By Emily Kim Jenkins, Contributing Writer
There is a buzz in the air that only the month of August can bring. Most children feel it, most adults remember it– the excitement and nerves that come with a new school year. Seeing old friends, making new ones and getting class schedules can almost make starting school worth ending a summer vacation, but there is a darker side to being thrust back into the social circles that can affect a young person’s year.
A rise in hate acts affecting students across America prompted the Department of Justice to release a special report focused on hate crimes in schools, both K-12 and universities across the country. The report analyzed reports from 2018 to 2022 and found that roughly one third of all student victims experienced hate at school, and the same amount of student perpetrators committed these acts at school.
With the exception of 2020, when nearly all schools were not convening on campus, these offense reports have been steadily increasing, with nearly 3,000 reports in 2022 in elementary and secondary schools alone.
On August 3, Dr. Leonard Thompson of M.A.N.D.A.T.E. Records hosted a Stop the Hate Town Hall for local students to discuss their experiences and learn how to get support if they face bias, discrimination or otherwise hate-motivated acts. Panelists included Matthew Gordon, President and CEO of the Blue Heart Foundation; Commander Ben Kelso of the San Diego Police Department and Dr. Michelle Thompson, Program Director of GOD Radio 1.
Dr. Leonard Thompson opened with an acknowledgment that African Americans are more likely to face hate (which the report supports–over 1,600 reports of hate on campus were anti-Black crimes, making it the most common bias type). Each panelist then introduced themselves.
“One of the things that we work to instill in our guys is the cultural awareness piece. Most of us are from Southeast San Diego, which can be a bit of a bubble– there’s more to life than the hood that we come from,” Gordon shared. The Blue Heart Foundation, which offers mentorship to young Black men in San Diego, had shown up in spades to the Town Hall. The seats were dominated by young men in uniform royal blue polo shirts, each of them paying close attention.
Initially, the students seemed to hesitate to share their stories, but after a reminder that they were in a safe space from Commander Kelso, one young man stood up and shared about a time he faced bullying for having an afro. The room was quiet as he spoke about how he confided in his mother, who encouraged him to look beyond their insults and be assured in himself.
One by one, more students stood up to share stories of times they had experienced bullying or prevented it when they saw it beginning.
“We have rights, but rights also come with responsibilities,” Commander Kelso said. “You certainly have a right to defend yourself from bullies, from people who are trying to harm you, but that response and how you do that matters.”
One particularly emotional moment came after a high school student shared about a time he felt discriminated against by a police officer. Dr. Thompson then asked a parent to speak on how they have trained their child to handle tense moments with those in authority positions that may be mishandling a situation based on a child’s race.
“I want to say to you, young man, that as your parents and as those that come before you in this community, you don’t need to be afraid,” she said. “Be respectful, be kind, but also be smart, powerful and strong. Know who you are.”
The evening closed with a presentation from Cheryl Sueing-Jones, an attorney and Community Partnership Prosecutor at the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office, who shared how to report hate on campus and answered questions from students. The program included lighthearted moments as well as personal, heart-wrenching stories that reminded everyone that they are not alone, no matter their age.
This resource is supported in whole or in part by funding provided by the State of California, administered by the California State Library in partnership with the California Department of Social Services and the California Commission on Asian and Pacific Islander American Affairs as part of the Stop the Hate program. To report a hate incident or hate crime and get support, go to CA vs Hate.
