The Westminster Schools have an obligation to respond to the Black Lives Matter movement due to their black students, faculty, and staff who need support in this tough time. The Black Lives Matter movement (BLM) is a political, non-violent protest against violence targeted at black people based on the color of their skin. The BLM movement has taken many forms in recent years, such as the hashtag #BlackLivesMatter on social media or kneeling during the national anthem, but the protests erupted universally in 2020, starting in May following the death of George Floyd. 

At Westminster, we are an inclusive and accepting community. The school has implemented many initiatives to support the black students, faculty, and, families of Westminster. School leadership created a committee made up of black parents and faculty called The Village, and their goal is for the black students to feel included in the school. The Lower School has instituted a program called CARE, directed by Kevin Soltau. They gather once a week and have a conversation about their identities, equity, and race. We believe knowledge about this issue is very important for younger students to understand the gravity of the world’s current situation. 

The Middle School principal, Danette Morton, has talked about a new routine to soon take place titled “Think About It Thursdays” where, in homeroom, advisors will show a prompt or video to spark discussion. Moreover, in the Middle School, many opportunities to advocate and state an opinion on the matter at hand are available, such as writing articles and prayers. These opportunities have great significance because they give a chance for students of all backgrounds to share their opinions and point of view of these circumstances. 

Although Westminster has put many actions in place to be more inclusive, we worry that Westminster hasn’t addressed the topic to the students enough. Most classes haven’t spoken on the topic at school or have not engaged in the controversy in the classroom. BLM is a very controversial topic, but it should still be talked about.

In conclusion, this movement has given everyone a common language. It builds a more inclusive and thoughtful school community. In this environment, it is important to uplift others and state your opinions. Our opinion is that all members of the school should be supported, included, and challenged to speak up, and no student should feel underappreciated.