REPORT

On Friday, October 2, 2020, Avenues Online hosted its first all-school assembly led by educator Monique Vogelsang. With a Bachelor's in Black Studies and a Master's in Teaching, Vogelsang has spent much of her career engaging schools and communities in conversations about racism. The session began with two prompts: (1) What is race? and (2) What is racism? 

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It appeared that many were learning for the first time that the word “race,” often used to differentiate between phenotypes, is a social construct. However, there is a widespread belief that “race” actually exists. Ms. Vogelsang pointed to several events in our nation's history that aided the ability to institutionalize the word into our current-day vocabulary. These events included the removal of Native Americans from their land, the internment of Japanese Americans, and American slavery. It is imperative to realize that all these events make use of the word “American.” Perhaps this points to the issue that we are getting lost in the finite details of inferiority and superiority based on appearance and, thus, judging our fellow citizens with prejudice. It must be recognized that, as Americans, we are all different, and that is what will allow us to stand united and strong. But as Ms. Volgelsang was quick to note, defining a problem will not change it; we must, instead, activate our right to protest, our right to make our voices heard, and to speak up for those who don't have a voice. As a nation, we are currently experiencing the largest movement for racial justice that has ever occurred. Let us channel that energy and use it to bring ourselves together. 

 

In its entirety, the assembly stood as a powerful way to prompt students to think in depth about one of the strongest forms of injustice humanity has faced. Although we, as students of Avenues Online, are many miles apart, during events like these, we are brought closer together. We are joined by the desire to make the world a better place, to leave humanity's wrongdoings in the past, and to craft the solutions that will make a positive difference. However, in the beginning, when we are learning to take these first steps, much value is placed on the conversation starters. So, as a school proud to represent young innovators, we hope this assembly will spark our work to better ourselves and our community. We must make our voices one, and we must continue to use that one voice; for silence is a weakness. As Martin Luther King, Jr., reminds us, “Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about the things that matter.”