Commitment to Diversity

Commitment to Diversity

When George Floyd was killed on May 25, 2020, the journalist in me was stirred. The movement he sparked had sparked something in me. I resolved to use my role and platform to do something, but what?

Only days later, two Black classmates of mine were threatened with police intervention while hanging out in the parking lot of a local Sonic. Another group – white teenagers –doing the same thing was treated differently, no threats. The concept of social injustice became real to me.

Every year The ReMarker creates two single-topic, issue-driven magazines, one in November and one in February. But I knew this issue could not wait.

I decided the magazine should be released on the first day of school. It would have to be created – stories written, photos taken, pages designed, edits made – all during the summer. And, because of COVID-19, we would have to do it all remotely via email, Zoom, and text.

I relayed the plan to the staff: producing a magazine that would present post-George Floyd era themes through the lens of our school community. We began by creating a story slate. This drove us to attend protests and talk to as many protesters as possible. I wanted us to explore the issue from all angles: stories about companies rebranding, a Black classmate’s experience growing up in America; and Black parents giving their children “the talk” about racism. Interviewees ranged from my friends at Sonic to the first Black graduate of St. Mark’s and our Headmaster.

On September 11, the first day of in-person school, students were welcomed back with a 44-page, gloss magazine, the largest in ReMarker history.

I wanted our St. Mark’s community to have a shared experience relating to the social justice movement, one robbed from us during quarantine when George Floyd passed. Just as I hoped, the magazine’s content served as that collective experience, stoking conversations we were not able to have a mere 90 days before, allowing students – future leaders – to see social injustice more starkly and use their future influence to champion a more level playing field for everyone.