In a Columbus Dispatch article over the summer, Alissa Neese writes about systemic racism found in Ohio school districts. In light of recent events this summer, young students took to social media to share their personal experiences of racism in high schools. This article included the new Instagram page @deardublinohio, where students can anonymously share their stories about racism. The experiences shared goes beyond just black students, and towards both black and other ethnicities present in the Dublin area. This relates to the intersectionality of identity, a concept we have learned about in class. Many different identities are welcome to contribute to the Instagram page because there are so many different identities that are being negatively treated in a high school setting. This Instagram page tries to spread awareness of these issues within many different and intersecting identities.
Here is a picture of their Instagram page:
Multiple stories within many different identities have been shared, for example, a black student retelling the time she overheard her white classmates saying how their school was becoming more “ghetto” because more black students were enrolling. Another story on the page was a Muslim student sharing her experience as a third-grader when she was called a “terrorist” in class. The list goes on about injustices that occur daily in these schools.
Emerging Instagram pages in order to create an outlet for students to share their experiences are popping up in more places than just the Columbus area. My own hometown in New Jersey started a new Instagram (@mtoliveincolor) for the very same purpose. Social media can be an influential platform to make a long-overdue statement about racism in school. These Instagram pages also create a safe place for people to express their thoughts anonymously and still have their voices heard. These instances in America’s school system are a consistent similarity between modern-day high schools.
Here is a picture of my hometown’s Instagram page:
Although the Instagram pages themselves are not a systemic injustice, the content and stories that are shared are clearly systemic injustices in the American education system as well as a problem that absolutely needs fixing. Schools are the place that shapes young minds of the future, and if we as a society want to combat racism and discrimination of multiple other identities, we must also look at how we educate young students to fight towards justice. The American school system should be a welcoming and inclusive place where young students feel comfortable to be themselves and share their identities with others, instead of being attacked for their identity.
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Hello Emily,
I have actually found a couple of these instagram pages before, and I appreciate the opportunity to follow up and learn more about the them. I think this is a great idea of putting these instances and situations into the open air and to be seen. I hope that these schools are taking the actions necessary to deal with the issues within them, as well as doing more to accommodate all students. I also like that these instagram pages are open to all identities and are willing to listen.
Emily,
This trend of minorities with instagram pages displaying the racist things that have happened to them was also a trend in my hometoen of Cincinnati. There, we have predominatly white catholic schools, so reading others experiences while living in this society was somewhat shocking. I am glad they are bringing attention to the fact these things occur, and I am glad they are using creative outlets like instagram. However, these pages can be dangerous to a school or university’s reputation, as the sources are not always repuatable, especially since they are usually only run by one individual.