By Grace Lee ‘23
Affinity Group Leaders: Perceivements of Race In Their Community: Part 1
For this interview I asked Affinity Group leaders the following question: “How do you believe your race is perceived in our society, and what effect does that have on racism?” To the religious/non-ethnic affinity groups, the question was “How do you believe race is perceived in your community, and what effect does that have on racism?” These sets of questions were left purposefully open-ended, so each affinity group head can give their own interpretations of the question!
Please keep in mind as you read that these are the personal and individual thoughts and experiences of the affinity group heads only, and while their ideas may represent their own beliefs and of the group they represent at our school, every individual has extremely different familiarities and foci, based on their own experiences in life, when it comes to how they view racism within their own communities.
Hearing some feedback that this collection of single stories will not represent all and given that a few therefore declined to answer, I completely agree with and respect all opinions on this topic, and learned that there is no way that the experiences of the heads can represent all of St. Mark’s or society at large. Taking note from the criticism I received, the title, labeled with “Part 1” is a way to show that there are many, many more stories in our small school that are out there to be heard. This experience, to me as the writer, was eye-opening to issues and opinions I had never learned about before, which makes me even more excited to talk, interview, and write to more people for The St. Marker.
Each story told in this article shed a bright light on many bigger issues within diverse communities. Through talking to heads of the numerous affinity group leaders at St. Mark’s, it felt as though I was living through multiple lives, all of which were bound to different racial and religious identities. No single story is the same, but it is everyone’s single stories told in unity that create diversity - which is why every story must be heard.
I hope that soon, we can learn as many people’s stories and experiences with race as possible. These couple of thoughts make up just one piece of the giant puzzle that is our wonderful, colorful school community.
Without further ado, let’s hear what the affinity group heads have to say!
Tom Haugen - SWIRL
“I would say society often views multiracial people as enigmas, however, not necessarily in a positive way”
People will ask “Where are you from?” or look puzzled and ask “What are you?” There is an ever present feeling of uncertainty around multiracial people’s identities, including from ourselves. I wouldn’t say there’s overwhelming racism directed towards multiracial people, but there is discrimination, which I’ll elaborate on in the second answer.
People stereotype multiracials as only of one race. They will look and decide which composite is the more “dominant race” and associate you with it. Looking at a multiracial person and only considering one of their races means that people cannot see who they really are.
Laryssa Barbosa and Keidy Molina - Los Leones
“Due to the wide spectrum of skin tones, a white Latinx person will likely not face racism, but a darker-skinned Latinx person will”
In the U.S, Hispanic/ Latinx people are viewed as a minority. Because the Latinx community is not a race, but a group of ethnicities, there are a variety of races that make up the Latinx community. Latinx people find themselves stuck in the middle of white and black, so at times it is hard to find a category that fits who we are. Due to the wide spectrum of skin tones, a white Latinx person will likely not face racism, but a darker-skinned Latinx person will.
Darius Wagner - BLU
“This is a question with an almost impossible answer.”
The centuries of abandonment and abuse withdrew incrementally in time due to hard-fought progress has left its lasting effect on our perception in society. Too dumb. Too dangerous. Too violent. Too inferior. All these ideas formed upon us one way or another within this land since 1619 and as I roam the halls of St. Mark’s it has shown that the advancement is astounding, but the battles left to wage disappointment. Being the only one of color in a room was once rare for me but now it’s common. Each room I walk in and each word I say is so carefully crafted so I won’t fall into those categories listed before. But every burden pays its price. Each day I will work to chip away from these self-induced stereotypes to create a better experience for those that will come after. So in short I cannot fulfill the answer to this prompt but every lived experience has its story and mine is bonded to the suffrage of those before and now. It has been institutionalized that we are naturally worse and now we have to work 10x harder than our counters in order to be equal. That will change and it is within our capacity to do so.
