Mike McGonagle
Boston College High School

Epidemic of police shootings of unarmed black
men

Black citizens accounted for a stunning 74 percent of the people
shot by Chicago police between 2008 and 2015.

Homicide remains the leading cause of death for black men
between the ages of 15 and 34.

Young black men were nine times more likely than other
Americans to be killed by police officers in 2015, according to the
findings of Guardian study that recorded a final tally of 1,134
deaths at the hands of law enforcement officers this year.

Harvard Public Health Review to attempt to get accurate numbers,
treat police “brutality” as a public health issue.

Recent well publicized parties involving
students of two Jesuit schools suggest that our
kids are not immune from the influence of the
larger culture.


Fairfield “Ghetto party” at off campus housing.
When the university responded, a number of
kids who had been at the party were quoted
expressing their confusion and hostility at why
people were offended.

At St. Ignatius High School in San Francisco, 14
students were suspended after posting on
social media after a racially themed party.




Georgetown University is trying to come to
terms with its own history, particularly the sale
of 272 slaves by two college presidents to retire
the college’s debt in 1838.
Removed their names from the residence halls
that had been named for them.
Ongoing process of reconciliation with the
descendents.
Holy Cross action on Brooks-Mulledy and
Healy


Locally, at Boston Latin School the U.S. Attorney’s
Office is investigating complaints of systematic
racism.
The headmaster herself acknowledged some
missteps in a letter sent home to students and staff:
“While I am optimistic that the dialogues begun
over the past few weeks will lead to a more
respectful and welcoming racial climate at our
school, I deeply regret that we did not begin such
conversations earlier.” That’s what we’re doing.

And then we consider the shameful political
rhetoric around the election…

See last slides for BC High’s progress.



America Magazine
October 26, 2015 Issue
http://americamagazine.org/issue/breathingspace


The real question is what is the best way to
address our concerns? There are various ways to
come at the issues – multicultural approach, white
ally, straight anti-bias approach, etc.
It can be paralyzing. A few years ago, we brought
Tim Wise in to speak on racism to our faculty. He’s
among the smartest, most respected anti-racism
activists you’ll ever hear, but in retrospect, I’m not
sure people were ready for his message.





Each of the many groups who work to
intervene against racism has several
distinguishing characteristics:
An underlying theory of practice and change.
Certain training methods.
A set of program goals and intended outcomes.
Program services and capacities.

Aspen Institute Index




Two anti-racism groups that I’ve become
familiar with are:
The People’s Institute for Survival and Beyond
and
Visions, Inc.
I know that there others of you who are
familiar with other groups, such as SEED,
Crossroads and Facing History and Ourselves.

People’s Institute takes a community
organizing approach to racism.






Emphasizes institutional and structural racism
Internalized inferiority and superiority
Uncompromising approach – if you’re white, you’re
racist
Looks at idea of gatekeepers in organizations
Why are people poor? How does the education
system oppress, exploit or underserve?
History of how racism became institutionalized –
slavery – in the US. Clarified the notion that race is a
social construct.

PISAB addresses the common gap in
multicultural approaches - that they don’t
address the relationships between privilege
and oppression that pervade society.
“Multicultural programs tend not to emphasize
the invisibility of white power and material
dominance.” As the America author claims,
“When multicultural practices avoid
interrogation of white dominance, they
perpetuate rather than alleviate racial
hierarchies.”


Discovery of Visions, Inc. at an AISNE
workshop – like PISAB, one of the oldest antiracism organizations (1984) in the country.
Works more on interpersonal level than PISAB
(self awareness – “A fish doesn’t know it’s in
the water.”) but also looks at institutional as
well as cultural influences and effects.

Develop/share common language/framework
within which to have challenging discussions

Introduce a set of skills/multicultural tools to
enhance teamwork, communication, and
effectiveness in working with each other and
with youth

Develop/enhance skills in applying multicultural
tools in addressing challenges around
difference at all levels






What Visions has done and are doing at BC
High:
Year and a half ago, a one day training for
everyone in the building. Stretched their
capacity (200).
10 teacher cohort “Changing racism” training .
New teacher training last year – first time.
Commitment to advanced training so we can
have our own trainers – build internal capacity.
Will continue this year

While I think that a multi-pronged approach is
fine, and that the more people who take
responsibility for improving the learning
climate, the better, a key is to have some
coherence so our various efforts support one
another.



What are you doing?
What would you like to do?
How do we best serve all of our students?









Some recent Equity and Inclusion activity at BC High
Annually
3-5 faculty a year
March 2014
Faculty/Board retreat
November 2014
1000 students
January 2015
200 faculty and staff
July 2015
1 admin, 1 faculty
August 2015
11 new faculty and staff
AISNE Professional Days
Fr. Agbonkhianmeghe E. Orobator, SJ
Wes Moore visit and reading
Diversity Professional Day (Visions)
Undoing Racism PISAB (3 day)
New Teacher Diversity Training








November 2015 Bobby Joe Leaster, Chris Muse
400 students and faculty
Oct – Nov 2016 Visions Training
10 faculty
February 2016 CVSA and CCC joint field trip
34 students
March 2016
Bryan Stevenson visit and reading
1450 students
April 2016
Meeting between Casa parents and
Diversity Committee
June 2016
Melville Institute on Race
15 Faculty
June 2016
MTI Conference
2 Faculty


Four years consec.
Gabriel Bol Deng
100’s of students
Lent 2016
Racial justice prayers
School wide daily

Annual
Busing unit
Arrupe (7th and 8th grades)