Early in the morning on October 2nd, eight collège students logged into Zoom for a session entitled “Understanding Black Culture”. Led by Terminale students Raheem and Moussa, they discussed food, clothing, rap, jazz, and iconic TV shows. Then a photo of Kim Kardashian in fulani braids popped up on the screen, to some giggles.
The Kardashians were there for a purpose – to incite a conversation about cultural appropriation, especially of Black hairstyles and culture. Indeed, the entire session was part of a series of diversity-focused workshops for students from sixième to Terminale. Led by leaders of the student Coalition clubs, the students’ umbrella organization for all student diversity clubs, the workshops covered a variety of topics – mental health, religion, gender and sexual orientation, deaf culture, the Stonewall Riots, and the experience of Black students at the Lycée.
In many ways, the workshops demonstrated the communal nature of the Lycée’s deepened focus on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. They were a collective initiative – an idea sparked by student desire to take control of the narrative and talk about topics that interest them – that sprung out of past experiences such as the Secondary Day of Understanding and James Baldwin Day. The workshops were developed by students under the leadership of Coalition faculty advisors Portia Morell and Pauline Dorio, before being run with the assistance of staff across departments. The end result was a day filled with learning from all sides, and an overwhelming desire to continue the conversations.
Helene, a student in Terminale, taught a workshop about the social construction of gender. When asked about the experience, she said, “[Our] main goal was to discuss the various ways gender norms and stereotypes impact us all in everyday life, and how these ideas have been created by society and ingrained in us. [It] was really exciting as a facilitator to see my younger peers engaging and getting educated about different gender identities and the use of pronouns… One of the highlights of my experience was at the end when one of the participants said she would start using ‘they’ as a default pronoun when unsure of someone’s gender identity!”
Middle school students were equally delighted to be involved, and many came away with an increased sense of awareness about their relationship to the school and the city they live in. Upon learning about Marsha P. Johnson in the session on the Stonewall Riots, one cinquième attendee was full of gratitude about the new knowledge that had fundamentally changed her experience of New York. For Jamie Laurens, Dean of the Middle School, this signified how successful the workshops were. “We really want to kick off discussions about how we see ourselves, our communities, and our world, inside and outside the classroom.”
Ultimately, all participants – be they students, facilitators, staff, or even parents eavesdropping from behind Zoom screens, came away having learned something and eagerly awaiting more. Ms. Morell stressed the hope that the workshops would, “inspire others to join to make space for acceptance and learning.” And as the Lycée continues through this school year, initiatives like these make it seem likely that this hope will become reality. It is heartening to see communal enthusiasm around ongoing DEI initiatives, and the excitement for more to come.
About the Author :
In addition to working as Communications Manager at the Lycée, Sitara Herur-Halbert’s life experiences make them passionate about diversity, accessibility, inclusion, and civic engagement. They are a graduate of the Dual BA Program between SciencesPo and Columbia University, an Institute for Nonprofit Practice Community Fellow, and an active volunteer with NYC Pride.