways in which people can become the most educated on the subject of racism, BLM, and other social issues that affect people within and outside our GFA community?
Alex Modzelewski, ‘22: There are so many more ways now than ever, and I feel like there's no excuse to not be educated. I know the majority of our generation checks social media at least once a day, and there's so many resources, links, petitions, protest accounts, videos, and pictures that they can look at all for free. There are students who took the time to make spreadsheets of information for people to just simply click on and read. Stories inside and outside of GFA are all at the tips of our fingers right now and it's as simple as a click.
Annie Dizon, ‘23: There are a plethora of ways to become educated about racism, and I find it awesome that there is no single entity or form of media that claims to have the answer to every single thing. So much of this movement is constantly changing, moving, and developing, and there are so many diverse perspectives about all issues that make it so there’s never a shortage of information to educate yourself with. It isn’t required to do Ph.D. level research and become an all-knowing expert overnight about every single topic regarding and involving racism, but taking steps every day and making changes in your life to constantly be educating yourself and becoming a better ally is what creates allyship that will sustain over a long time. The main forms of media I’ve used to educate myself over these past months have been documentaries, podcasts, TV shows, videos, books, and news/blog articles. (I have a ton of recommendations if you’d like them :D) As well, I’ve learned about a lot of different topics by reading summaries or quick facts about them through posts on different social media platforms and deciding to do further research on said topics on my own. Although I do find that there is a lot of incredibly educational information on social media, I enjoy doing research myself to further develop my own opinions regarding the topic as well as fact check other details I find.
Jah Henry, ‘21: People should strive to understand others through conversation. We should all listen more and shouldn’t be too quick to dismiss those that don’t look or act like us. Diversity of race, orientation, religious beliefs, and opinions are key components to the formulation of unique ideas, and according to the former head of the NASDAQ, it has been proven to improve productivity and creativity in business, sport and the arts. Listening to black voices such as students, influential speakers, musicians and authors can be incredibly insightful. Some speakers/authors/musicians I would recommend are Rachel Cargle, Bob Marley, Lee Merritt and Aja Monet. Listening to their stories is a great way to learn and stay educated on the harsh realities of what it is like to be a POC in a white dominated america. There is even an Instagram account that highlights student voices and their experiences at GFA while being a black student.
An Additional Statement from Jah Henry, ‘21
Representation matters. Having limited teachers, staff and students who look the way you do takes a huge toll. Take time to understand and empathize with those who feel misrepresented. Engage in uncomfortable conversations because without those talks real change will never happen.
A Statement from Shanelle Henry, GFA’s Director of Equity and Inclusion
The year 2020 has brought on new realities for many of us in ways that we were never prepared to handle. COVID-19 upended our lives mid-spring, and the Black Lives Matter movement gained momentum and sparked protests following the deaths of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, George Floyd and other Black people in cities across the country. The Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement was founded in 2013 in response to the acquittal of the man who shot and killed 17-year-old Trayvon Martin. Since then, BLM has spread worldwide spearheaded by students who have founded branches of the movement fighting for racial justice and equality.
In addition to joining a protest, there are many ways to get engaged, from educating yourself to volunteering, spreading awareness and donating money. You can donate to the Black Lives Matter organization (at https://blacklivesmatter.com/), or to local mutual aid funds (mutual aid funds work to address homelessness and systemic inequalities by offering community assistance like providing food, materials and financial help to people in need). If you can’t or don’t wish to protest or donate financially, you can also help by donating your time and energy. You could sew masks to protect protesters, or provide childcare, rides or meals for those attending rallies. The Black Lives Matter organization has local chapters across the country where you can inquire about volunteer opportunities. You can also search for Black-led organizations in your area and either email or call to ask if they are in need of volunteers.
But first and foremost, one of the most important things you can do right now is to learn something about the situation. Start by educating yourself and listening. Take some time to listen to and absorb the stories and messages coming from the Black community. Knowing how to listen—especially when what you’re learning or hearing is hard or difficult to hear—is the first step toward understanding. To be a helpful ally to people of color, you must be prepared to be uncomfortable and sit with that discomfort for a while; don’t get defensive or invalidate their experiences. These are just some of the things we can do to support Black Lives Matter and fight for racial justice and equality—will you do it?