What began as a virtual conversation between past and present members of one of Storm King’s extracurricular clubs has blossomed into a series of online events that is uniting decades of SKS students and alumni; giving them a forum to discuss racial equality, empowerment, and the facilitation of change.
Earlier this winter, current members of SKS’ Black Student Union (BSU) met via Zoom with some of the organization’s founders from the 1970s. Joined by alumni from various decades, the group compared notes on social justice topics and discussed the focus of the BSU then and now.
Current BSU members and seniors Shayla Lawrence, Dominique Gooden, Jedianne Graham, and Justice Pessoa were joined by alumni from the ‘70s to the 2000s as well as more recent graduates including Gabriella Quartey ’17, Kakazi Kacyira ’18, and the 2019-2020 BSU Co-president Jordan Golding ’20. The event was facilitated by Alumni Council Member Charles Cordero ’92 and featured lively and productive discussions among the attendees.
Top row from left: Steven Sims ’69, Lynn Crevling ’72, Joanna Bennett ’75, Charles Cordero ’92 and Jim Perlberg ‘70; 2nd row from left: Guy-Paul Delisfort ’20, Larry Spiegel ’69, Michael Moore ’72, and Gabriella Quartey ‘17; 3rd from left: Tom Fogarty, Christine Watson ’94, Jordan Golding ’20, Seth V. ’22, Dominique G. ‘21; In attendance but not shown: Headmaster Jonathan W.R. Lamb, BSU mentor Ellen Van Dunk, Romee C. ’21, Shayla L. ’21, Trey L. ’22, Jedianne G. ’21, Zainab D. ‘22
As the group’s interest in continuing the discussion grew, a second virtual gathering was organized one month later to talk about Black empowerment. Once again, attendees spanned several decades and nationalities and brought diverse perspectives to the table. “We suggested the topic of empowerment for the second meeting because it is multidimensional and global in reach,” explained last year’s BSU Co-presidents Jordan and Guy-Paul Delisfort ’20. “Being connected to Africa was a big part of our mission, so the African perspective is important as well as the American one.”
The conversations ranged from the macro: beyond the US to the African diaspora, to the micro: a family that instills in their daughter that she is beautiful, strong, and capable; and touched on history, economics, political structures, institutional racism, community, and self-awareness.
At the conclusion of the event, Jordan commented that he was pleased to see the current students’ leadership and new initiatives for the BSU. Michael Moore ’72 gave some important parting advice to the young alumni and current students: “Don’t assume that we (the older people) know the answers. We look to you and all you bring to teach us.”
The next event in this series will take place on Tuesday, March 16, 2021. Steven Sims ’69 will facilitate a virtual discussion on Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents. Caste is a nonfiction book by the American journalist Isabel Wilkerson which examines the unspoken caste system that has shaped America and still defines the lives of our nation’s citizens today. All members of the SKS Community are encouraged to read the book and attend the discussion. Please RSVP to Lynn Crevling ’72 Alumni Director at lcrevling@sks.org.