Tara Tinnin
It is sometimes difficult to make really well meaning, kind, loving white folks understand why anti-racism is important in a mostly white community.
Our Community Stories
Dr. John Simpson
We have anti-racism, anti-bias like a board resolution. We have policies that prohibit racism and discrimination, but we don’t have anything that addresses it more broadly and also more specifically. We’ve been working with staff, students, board members and administrators this summer to create a policy that will express commitment.
Sharonica Speaks
Excerpt from commencement speech at University of Missouri -St. Louis College of Education and SUCCEED Program, May 2018
Brandon Ford
In recent months, it hurt for me to witness the disproportionately negative effect that COVID-19 has had on Black communities, as well as the anti-Black and unjust murders of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and George Floyd. I was determined to figure out how I could impact change while limited to home during the pandemic crisis. I figured, why not start with helping my former classmates petition Clayton schools, a place I hold near and dear to my heart?
Brooke Jones
There are things Clayton could work on as far as making minority students feel more comfortable, included, and respected.
There were barriers in a sense, as far as taking harder courses, Honors and AP. When I brought this up to a teacher, my freshman year, she told me that she thought that I would maybe be able to achieve C’s in Honors and AP courses, when, looking back at my grades, I had got all A’s, freshman year. So, why would you assume I would get a C if I just achieved all these A’s in every course?
Auriann Sehi
Now is a time for radical change and to set an example for the rest of the school districts in St. Louis and across the state of Missouri. If you choose to ignore our pleas at this time, just know that we will not give up this fight, we will not back down until all of these changes are made.
Maalik Shakoor
I always try to take the initiative and fight injustice where I see it. I’m constantly out here protesting. And until I see significant change in the Black community especially Black treatment in America and not just for black people but for gay people, trans people, for women, Native Americans, indigenous people I’m going to keep fighting. I feel like the point of life is to leave the world better than you inherited it. That’s what I am about.
‘I’m planning an escape’
Kim Daniel harbors a modest dream. It was first born of youthful imagination, then deferred because of her fragile health and uncertain financial situation. She has now reimagined her dream, out of fear and desperation.
Liam Simckes
I’m not here to belittle anyone’s efforts and yelp nonsense about Clayton’s ignorance. But if your community’s beliefs oppress or take other people’s lives, it is your duty to combat that. Go out and change people’s minds, and yes, that means your school, your close friends, and even your extended families. Question everyone’s morals and every system around you. Start small with your community and branch out as far as you can. That is how you can make this protest means something.
Jalita Johnson
A colleague once told Johnson that she was particularly animated in addressing her students and said that as an African-American teacher “that could be overwhelming” for some.
“As I started getting these critiques and observations, I was getting the message that I should behave as a middle-aged white woman.”