MBMS celebrates Diversity

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Originally published January 23, 2024

   Martin Luther King Jr. was an important figure in the civil rights movement and helped MBMS become as diverse as it is. MLK day is a day to celebrate how far we have come with diversity, equality and equity.

   “I know that Martin Luther King, Jr. was born in 1929,” social studies teacher Mrs. Koenig said “And that he was not only a pastor but a civil rights activist as well.”

   Even though Martin Luther King had a big impact on the diversity in America and the school, there are still people affected by racism and exclusion because of their race. There are ways to help people suffering because of this and get to know them better.

   “We take those things very seriously,” Assistant Principal Mrs. Drew said “I feel sometimes it’s a lack of understanding or a lack of education of people. People say things that they don't realize are harmful and hurtful."

   However, at MBMS, the diversity in different students compared to the state is diverse. According to the OS-PI report card, 0.5% of students identified as American or Alaskan Natives,  13.5% as Asian, 8.9% as Black or African American, 36.4% Hispanic or Latino, 4.7 as Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, 9.9% as two or more races, and 26.2% as White. 

  On the same OSPI report card, 1.2% of students state wide identified as American or Alaskan Natives,  8.9% as Asian, 4.8% as Black or African American, 26.1% Hispanic or Latino, 1.4 as Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, 9.1% as two or more races, and 48.5% as White. 

   The statistics show that MBMS is very diverse compared to the state. Diversity can be important to a school because you can learn and experience extremely differing things from different cultures. Diversity allows people to connect with different people.

   “I think [diversity] is important so that everyone can have someone to represent them,” Omalichachukwu Oguawka said “Like you get input from every type of person.”

   “You're going to bring different things to the table and everybody's going to bring something different,” Drew said, "Yet if we don't showcase that and bring that to light and be aware of those things that everyone brings to the table, there kind of like saying your experience doesn't matter."