“Brown Isn’t That Brown”

I went to a predominantly Black school for elementary, surrounded by people who looked like me, but didn’t act like me. I was shy; they were confident, I spoke quietly; and they spoke with voices that drowned mine out. But, eventually, I found some friends. They didn’t live near me, or talk like me, or look like me. And eventually, we ended up all at the same middle and high school, where the only “Brown” can be found sprinkled into the staff, administrators and students. Of course, I was fine with this, as I saw little to no issues with anything, until I actually started listening to conversations during events in the auditorium. 

Beyond The Point of No Return

During the Black History Month celebration, which felt a bit less educational, I sat between 2 people I knew lightly, but I was more worried about the people behind me. I was in front of a group of boys that still have a lot of growing up to do, and I could hear all of their little giggles and laughs at the performances, and see all of their nagging and harassment towards my friends. I couldn’t intervene, due to an unspoken rule when dealing with them: interacting with them in any way is a huge don’t-do. When a slight pause was put into the program, I heard the N-word from a person that doesn’t own it or need to say it. Apparently, the hard-R was said, and someone sitting behind me said, “The hard-R? No way!” and they all said his name in disbelief. No one sitting behind me was Black. At least not from the area I heard it from. This has happened before, needless to say with the same group of boys. So, I reported it with someone else, and I saw him in class the following Monday. According to the JCPS SSBIH, saying a racial slur could be anywhere from a Level 2 (Mild) to Level 4 (Involving the authorities if needed) offense. Well, I’m assuming he got a Level 2, due to a Level 2 offense being corrected while “stressing its seriousness while keeping the student in school” (JCPS SSBIH). To add, when confronted about the BHM celebration incident, Admin  said that the school was “working on it,” and needed hard evidence.

So, how many “little jokes” and racial macroaggressions can someone take? From calling me a “Blackberry’’ if I were a phone, to a kid coming back to school without a slap on the wrist after saying a racial slur, one similarity I’m seeing in these cases in my school, who apparently celebrates “diversity and inclusion,” but they seem to not want to punish their students for issues like this. This happens with staff as well, even with people who have pro-ICE and predatory claims against them, and it seems they’re still strolling around school.

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How long have you been at Brown?

Kevie: Since kindergarten

Nariah: Since freshman year

Cordia: 24 years.  

Ally: 2nd year teaching.

 Have you ever witnessed or reported a racial issue? 

Kevie: Yes. also the BLM celebration. 

Nariah: Yes. There was an incident at the BHM celebration, and a White student was being sexually harassed, and Black students were being racially targeted. 

Cordia: Students have come to me about racial concerns before. 

Ally: Not here, but yes. 

Have you ever been on the receiving end of a racial issue or comment? If so, what happened exactly?

Kevie: Yes. During picture day, my hair was natural, and the photographer told me to flatten my hair. I believe it was racially motivated. 

Nariah: Yes. I pointed out the wrongdoings of our government, and someone I used to know decided to be ignorant. 

Cordia: Not here at school. 

Ally: Not at Brown, but in general, yes. 

Would you say that Brown is inclusive and diverse? 

Nariah: They try. 

Kevie: They try. 

Cordia: We make great strides. 

Ally: Surface level wise, yes. In-depth wise, no 

What are your thoughts on the Black History Month celebration? 

Kevie: It was pretty empowering, I loved Nariah’s performance. Students were being obnoxious and clapping, and I was being harassed during the performance. The racism was horrible. 

Nariah: It was fun performing-wise, but could have been organized better. I was shocked at the reactions of the students, due to their racism. 

Cordia: It was dynamic. I loved how much the students were involved, and it was an amazing moment of joy. 

Ally: It was nice, I could work more on historical parts instead of performances. Maybe more things leading up to the program

If you could change Brown in any way, whether that be the people or curriculum, what would you change?

Kevie: I wish we learned more about Black History and didn’t sugar coat it.  

Cordia: Making the school more accessible, more open for new applicants. 

Allie: I wish we had more teachers of color. 

Out of the staff and students you see daily, would you say that they look like you? 

Kevie: No. 

Nariah: No. Only Ally. 

Cordia: Some of the staff, but as far as students, there is a lot of diversity. 

Ally: No to staff, partially to students, but I don't think there's another person in the building who looks like me. 

Scenario: if a kid said a racial slur, how would you handle it? 

Kevie: If they said it to me, I could correct them nicely. Then wait for karma to come upon them. 

Nariah: Yell at them. Tell Matthew [Kaufmann] , Ally, then Brian. Something doesn’t happen in 24 hours, a boycott is happening. 

Cordia: I would talk to the kid who reported it, then talk to the kid who said it, I would call the family or people who were involved, then I would help mediate the kid. 

Ally: Pull the kid out of class, call security, then talk to the kid who was called the slur, then follow-up with the district and school after reporting it. 

Piggybacking off my last question, if the kid was left off the hook by the school, what would you do? (This actually happened.) 

Nariah: Go to JCPS. 

Kevie: Sue the state. 

Cordia: (Answered as the school) I would bring it back up, and discuss it with the school. 

Ally: Feel a type of way, also I would question admin  about it and why anything wasn’t done. 

How do you think the school treats racial issues? Good or bad? 

Nariah: Horribly. They preach equality, but their punishments don’t reflect that. 

Kevie: Very bad. They say “report bullying” then when something is reported, all that happens is talking. It doesn’t tell them that they did something wrong. 

Cordia: As a middle school counselor, as soon as something happens, we are on it. We notify people, and make sure people’s voices are heard. We make sure the situation is handled, and I check up on people afterwards as well. 

Ally: I can't tell if they do anything about it, and I don’t really know about the discipline they give out. 

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At the time of writing, it has now been three months, and I, along with many others, feel nothing has been done. This isn’t the only time that anything like this has happened, and it’s certainly not the only time that admin let people off the hook for saying a historically horrible word in the most casual way. This issue has been festering way too long. Something needs to be done. "The minute we look away, the minute we stop fighting back, that's the minute bigotry wins" (Dr. DaShanne Stokes).

Brown, be better.