Sixty four years ago from now, six-year old Ruby Bridges walked up the steps of William Frantz Elementary School in Louisiana, as one of the first Black students to be admitted to an all-white institution. As her enrollment was possible by the pass of a placement test, Bridges’ story serves as a testament towards the dismantling of a segregated curriculum.
As the Ruby Bridges Foundation honors Nov. 14 as Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day, Crier walks through how Black models of history such as Bridges have carved the way of education for generations of students to come, and how colored students of Munster reflect on the ever-evolving changes of diverse education has been inlaid into our curriculum today.
The culture clubs within Munster such as Black Culture Club work toward building a community of diversity for a valued voice, posing the grand question: how will we install a legacy into the workings of our school?
As Black figures of history have endlessly carved the path of education, students such as senior and BCC president Ava Adam reflect on their embodiment of strength. Adam, alongside the collective efforts of other BCC members, work together in order to answer this question by introducing a scholarship offered through the club.
“We’re working to raise five thousand dollars for a scholarship, whether that’s from direct donations from businesses, having percentile donations from purchases or even running a bake sale,” Adam said. “It’s an opportunity for seniors who’ve been in the club for at least two years to honor their work.”
“What I pose to any class or club of mine is, what’s going to be your legacy?” LaFlech said. “What’s going to be your mark that you can reflect on from 10 or 15 years from now and proudly say ‘I did that’?”
Junior and BCC’s treasurer Brandon Walker is part of Munster’s Idea Team, where students help shape the curriculum to match the views of the student body. Walker shares how he thinks cultural education has to start from the ground up.
“If you start at the elementary school and educate students on these topics up all through high school, I think we’ll achieve a point in the future where the education system will allow everyone to feel represented,” Walker said. “It’s not just representation, but inclusion.”
Teachers and staff, the backbone of Munster’s ever-evolving environment, echo the student’s voices as they recognize the growing diversity within Munster. Growing up in a private Catholic school in Michigan City, math teacher Brian Parker was one of four other Black students. Now teaching at Munster after 13 years at Michigan City, he reflects on the change of demographic.
“When you take a school such as Munster, this is a big cultural melting pot,” Parker said. “Oftentimes, we’re really trying to fight to make sure there’s equity in the school environment.”
Being a teacher such as Parker echo the sentiment as Munster evolves for a better future for education.
“If we continue to uplift people of color and other ethnic backgrounds, we can break through the traditionally impoverished culture of America and see an education system that serves everybody–in the way it could, the way it does, and the way we want it to,” Parker said.
“I think role models, specifically Ruby Bridges, have opened up a lot of doors in terms of education, but she’s also a symbol for other people to take inspiration and place into their own lives,” Adam said. “You can find yourself through their inspiration, such as speaking up for yourself or becoming more involved. It shows no matter the age that you are, you can still become a role model with the correct strength and approach.”
