It Will Take More Than a Name Change to Rid Your School of White Supremacy
There is a myriad of disparities and gaps that exist in our society, placing people of color at a disadvantage. We are seeing this play out in real-time with the COVID-19 pandemic, as the coronavirus has disproportionately affected Indigenous, Black and brown communities.
The response of the U.S. government has been one of ineptitude, infighting, and ultimately, tragic results for people of color. We are now seeing academic disparities rear their head, as Black and brown families wait for the public school system to open safely, while affluent, white families pay for school services and private tutors to ensure their children are prepared for their reality after this experience. These circumstances serve to widen existing gaps.
The foundations for these gaps were created when our systems began with individual actors working together to forcibly and strategically placed whiteness as the norm and first priority. Today, disparities are perpetuated by intentional action, but also by those who fiercely uphold the status quo or who have internalized whiteness as the standard to meet and serve. This is white supremacy.
