May 31st to POSOC

Dear Parents of Students of Color,
 
As a black head of school, I have been struggling with how to respond to the latest incidents of racial violence in this country. From the weaponization of the police by a white woman against Christian Cooper in New York to the horrifying and senseless murders of Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and George Floyd, this country, once again, is forced to confront its legacy of racism and racial violence.
 
As a black mother of a black son, a sister of black brothers, a daughter of a black father, I am overwhelmed by feelings of rage, hopelessness, and a deep and abiding fear that they could be taken from this Earth, at any time, for no other reason than the color of their skin.
 
There are moments when school leaders feel moved to write to their community to respond to a crisis or a tragedy. The pastoral role of the head of school is one I take seriously. But what is to be done when the head is in need of healing? I am struggling to find the words to comfort others, perhaps because I am in need of some comfort myself.
 
In the past, Gordon's Head of School Ralph Wales, a white man, took the lead in speaking out in moments like this. Now, with a black woman at the helm, Gordon will need to share that burden and responsibility moving forward. It's time for our white allies and accomplices to step up. I don't believe that it should lie solely with me, the faculty, staff, parents, or students of color to lead this work as we also manage our own trauma and pain.
 
This evening, our Board Chair Amanda Riegel and the white members of Gordon's Leadership Team, are sending a message to the entire Gordon community condemning racism and racial violence and outlining how the school will engage in the work of racial equity and justice. I appreciate this group taking this important symbolic step. I plan to follow with a more personal statement of my own, and I look forward to continuing in partnership with our white colleagues in the work ahead.
 
While I thought it was important for the white leadership of the school to make a statement to the full Gordon community, I did reach out to the faculty of color on Friday, and I wanted to reach out to this group today to offer any support I can to you. I don't want to make any assumptions about how you or your family may be processing these recent events, but if you do need anything from me, as your head of school, I'm here. And as your head of school, I am committed to Gordon doing the work necessary to take care of your children now and doing the work with all of the children and families of Gordon to help ensure that your children will live in a better world than the one we currently occupy.
 
Thank you for your continued trust and partnership. 
 
With appreciation,
Noni