Sisters' Instagram Account Calling Attention To Racism In Poway Unified Prompts Changes

Speaker 1: 00:00 The question of whether systemic racism exists has been central to the presidential campaign Democrats, Joe Biden, and Kamala Harris, call it a major problem. Republicans, Donald Trump and Mike Pence take umbrage at the idea and the mid, the black lives matter protest. Last spring and summer teenage sisters are raising the issue among students and faculty at Poway unified school district. And they made a big impact joining me to explain as Kristen to CATA education reporter for the San Diego union Tribune. Welcome back to the program, Kristen, Speaker 2: 00:32 Thank you for having me. We'll introduce Speaker 1: 00:34 These sisters. Who are they and what did they set about doing within the Poway school system? Speaker 2: 00:39 Yeah, these are two sisters that are named Naynay and [inaudible] they, uh, one of them is Naynay. She graduated from Poway and her younger sister [inaudible] currently goes to Westview high, but basically what they did is over the summer, they created this, um, Instagram account where they invited students of color to share what their experiences were like in school and our, like for them in school. And the account really blew up with hundreds of stories about racism that students, former students and even, um, some staff had, uh, experienced in Poway schools. And a lot of it was, uh, racism from other students, but there were also several stories about racism from staff and adults. And so that was a big development that happened this summer for Poway, and it really brought attention to the problem of racism and that was happening in schools. Speaker 1: 01:40 And your story noted, they received 1200 examples of a racist incidents at the school, which was rather astounding. And I want you to give us a few examples of what students at power unified shared anonymously via black at PUSD. But first let's hear from [inaudible], Okolo talking about an anonymous post that really struck her. Speaker 2: 02:01 The story talked about how a teacher had black students play slaves and the white students be like the slave masters and had black students pretend to pick cotton and things like that. And that was a story that definitely shocked the both of us. Um, and in that moment in reading that story, we realized that if we had more teachers of color on campus things, those, those things wouldn't happen because those teachers would be able to say, that's not right. Speaker 1: 02:30 And what were some of the other examples that you included in your story, Kristen, Speaker 2: 02:34 For a whole range of examples, ranging from racial straight out racial slurs, such as the N word. And also there were lots of, uh, microaggressions or basically assumptions based on racial or other stereotypes. So, and there were also things like bullying or teasing because of a way a student's names sounded or what they were eating or what their hair looks like. And then there some more extreme stories where the students said that staff had even sorted students into groups based on their skin color or their race. It was a very large range of, of experiences. Right. Speaker 1: 03:17 Right. And as you know, it would involve the staff members and teachers as well. Now for listeners who may not be familiar with Poway, how would you characterize the district? Speaker 2: 03:26 Naturally the students who go to Poway are relatively diverse. Although black students make up a very small minority there, I believe there are about 2% of the students, but, um, most students who go to Poway are, uh, students of color. But, um, I, I guess if you look at one racial group, white students are the biggest single group. Speaker 1: 03:49 And what was the reaction to the Poway school district to the black in PUSD survey, starting with the superintendent. Speaker 2: 03:56 When I interviewed the associate superintendent who is in charge of basically in charge of implementing these reforms, she had actually said they were already aware of the problem of racial slurs happening on campus, um, for the past few years. And that's something they attributed to the national political climate. But, um, I think I still think that with the black lives matter protest that happened in June and also the, this Instagram account, and those were just additional factors that really fueled a need to look at these efforts. Again, these racial equity efforts, Speaker 1: 04:36 What changes are taking place in Poway schools as a result? Speaker 2: 04:40 Um, yeah, basically they, uh, they wanted several reforms that they wanted to see in schools to prevent this from happening again, or to stop it from happening. And so among those were having a more inclusive curriculum that just does it focus solely on or mostly on Euro-centric history or, um, or basically white people. And so that was one thing they wanted to see. They also wanted to see better, more training for staff about, uh anti-biased and being inclusive. But now, because of partly because of what was revealed in that Instagram account, um, the Poway school district has, especially since the summer, they've been really, um, focusing on implementing these reforms and changing it so that the school environment is just in general, better first for students of color. Speaker 1: 05:36 And what's been the reaction of the sisters who started it all rolling their power unified school district. Uh, are they happy with everything that's taken place? Speaker 2: 05:45 They've been working with the school district to work on all these reforms and the district has been working with other students, other student leaders as well. Then they've been holding community forums about racial equity too. So you seem to be happy with the fact that progress is being made or that things are moving forward. And for example, one thing they worked with the district on was helping to recruit more teachers and staff of color as well. So the district, so they hired 13 more black teachers and other staff, um, just in the past few months since the Instagram account started and this movement got into motion. Speaker 1: 06:27 Well, it's a good example of a couple of people with an idea can really make a difference. I've been speaking with Kristen Takita education reporter with the San Diego union Tribune. Thanks Kristen. Speaker 2: 06:37 Thank you.