By sharing personal experiences to raise awareness, students are working to prevent racism and inequity.
Recently, several people have shared their personal experiences. This has been done through social media, clubs and organizations.
Senior Dekai Averett believes in the power of conversation and listening.
Averett is one of the leaders of the Cultural Awareness Alliance club and wishes to make a change.
“The only way that things are going to change is to talk, and if people are willing to listen,” Averett said.
One aspect of the issue is stereotyping, according to Averett.
“There are so many people who can fit into so many different boxes, and we stereotype and generalize all the time regardless of what we look like,” Averett said.
“The best thing that I can do is show that this gray area exists,” Averett said. “It’s important that we examine that before we simply jump to conclusions.”
According to several members of the Cultural Awareness Alliance Club, guest speakers have had memorable influences on them.
During the last meeting on October 12, guest speaker Kevin White spoke about his personal experiences of being a minority throughout his life.
As students are working to raise awareness, some staff members have contributed as well.
Athletic director Dennis Stanton strives to keep his school “a safe environment” to be in.
Stanton is the advisor for the Cultural Awareness Alliance Club at Souderton and promotes anti-racism and anti-hate.
“Love is the answer. I don’t understand why people think [otherwise,]” Stanton said.
Being a white male, Stanton says that the club has allowed him to gain a new perspective over the past few years.
“This club has opened my eyes to the fact that I really cannot understand racism,” Stanton said.
The club is planning to keep the conversation alive through planning future events and meetings.
Averett believes that getting more people to listen will help the matter. “It’s bigger than just race,” Averett said.
Sophomore Sarah Thomas is first generation American and deals with hardships throughout her years.
Thomas’s grandparents immigrated from South India.
According to Thomas, hate speech is present in Souderton.
“I’ve been called a terrorist and a taxi driver, ” Thomas said.
According to Thomas and others, students are vaguely taught about other cultures and ethnicities, that when they are faced with it, they are unaware and uneducated.
“One time I brought Indian food to school and I got made fun of because of it for half of a year, ” Thomas said.
Over the years, Thomas said that you cannot fault younger children for what they say, since they are simply saying what they hear.
However, as they grow older, it gets progressively more hurtful and directed.