Racism In Brookline: Graffiti, 3rd Video Found After Protests

BROOKLINE, MA — Even as many in the Brookline High School community walked out of school yesterday to protest the recent videos posted on Snapchat where racial slurs were used, racist graffiti was found in a high school bathroom and then a third video came out.

"We can erase these marks from our walls, but each time this happens our community is scarred," wrote Headmaster Anthony Meyer in an email to students Thursday in response to the grafitti.

The two videos have become a symbol for a deeper problem among the high school community, say students. And the response, which has not been all positive has highlighted a divide.

Then Friday afternoon Meyer sent out another email to the student body, reiterating an apology he made to students about not coming out with the information sooner and alerting the community to yet another video featuring racial slurs that had come to the administration's attention.

"As I’m sure you agree, these latest revelations are incredibly frustrating. I worry about our students, our school, and our community," wrote Meyer in the email Friday.

The exact nature of the graffiti was not made public but it was found just after many students said they were cautiously optimistic yesterday following the walk out in which students gave speeches and then the headmaster apologized for not releasing information about the incident sooner. Superintendent Andrew Bott was also present talking to students on the steps of the high school. Many said they felt listened to but hoped more efforts would be taken to address the root of a problem that wasn't just going to go away.

"We just need to stand unified," said Jimmy Ricks, a senior who was in the middle of the steps covered in students and encircled by news cameras Thursday morning voicing concerns and listening to Bott near the end of the walk out. "What stood out to me was that he wants to help us. I saw his eyes, he was genuine," he said.

Ricks said in the past the community hasn't been completely honest about what's going on. "We need to stop sugar coating this," he said.

In between the first walk out at 9 a.m. and a second around 2 p.m. students stood talking about what had just happened. Some spoke about what they saw as a double standard at the school when it came to discipline for white students and black students. Statistics on suspension rates that are much higher for students of color appear to corroborate this in the district.

One freshman said she's felt racism even before reaching the high school and although she's black she said she refuses to use the N-word herself and finds it offensive coming from anyone, even music.

"It's going to take time for people to stop saying the word," said Skye Millor-Hammond who is a Freshman. "But we just have to educate more students and teachers."

And speaking of teachers, she and a friend said they felt supported by teachers who let her and others out of class specifically for the protest.

"Everyone wants it to change. It's not just one part of the student body," she said.

Bott, who came on as Superintendent of Brookline Public Schools amid racial tensions in the community and Black Lives Matter protests at the school told Patch after the Thursday morning protest he felt the situation was disappointing.

"We have been doing a lot. But we need to more and something different," he said.

"We care deeply about each individual student and if there are students who are feeling marginalized that's a real call to action," he said.

Read the Thursday email from the headmaster:

Dear Brookline High School Students,

I write to offer a few thoughts about the events at our school today as we reeled from the racist videos that emerged between the Wednesday before Thanksgiving Break and yesterday.

Today offered many critical opportunities for students to think together and to speak to one another and to teachers and administrators. We, all members of the administration and the entire BHS staff, did our best to listen to students and hear your voices of outrage, concern, and hope for healing.

Today's protests and speeches were heartfelt and provided moments for all members of our community to reflect on who we are and who we are striving to be. Thank you for your honesty and your courage. Brookline High School has faced many challenges over the years, and this one is certainly one of the more disturbing. Clearly, we have work to do. Even today we discovered racist graffiti scrawled in a boys' bathroom stall in our school. We can erase these marks from our walls, but each time this happens our community is scarred.

As Warriors, we know that our struggles in these areas will not just evaporate because we have listened to some speeches and participated in peaceful walk outs. Rather, we know that the real work begins tomorrow and every day after when we strive to crate a better community for all students, staff , and families.

Tomorrow and every day, the teachers, administrators, and staff are available to listen to your voices and begin the process of helping build a school and community of which we can all be proud. I look forward to seeing you tomorrow and continuing our important work together.

Sincerely,

Mr. Meyer

And the Friday update:

December 1, 2017

Dear Brookline High School Families,

I write this afternoon to provide an update on the recent events at the high school including the two racist videos, the student walk outs, and our on-going support of students. I also want to share with you some new developments and to offer some reflections on how my team and I handled communication over the past week.

Yesterday was a tough day, and, in the end, a powerful and productive one. Students led two walk-outs and rallies on our front steps – one in the morning and one in the afternoon. Several hundred students gathered to hear student speakers as well as some thoughts from me. In my public announcement to students and staff yesterday afternoon, I described the morning rally as follows:

Earlier this morning, our African American and Latino Scholars and other student leaders organized a
powerful antidote to hate and ignorance. Speakers offered messages about the history of racism and
dehumanization in our country and across the globe. They also talked about the need for learning and
for love. Perhaps most importantly for our school, students made clear that the problem of racism at BHS
and beyond is one we must all own and resist.

In addition to these student-led efforts to come together during a divisive time, our administration and staff created spaces for students to talk with one another and be heard. These happened within affinity groups and in larger, more diverse settings throughout the day. Beyond listening to and supporting our students, these meetings helped emphasize the message that racism is a collective problem that affects us all. I spoke to our school community’s need to take collective responsibility to combat racism in yesterday’s PA announcement:

Crises like these should spur each of us – every single one of us – to reflect on who we are in this community
and how we help resist and fight hatred in all its forms, including racism, misogyny, homophobia, transphobia, and Islamophobia. As part of this reflection, we must also consider where we need to be better. That starts with me. I regret not communicating earlier than yesterday to the larger community - students, staff, and families. I made the decision to address this as an incident between a small group of students - the ones who made the initial video and the student they were targeting. In hindsight, I should have reached out to others sooner. I am sorry for this, as doing so would have put everyone in a better position to support and care for one another.

As the principal of Brookline High School, I support all constituencies in our sacred endeavor: to foster the safety, health, learning and growth of all our students. I want to be clear that I recognize that earlier, wider communication on the original video was needed. I remain committed to being honest and open in speech and writing as this quality is critical as our same students wonder about me, and about us adults, as educators and as a school.

As such, it is important for me to share two recent developments related to this current situation:
Yesterday afternoon, a staff member found racist graffiti in a BHS bathroom. We closed the bathroom, documented this, and are investigating. It is hard to know when this graffiti happened, and yet it is important to let you know about it. I shared this information with BHS students and staff via email.

Today, we were made aware of another video that was made by the same three students - two graduates and one current student - who appeared in the original video. This, too, features the same, vile racial epithet from the other videos.

In these situations, as with the previous videos, please know we follow clear protocols and conduct thorough investigations including civil rights and harassment ones, as well as notify the police. Students who are found to have broken school rules get significant consequences. While students and parents often ask us to announce any consequences, public school officials must follow state and federal privacy laws. We cannot publicly release information related to the discipline of any student.

As I’m sure you agree, these latest revelations are incredibly frustrating. I worry about our students, our school, and our community. I also know racism and other forms of hatred are endemic to our society. There are no easy answers on what we do next to strengthen our community. We will continue to work with students and families to identify concrete steps we can take to make Brookline High School a safe and supportive community for every single one of our students.

Sincerely,

Anthony Meyer

Headmaster
Brookline High School
This e-mail has been sent to you by BROOKLINE HIGH

Previously on Patch: Racist Videos on Snapchat prompt student walkout

Racist Videos 'Disgusting' Say Brookline Superintendent and Headmaster

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Photos by Jenna Fisher/ Patch