Students, Teachers Combat Racist Culture

BROOKLYN — Students and education workers in a high school here cheered on as anti-racist poems, dances, video interviews and speeches were performed at the school’s first ever anti-racist assembly! This event was organized by teachers and friends of Progressive Labor Party.
The idea  was to counter an upsurge of racist expression, by students, in particular anti-Haitian, comments. It emerged when one courageous student came forward and spoke about what so many students endure daily. It is no surprise that some students repeat the racist remarks they hear in society. This capitalist system we live under was built on racism. Beyond the billions of super-profits that the bosses make from paying Black, Latin and immigrant workers less, the main way racism hurts our class is by convincing us that we are more different than similar, based on how we look or where we were born.
Students Take the Lead
When workers don’t unite, the bosses win. We can’t fight for a better society if we are divided. So whenever racism rears its ugly head — whether it’s the police beating and killing us on the streets, or budget cuts in schools, or racist comments made in class — we need to speak up, organize and fight back! This was the message of the assembly.
After teachers in PLP made the call for the anti-racist assembly and more than 60 students and staff took it up. A group of young women, anti-racist para-professionals took the lead in involving students. They organized a dance that incorporated music from Haiti, Jamaica and Latin America. It was performed by a group of multi-racial students. They also created a five-minute video clip, interviewing students about what they felt when they heard racist comments made in school and what they thought was the best response. They created posters advertising the assembly and also emceed the event. Without their leadership, this assembly would not have happened.
Speak Up and Fight Back
During the assembly, students marched down the aisles of the auditorium with their mouths taped over, then ripped the tape off to begin their performances, as a metaphor for speaking up against racism. This led into anti-racist poems, raps and speeches, written and performed by students. A group of drummers from Haiti performed with students, along with a pair of alumni who did a beautiful anti-slavery dance.
 Many students and teachers involved are CHALLENGE readers. Some also attended this year’s May Day march. They stepped forward and took leadership after the communists’ call to fight racism.
It is now our job to continue to win workers and students at this school to understand that the only real solution to ending racism is the fight for communism. Under communism, racism would be banned. Unlike capitalism which thrives on racism and disunity, communism require workers around the world to unite and collectively organize all aspects of society.
This inspiring event shows the potential for masses to be won to multiracial unity. But this is just the beginning. An international club is now being formed at the school. We will use it to continue to lead with anti-racist ideas and actions. The struggle continues!