The Students United for Racial Equality(SURE) took Upper School students through this exercise during a recent assembly. It was an activity in which they had participated at the People of Color Conference which they and a number of faculty members attended last year.

At Shipley, the students gathered in two large circles in the gym and SURE organizers gave a series of directives. The sentence starting with “Please step inside the circle if . . .” was repeated numerous times, each time ending with a different descriptor. They went through race, ethnic origin, class, sexual orientation,  disabilities, religion—a host of identifying characteristics. Sometimes the center of the circle was filled. Other times, it was not.

In discussions in their Advisories later in the week, students said the exercise gave everyone insight into what it feels like to be in a minority of any kind. “It’s supposed to make you think.” Nevertheless, some felt the questions were too broad. “Why should I just be identified as Black,” said one, “when I’m also Creole, Native American, and some other things?” “We need to get beyond the flat questions of race,” said another.

There was some concern that the exercise, while its aim was to bring people together, also had the potential to divide them. It appears that the results were more positive than negative. Senior students were encouraged that underclassmen generally took the exercise seriously. “I was surprised at how open everyone was,” said one.

March 7, 2005