The recent executive orders passed by President Donald Trump have been shocking to many. His plans range from increasing tariffs to renaming the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America. Notable among the influx of orders was his elimination of the federal government’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs. Along with that, several memos have been issued that stop the remembrance of Black History Month, Pride Month, Holocaust Remembrance Day, as well as many other recognitions of historically oppressed groups. While these orders only affect the federal government, the message they send reminds us that it is important to curate an inclusive culture at our school.
A timely problem affecting our treatment of minorities is the rise of short-form content. Short-form content– such as TikTok, Instagram Reels, or YouTube Shorts– condenses complex, nuanced topics into 60 second long clips. Many creators (think Andrew Tate before he was banned from social media, Nick Fuentes and Sneako) are willing to say anything that would get them the most attention, and therefore the most revenue. Often, these are shocking and outrageous claims. Combined with the ability to say anything behind a screen with no consequences, hateful communities on the internet are able to proliferate.
While our school is relatively relaxed compared to others in the area, our Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Coordinator Ms. Patrick mentions how instances of hate still happen here. She recalls verbal abuse towards minorities via slurs or substitution words, or simply hateful comments and jokes. Sometimes, the conflicts even become violent, and unfortunately, these incidents seem to be on the rise.
One of the roots of our school’s problems is simple: homogeneity. As a majority white and straight school, it can be hard to simply empathize with other minority groups simply due to a lack of exposure. Daryl Davis, a man who spoke at our school and spent decades deprogramming members of the Ku Klux Klan, often said “how can you hate me if you don’t know me?” The phrase “DEI” has recently been co-opted by far right sources to mean a process that promotes seemingly unqualified minorities to positions of power, but in reality, it is as simple as getting to know somebody not like yourself.
Our school has already made strides towards inclusivity, such as last year’s cultural fair run by student clubs, as well as more recent events like serving traditional African food on February 28 for Black History Month. These activities were mainly orchestrated by students. Our school is home to many successful student clubs that serve as safe and empowering spaces for minority students. Our school offers a Black Student Union, a Gender-Sexuality Alliance and an Organization of Women’s Empowerment, among others. It’s important that our fight against hate includes even more organized events by these groups.
For some, the 2024 Presidential Election caused feelings of hopelessness. Paired with the rise of extreme ideologies that spread easily on social media, it feels like everywhere you look, a new minority group is being threatened. Just because it seems bleak, it’s important to not give up. A better and more equal future is possible, and it can be as easy as making a new friend.
