The annual Martin Luther King Day assembly in Schluntz Gymnasium began with a performance of “America the Beautiful” by the school’s combined three choir groups. [su_lightbox src=”http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5mnU5mojkiw”][su_button] Click here to watch. [/su_button][/su_lightbox]
Headmaster Deborah Holman welcomed students and staff to the assembly in her opening remarks, then passed the mic to seniors Alejandro Brown and Gigi Grey, who served as emcees throughout.
Senior Marisa Lazar spoke about the importance of confronting white privilege, a concept in critical race theory concerning the benefits conferred upon white people as a group.
Junior Taylor James followed with a speech about the lessons she took from the school’s annual Sojourn Trip. At the end of her speech, James asked the audience, “What would you put yourself on the line for? What do courage and sacrifice mean to you?”
Senior Tayy Showalter followed with a solo performance of “One Moment in Time” by Whitney Houston. [su_lightbox src=”http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q1DPJcoPiQc”][su_button]Click here to watch.[/su_button][/su_lightbox]
Next, sophomore Kerimal Suriel took the podium. In her speech, she reminded students that King worked to end all inequality, and that race is not just about black and white.
“We need to pride ourselves on having an open and accepting school with equal opportunity for all races, genders and social classes,” she said.
Senior Lydia Guterman followed with a speech about the importance of taking action for change, not just talking about it.
People within the community act like expression equals action and use assemblies like this one to deny that race is an issue at the school, she said.
[su_quote cite=”Senior Lydia Guterman”]”Monday is MLK Day. We have a day off from school. What questions will you ask? What research will you do? What will you do to make change?”[/su_quote]
In the following performance, Jazz Band teacher Carolyn Castellano led both Samba Drumming Club and Jazz Band in a performance of “Yes We Can” by The Pointer Sisters. [su_lightbox src=”http://youtu.be/1B-JqBdjSTw”][su_button]Click here to watch.[/su_button][/su_lightbox]
Two more performance pieces followed.
Slam Poetry Club performed a group piece about the importance of not staying silent in the face of injustice.
In a solo performance, senior Kayla Montero sang “Let It Be” by The Beatles. [su_lightbox src=”http://youtu.be/NZ9q3lWp1hE”][su_button]Click here to watch.[/su_button][/su_lightbox]
Senior Calvin Thompson gave the assembly’s final speech, in which he reflected on a saying African-American and Latino Scholars Director Chris Vick first shared with him as a sophomore: “If you’re not outraged, you’re not paying attention.”
In his speech, he warned against the dangers of apathy.
“Let’s be honest,” Thompson said. “This is another meaningless assembly we all pile in for. How many things that I say here today will be remembered in a week? In a month?”
“I don’t think ignorance is the issue,” he said. “I think apathy is.”
Thompson said that he learned from Vick that issues the closest to home should matter most, yet sees other people reserving their outrage for far-away issues.
[su_pullquote]”This speech isn’t about injustice, racism or the achievement gap. This is about how we as, the Brookline students and staff, don’t fight to keep the diversity we cherish.”[/su_pullquote]“We care, but the things at home seem to concern us the least,” he said. “This speech isn’t about injustice, racism or the achievement gap. This is about how we as, the Brookline students and staff, don’t fight to keep the diversity we cherish.”
“Don’t just care about racial cohesion today. Care in a week. Care in a month. Care next September.”
Lastly, the combined choir rejoined for a closing performance of “Stand by Me.” [su_lightbox src=”http://youtu.be/NfmfMFdi79o”][su_button]Click here to watch.[/su_button][/su_lightbox]
Photos by Ethan Roubenoff. Emma Nash and Rebecca Segal contributed reporting to this article.
