Albert Chen ’23
Following the recent expulsion at Episcopal due to the use of a racial epithet on social media, multiple initiatives have been put into place while existing ones have increased in intensity in order to better combat racism and promote diversity. Spearheading many of these efforts is Ayinde Tate, Director of Diversity and Inclusion. Tate explains that the incident has “opened the door to a lot of conversations with students as well as the Upper School administration, which, as awkward as it is, in the grand scheme of things, is pretty positive that we are able to have these discussions. We haven’t let it just die once one student has left campus.”
Tate along with Upper School teachers Melanie Subacus and Kalil Oldham have encouraged this conversation by introducing the SEED program to EA this year. Oldham explains that it is “a series of seminars for the adults in the community. Staff and faculty will meet once a month and spend three hours discussing questions related to equity and inclusion. This is around race, but also around questions of gender, sexuality, religion, and socio-economic class. It is a branch of a national project that happens at school.” Oldham says that the main goal of the project “is for all of us to figure out ways that we can foster an environment where all of our students are able to be valued, seen, acknowledged, and protected.” Twenty-two teachers have already signed up for the first meeting in October.
Robert Albani ‘22 also supports the program “because, ultimately, what teachers teach can shape the character of their students. If they aren’t educated about this topic, then there would be a higher chance of the next generation being more ignorant about race.”
Oldham was also one of the first teachers at EA to ask students to introduce themselves with their preferred pronouns. Alex Zhou ‘21, who was in one of his classes said, “It was definitely the first time a teacher has asked us to do that. It was a small step but I think that it matters.”
Tate has worked in other ways to respond to the recent expulsion as well. He spoke in a freshman seminar recently. “Having the opportunity to speak to everyone in the freshman class has been amazing. That’s really a positive,” he says. He has also spoken in a sixth grade Mind, Body, and Spirit class and in all three sections of AP US Government classes. Tate elaborates about his classroom talks: “Having the opportunity to talk to whole classes about the subject and make sure that we’re all on the same page is extra beneficial. I would love the opportunity to talk in any class that opens the door for me to do so.”
Students responded to Tate’s work and discussion. Celia Gallagher ‘21 says that she liked the discussion with Tate. “I also liked hearing Mr. Tate talk about how EA responded,” she adds. “He told us about the things we didn’t realize happened-for example, he called some parents very quickly-because then I got to see how seriously EA really handled the situation.” Cayla Beaulieu ‘20, explains that “I’m not as confused as to why Episcopal made the decisions they made. I feel like we had to take action and had to show that we had to terminate this behavior. I didn’t understand the deep hurt behind all that was being said.”
She explains that the talk helped her understanding of the situation. “I think what Mr. Tate did needs to happen at a younger age. I don’t think people realize how bad this word is until the have conversation like the one Mr. Tate had with us.”
Tate believes that EA’s problems apply throughout the nation. “I don’t think we are more racist than other schools. I think it’s just a societal problem that is often not talked about. I think ours is having to get blown up a little bit, but I don’t think it’s just us.” Oldham notes, “We have subconscious biases that are very difficult to control. One way of thinking about it is that for our entire lives we have been breathing in certain ideas. Those ideas contain negative stereotypes, they contain beliefs about inferiority and superiority… they come from the media they come from peers and family members, they come from all over the place.” Student Eshika Tangri ‘23 agrees. “Episcopal is not a racist community due to the fact that, as a whole, EA does an adequate job of trying to incorporate students from all backgrounds to embrace their culture,” she says. Cerena Robertson, who graduated from Episcopal last year, believes that the issue of racism is one more particular to EA. She commented in a post that “there are still kids at that school that behave like this and say/do worse and do not empathize with students of color.”
Tate says that a short term goal of his initiatives are for people to “learn that there are certain words that are not okay.” His long term goal is for “people to be open and willing and honest about having conversations that are difficult. He also hopes that “when students have questions, they feel comfortable enough to reach out to people that they can trust or people that can hopefully provide them with some unfiltered and candid responses.” Shawn Wang ‘23 commented that “The seminar Mr. Tate gave us was very well-needed in a time like this. It reminded and encouraged us to be EA students who embody and represent the stripes.”
Oldham made it clear that there is no short term solution to the problem of racism and that the battle against it must be waged perpetually. “No battle ever stays won … Even if it sometimes feels that we’re making progress, progress is never permanent. So my hope is that we will continue to put our best foot forward and make the effort that we need to make in order to achieve more equitable spaces and inclusive spaces. But, from where I sit, I think that is a lifelong project and not one that is just going to end after a year or two of work.”