Writen By Katie Jung
The Black Lives Matter movement was established before 2020, yet public interest in it renewed after their deaths. BLM gained public momentum in reaction to the tragic murders of George Floyd, Breonna, and sadly much more. People of different backgrounds, age, sexuality, and gender, have contributed to this movement through various ways, including students at AK.
Ardrey Kell students support this movement as well. While Covid-19 has stalled much, it has not stopped students from supporting BLM or given them an excuse to stand by.
I interviewed Alexis Lee, a senior at AK, who founded the Black Student Union(BSU), along with Vice President Sesen Ghirmai.
Q: What motivated you to start this club?
A: “What motivated us to begin this club was the need for a safe space for black students at AK...to build a community and no longer be the minority. In a majority white school like Ardrey Kell, we wanted to create a safe and healthy place for black students to learn, motivate and support one another, talk freely, and just be their unrestricted selves. Being black is hard. That is no secret. We have carried the weight of extreme losses this summer, and in the past 4 years, have shaped a movement that has taken the world by storm, and has carried so much generational trauma. Creating this space where black individuals can relate to one another, cope, support each other through major losses, and just love each other was beyond important to both Sesen and I. Ultimately, this space serves to protect black students and offer a support system to carry them through their 4 years at AK, and create relationships that will hopefully follow them further into life.”
Q: How will students at AK support the BLM movement through various, approachable ways?
A: “Education. Education is where we all need to start. The willingness to learn about this movement, how it has impacted black lives around the world, and what you can do to help is where it all begins. Students at AK can support local protests and activists in the Charlotte and Ballantyne area by attending strikes or protests and standing in solidarity. Students at AK can attempt to really learn something through these homeroom SEL lessons that are being provided to us this year instead of tuning them out. Students can participate in the conversation, ask reasonable questions, and just listen. Listening is so important. Do not try to relate, defend, or over empathize, just understand and listen to our stories so you can really learn from them. Students at AK can and should, recognize their privilege and use it for a purpose. Use your voice to amplify black voices throughout this ongoing fight and movement. Lastly, don’t forget that this fight is still not over. Performative activism is the last thing that we need. Put action behind your social media posts and continue fighting for what is just and humane.”
Q: How will students make an impact on the world/ the BLM movement?
A: “As students, we have the power to reconstruct everything that we have been presented with. We will reshape government systems, reinvigorate the economy, change government protocol, push for social and economic justice, and get our world to where we wish it could be right now. Young Americans hold the most power right now and everyone recognizes it, it is due time that we use it. Students will make an impact on the world by continuing to go out and protest, volunteer, speak out against injustices, and educate others. Our footprint has already been ingrained into the Earth with the events of this past summer, and we still have time to make that footprint even larger than it already is. Lifting our voices up, amplifying other voices, and catalyzing for change is how we can leave our mark on this country, on this world, and within the BLM movement.”
Q: What is the overall purpose of the BSU, and what are you hoping to achieve through this club?
A: “The purpose of the Black Student Union is to empower, inform, support, and create a strong community of black students at AK. We will network with black professionals and college students, have a constant conversation in every meeting on several topics ranging from social justice to teenage relationships, provide volunteer and advocacy opportunities in our area, and wholeheartedly support each other in every way imaginable. I hope to create a long-lasting space where black students of any ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, etc., can come together and feel comfortable in knowing that they are no longer the minority in the room. A space where black students can feel comfortable learning new, interesting information and points of view while conversing openly with others about their opinions and viewpoints. A space where our little community can come together for a good time and support one of our members on the tennis court or football field. A space where black students feel protected and not judged by others for their every move and mistake. Black students deserved space at AK and we got it. The BSU team and I are excited to take this club to new heights and bring everyone along with us on this journey.”
Furthermore, Kashia Yang, a freshman at AK emphasized the importance of supporting BLM as individual students.
Q: Many students are not able to protest or donate due to current conditions, if this is the same case for you how do you find other impactful ways to contribute?
A: “Although I'm not able to participate in protests or donate very often, I do take time to research the black community and share that information. I think it’s crucial to be aware of their situations to have a better understanding of what they’re advocating for. Additionally, it may not seem like much, but I always repost information on social media. I think using your platform to help inform others helps a lot! I’ve learned a lot from posts and I’ve been able to see many different perspectives since social media is full of diverse people. Adding onto that, more people have become aware of the social issues by the reposts, so it strengthens the support. Lastly, I used to be very scared to really voice out my honest opinions. But now I understand that if you aren’t going to say anything, how do you know that others will?
I've been taking initiative and having conversations with people to help bring more attention to the normalized or unintentional racism that they may take part in. I really do believe that taking a stand and doing small things such as a repost do contribute to some of the impact.”
Q: Do you believe students can make a difference in this movement?
A: “Students 100% make a difference. Oftentimes, teenagers are scared to be bold because most kids who stand out get targeted. I was also fearful of that, so I just kept to myself and watched things play out. But the impact of one person is huge. Although I may not be the main source, I can't help but feel like my voice inspired others to also stand up. By normalizing using your voice, it makes others want to too! Once that chain starts going, it doesn’t stop. Although I do think the “power of gen z” is a little overrated, I do believe that we can make a big change by supporting and uplifting one another. We are the future of this world, so we have to make an effort and come together to change the world for the better.”
Despite the pandemic, Ardrey Kell students are continuing to show their support to BLM, and through initiatives like BSU, they help bring awareness to the critical conversations that are needed to incite change in our school and greater community.
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