High school students expose racism they face at school on Instagram
As young protesters take to the streets and take part in the Black Lives Matter movement, another movement is appearing on Instagram of high school students exposing the racism they say they face in their elite private and public prep schools.
In a story first reported in the New York Times, students are calling out alleged racist behavior of their peers, teachers or other faculty members and spotlighting those experiences through Instagram posts. Students -- and even alums -- are able to submit their experiences on Google forms created by a page’s admin, which is shared on the page.
“Ultimately the hope of the students that are speaking out is the administration of these schools will do something -- that their peers become more aware of what qualifies as a racist comment,” New York Times reporter Taylor Lorenz told “GMA.” “These kids are speaking out because they want accountability.”
Lauren Gloster, a recent graduate of the Columbia Grammar and Preparatory School in New York City, started the Instagram account, “True Colors of Columbia,” along with her friend, Oamiya Haque.
“This is not something that ever leaves you," Gloster told "Good Morning America. "Those little comments, those jeers, those jokes -- they stay with you forever."
While many of the anonymous stories they have received and featured on the page include stories from students experiencing microaggressive behaviors from their peers and overt discrimination from others at their school, the two Columbia Prep alums have made a “safe space for BIPOC to share their experiences.”
“These are the experiences of your peers, former classmates, staff and parents and you are expected to listen and to digest,” they wrote in a post. “These voices have felt ignored and this is an environment for them to share without judgment or censorship.”
At “Black At Tabor” another Instagram account created by Tabor Academy alumni Yasmin Madmoune, she said that her prestigious boarding school education at the high school in Marion, Mass., came at an unexpected cost.
“I feel like way too often, especially the black kids at Tabor, you share your experience and people say it isn’t real or it isn’t valid,” Madmoune told “GMA.” “So I think creating a platform where the purpose is to amplify black voices was important not just in general but especially during this time.”
In the past week, Madmoune has worked with alumni to compile a list of demands, which has been signed by over 280 past and present students.
Some of the demands they've highlighted include releasing a plan of action "to hire, for future leadership positions with a commitment to real diversity and inclusion" and "release data regarding the current and historical racial composition of its student body, faculty and staff."
A spokesperson for Tabor Academy told ABC News the school has already implemented a "number of immediate actions" and is working to "engage" its students and alumni in a dialogue on anti-racism.
"We acknowledge our part in the hurt our Black students, alumni and colleagues have experienced during their time at Tabor through systemic racism and microaggressions," the spokesperson said in a statement. "We hear the many concerns and have read the accounts of anger and hurt that have been shared on @blackattabor Instagram as well as on Tabor Academy’s Instagram and Facebook pages."
"We are committed to taking responsibility and answering the call for change and action. We pledge to actively create a safe and equitable, anti-racist learning community at Tabor," the spokesperson said. "Our school has responded with two letters to our entire Tabor community from the Board and the Diversity Leadership Council and School Leadership dated June 11, 2020, as well as posted our response on all our social media accounts."
Columbia Grammar & Preparatory School told ABC News in a statement that they too are taking immediate action, including reaching out to alumni and working with a consultant to "advise the school for long-term systemic change."
"We at Columbia Grammar & Preparatory School are reading the posts on the Instagram account @truecolorsofcolumbia," the school said in a statement. "We are grateful for the courageous actions taken by our students and alumni for sharing their experiences and concerns. These are sobering and shocking reports to hear, and we are listening."
"Systemic racism exists at CGPS, and we apologize that we did not provide an inclusive and equitable environment for our BIPOC students and alumni. It is unacceptable," the statement read. "The most crucial response we at CGPS can make is to act. At CGPS, it is clear that we have important and long overdue work ahead. We are ready and committed."
For students, this movement is providing a platform to shine a light on their stories and create change.
“I have hope for the generation that comes after us that they won’t have to experience the same things we did,” said Haque. “They will sit in a classroom and regardless of anything they will know that they belong and they are worth being in that.”