Brandon Tang, Lina Zhang, Kevin Takayama - ASA
“...it is our duty as Asians to highlight this issue, break free from the stereotype of the model minority, and unite with other POC communities”
Amidst increasing attacks on Asian Americans, I have seen numerous statements saying that Asians don't experience racism because Asians are economically more advantaged than other POCs. Similar comments also argued that attacks on Asian seniors are heavily dramatized. These comments point to a theory of white-adjacency stemming from the model minority myth, an argument developed to further racial divides and prevent solidarity between POC by white people during the Civil Rights movement. This false belief is prevalent in American society and needs to be addressed and examined. On C&E day, the three ASA leaders hosted a workshop about the extensive history of Asian racism in the U.S. to raise awareness about the fact that Asians suffer from as much racism as other POCs, simply in a different way. When we neglect racism towards Asians, it not only puts the already-suffering community into deeper pain but passes up an opportunity to further examine and combat white supremacy. (Brandon Tang)
Adding onto the model minority myth, I want to introduce something called pet versus threat. If we play by the system we are the white-adjacent model minority, or the ‘pet,’ but we can become a ‘threat’ at any moment, whether because Asian Americans protest or because something happens overseas. I’m thinking Japanese American internment, raids on Chinatowns during the Cold War, and anti-Muslim hate crimes in current-day America. Our position in society is always conditional on whether we can benefit capitalistic white supremacy, and perhaps it is difficult to understand racism against Asian Americans because so much of it is tied into imperialism, neocolonialism, and military occupation overseas. In this country we are successful businesspeople and dirty communists, doctors and underpaid laborers. At St. Mark’s we are (frequently but not always) your full-tuition students, not because it’s comfortable but because there aren’t many options. I question what St. Mark’s will look like when Asian students are allowed to become more than the people who “foot the bill.” I look forward to that day. (Lina Zhang)
Asians in the United States are in a very awkward spot—it is certain that Asians are not white, yet at the same time the Asian community receives little attention and help from other POC communities as well. The myth of model minority greatly undermines the struggle that Asian people undergo, thus resulting in the indifferent attitude other communities have towards Asians. However, in reality, racism towards Asian people is equally outrageous and unacceptable. Hence, it is our duty as Asians to highlight this issue, break free from the stereotype of the model minority, and unite with other POC communities. Racism towards Asians perpetuated throughout American history, yet it was barely addressed nor given enough attention. Helping more people to be more aware of this phenomenon is the first step to combat racism towards Asians and hopefully, in the future, its severity will be properly recognized by all. (Kevin Takayama)
Leila Frederick - WSAR
“It is important to try to recognize your privilege”
White people have gotten increasingly more involved in the racism pandemic in our country. It is important to try to recognize your privilege. White people have a hard time recognizing their own privilege because everyone wants to be heard. When people bring up WP, it is easy to feel like people are saying that your life isn't difficult. The paradigm shift from "My life is hard" to "My life isn't harder BECAUSE of my skin color" is what will further progress the state of anti-racism, especially for white people.
Laryssa Barbosa and Riley Schumacher- CFG
“...Christianity is about love and not exclusion, but also listening to each other’s experiences and learning how we can combat this as a community”
Based on the message that Jesus preached, he spoke about loving all people and uplifting the oppressed. He also relays the message that we are all created equal under God's mage. For that reason, when Christians are faced with issues of racism we promote equity to fight against it and enforce the idea that we are all created equal. Races vary greatly within the Christian community and there is no discrimination as to who would identify as a Christian. Many perceive Christians to be racist and conservative due to the recent events at the Capitol. But the real message from the bible and from Jesus's preachings is that we should love everyone no matter their race or any other factors. It is not our job to judge people, that is God's job. We are working to actively combat this by enforcing the idea that Christianity is about love and not exclusion, but also listening to each other's experiences and learning how we can combat this as a community.
Charlie Dawson - Brilliant
“...One of the biggest challenges about learning differences is opportunity”
I feel like one of the biggest challenges about learning differences is opportunity, even today students with the same learning differences can be treated differently depending on the color of their skin - something that has absolutely no factor in how smart they are.
Tate Frederick - Southborough Society
“Racism within the female community, simply put, is exclusionary.”
Obviously, as a white woman, I can't speak to the experience of a woman of color. I can say, however, that as a white woman, I have never been denied the opportunity to be a part of the feminist movement. I have not been excluded or had my identity as a woman questioned. I understand that that is a privilege that not all can say they have. Racism within the female community, simply put, is exclusionary. It divides a whole into parts unnecessarily, and it denies specific groups the right to acknowledge and celebrate their gender identity.
Louise He - Southborough Society
“Feminism is supposed to be a movement for equality, and how mainstream feminism overlooked more marginalized women has been one of the criticisms against feminism”
Intersectional feminism is a branch of feminism that considers how different systems of oppression interact, and racial discrimination combined with sexism is an example. Since the beginning of feminism, the main movement (in the west) has been more focused on advocating for the rights of CIS white women, usually of higher socioeconomic statuses. This means that for POC women and trans women the movement has been less inclusive. Feminism is supposed to be a movement for equality, and how mainstream feminism overlooked more marginalized women has been one of the criticisms against feminism. I feel like the lack of inclusivity means that POC women have more work to do since we have more race-oriented stereotypes specific to women to fight (e.g. the sexualization of POC women, career expectations...).
Just from media representation, I've noticed that the sexualization of Latinx women is notable. Another stereotype is that black women are more emotional and loud while Asian women are submissive and good housewives. Just some things for you to check out, please look into them.
So, in conclusion...
“We may have different religions, different languages, different colored skin, but we all belong to one human race.” -Kofi Annan
Thanks for Reading!
