Heroes For Change
An interview conducted by alumna Ashaliegh Carrington I was able to spend my last interview for Coop Voices with Hillary Bridges And Zee Bell, the founders of the new group "People for Race And Ethnicity Studies (PREST)." After traveling and getting their education, the two have come back to New Haven to open a discussion towards race, sexualilty, and idenitity. They are bringing the national conversation back home for the next generation to start talking. What makes you passionate about PREST? Zee: What makes me passionate about it is that it's from my own experience. There are so many things that I didn't know and I think it's unacceptable to not have known so many of those things and I want to make sure other young people have more access to this knowledge. Hillary: I talk a lot about black survival and what it means for black people to be resilient. I’m passionate about it because I believe black people are owed access to survival. I know being able to learn about ourselves and to learn about our own history is important to feeling that we have a right to survive. What sort of group are you building? Is it for African Americans only or all people of color? Zee: With the People for Race and Ethnicity Studies campaign, we are looking for everybody, especially young people. Our previous organization "Telling Our Story" was really a black space, whereas PREST is open to everybody. Is there a reason why you picked New Haven? Zee: They have recently done a study of cities that are most representative of the United States and New Haven was number one! I feel New Haven has a strong sense of community. I feel that if we can do it here, then we can expand it to so many places. Do you plan on connecting with Mayor Harp or Governor Malloy on expanding it in Connecticut or do you want it to spread locally? Hillary: Definitely starting with New Haven. Campaigns that have happened in Arizona and Los Angeles have been models of a local campaign moving statewide. Do you believe this movement you are doing now connects with groups such as Black Lives Matter? Zee: I absolutely believe it connects with Black Lives Matter. When I came here two years ago, the conversations young people were having were very different than what they are having now. I think movements such as Black Lives Matter have laid a foundation for this work. Will you expand on blackness and LGBT values? Do you feel they are grouped together for getting represented? Hillary: I feel they have to be. Some of the young people showing up are queer. When we talk about intersectionality, there's obviously a connection to race and ethnicity right now, but I know that it will be an absolutely necessary subject to talk about. Change is made by people who show up. Zee: To go back to Black Lives Matter, it is important to know that three black queer woman founded that group. Why do you feel young people have such a good voice to combat racism and sexism? Zee: Young people are in school now and they know what is happening in and out of their schools. I feel young people bring a very unique viewpoint. Hillary: Young people have traditionally been at the front lines for activist work. I hate to hear that youth are the future; no, they are the now! Did you have a person that inspired you growing up? Hillary: Definitely my parents for me. There was just so much resilience. I had no choice not to feel inspired; just seeing their resilience was important to me. Where do you plan to see the program go in five years? Zee: I’d like to see it become normal. I want it to become a graduation requirement for students to discover things they didn't know about themselves. I want this to create other movements. Hillary: I want to see more young people feel excited about themselves. |
People for Race and Ethnicity Studies Today (PREST)
By Briyana Mondesir 10/17 When I was young, I was filled with shame and guilt concerning my race and identity. I grew up in a neighborhood and community that was filled with white people. In my school, the majority of my peers were white. In history class, we were taught a colorless history. The only place I saw any mention of people like me was in the short unit about slavery, where pictures of my people, bent in half, picking cotton, were peppered across the white pages. Thus, I became to see my history as something that was abominable and pitiful. For a country that is supposed to be diverse, this is not mirrored in curricula across America. Our education system actively ignores the history of racism in America and its implications for people of color. In addition, the stories that people of color have are disregarded. Consequently, many students of color do not see themselves represented in their schools. People for Race and Ethnicity Studies Today (PREST) is an organization that was founded by Hillary Bridges and Z Bell. In May of 2016, Hillary launched a pilot program for Telling Our Story (TOS) in New Haven, CT. TOS creates spaces for young Black people to share untold American stories of both continued oppression and tremendous achievement. By grounding young Black people in their histories, TOS empowers participants to address the effects of racism and to think critically about the change they want to make in the world. Z joined the Telling Our Story team in February of 2017 as its first Lead Facilitator. After one semester of TOS, Z and Hillary felt strongly that learning about race and ethnicity is integral to their vision of an American education that is based in truth and justice. This is how The PREST Movement began. This movement is seeking to change and reorganize the way our education system operates. It also aims to give people of color the knowledge and pride of their history and ancestors that is missing in the American education system. Additionally, PREST is fighting to create more schools that actively dismantle racism and that celebrate the unique beauty and resilience in each of our stories. We believe in the power of young leaders who take action and envision a country that is grounded in empathy and a movement towards true change and justice. More information about The PREST Movement and how you can get involved can be found at our website: https://www.theprestmovement.org |