In the weeks following the vandalism of the Bromfield rock, when slurs and derogatory images directed at minority groups were painted on it, the Press sought to interview Bromfield students who felt they had been targeted. We approached students in person and via email and asked how they felt about both the incident and living in Harvard. Many declined to respond. Others were uncomfortable answering the more personal questions we asked or to relive the harassment they had experienced. There was also fear of retaliation for taking part. In the end, six students agreed to speak with the Press. The stories they shared are their own and may or may not be representative of any group with which they identify.
Editor’s note: In keeping with the code of ethics of the Society of Professional Journalists, it is not the practice of the Press to grant anonymity to those we interview. But in this case, given the importance of hearing their stories and because of their vulnerability to harassment for speaking out, we have made an exception to our rule and granted anonymity to all six interviewees.
“Images don’t mean anything; being of a different religion doesn’t separate people.”
[The images on the rock] didn’t bother me because images don’t mean anything and they don’t physically hurt anyone. I notice no difference between my life and any of the lives surrounding me, so I don’t think there is anything for me to say [regarding discrimination] that other people do not [experience]. Being [of] a different religion doesn’t really separate people.
—Jewish high schooler
“The racism the administration thinks is apparent, isn’t really a problem.”
I am Hispanic. My father came to America when he was a little boy, along with my grandmother and his siblings. There have been many jokes made about me for being Hispanic. Almost every day, I’ll get a joke about being Mexican—although I am not—getting deported, living off of tacos and burritos, and crossing the border. I know that the people who make these jokes are kidding and don’t truly mean it, so I don’t take offense to it. However, there have been some situations when I have been in a public place, like Boston, and people have made comments about me being Mexican, and some stereotypes that are associated with it. I remember this one group of people looked at me and started talking about how much they hated Mexican food, all while making eye contact with me and clearly directing their comments at me. I really disliked those comments, as I knew that these people weren’t kidding around and meant to offend me. These comments have made me realize that racism still exists in our society.
My family has a lot of family friends who are not technically legal. But they [the friends] don’t know what’s going on [regarding the election], and they’re just focusing on the now and providing. I’m sort of worried. There’s children and the parents are working hard, and the reason they did what they did was to provide for their family. So yeah, a little worried.
I personally thought that the rock incident really reflected how the 2016 election has truly influenced our community. I thought that the symbols and phrases on the rock were not a direct attack on minorities, but I thought it was more of a joke—the person or people that committed the act did it to gain attention. I really doubt that the rock incident was meant to be an attack, as I have not really witnessed any true racism or discriminatory actions in the school and community. I thought that [the school] administration took very extreme measures after the rock incident. The assembly that we had was honestly very poorly put together. I think that the students realized how underprepared the administration was for the event. We had an assembly, and a few posters were put up around the school to “spread love and unity for everyone,” but honestly, none of the students really care. The racism that the administration thinks is apparent in the community and school isn’t really a problem, because there is almost no racism. Students will make jokes, but in the end, everyone knows that they are just jokes, and if someone gets offended, the students will stop making the jokes in front of that person.
I think that the next four years will bring many challenges for minorities and women, but I believe that Bromfield will be able to overcome the differences in the community.
—Hispanic high schooler
“There’s definitely some hate against trans kids. I have heard a lot of things against trans people, and I don’t think that’s OK.”
There’s been other incidents at Bromfield, right? The racially charged thing and swastikas in the boys bathroom? This makes me kind of scared because the school has been such a welcoming environment—like teachers and stuff—and it kind of upsets me that some of the kids might not be like that. I see a lot of it in the younger kids, and going into the future, I’m afraid that the kids won’t be so accepting and may not follow our example and will take on some of the bad traits. I think we’re regressing right now. I think the children are regressing to a state prior to what we just accomplished.
There’s definitely some hate against trans kids at Bromfield. It’s hard for people to understand trans kids, because a lot of times before you go into your transition, it’s hard to change your appearance. And other people, well, they don’t see what you see when you look at yourself. And there’s the comments. There’s the [cisgender] boys who say, “Oh you just put on a pair of pants and you think you’re a boy.” That’s not how it is. That’s not how it works. I know a couple of people who have left Bromfield because of bullying. I have heard a lot things against trans people, and I don’t think that’s OK.
I would definitely agree that Bromfield is pushing minorities away. People are leaving. But the staff is so great; it’s just the kids. We need to be teaching kids to accept people. Because let’s be totally honest, like, most of the school is straight white people. Like the vast majority. It’s good to have groups like the diversity committee and the GSA and all the other “ooh yay we’re helping the minority people” groups, but where are the minority people? [The kids are] leaving [to attend other schools]. Why are they leaving? Because the kids who aren’t involved in any of [the diversity groups] aren’t educated about the minority kids.
—Transgender high schooler
“I felt that the negative painted statements were aimed at minority groups at Bromfield; I felt distressed and anxious.”
Based on the pictures provided at the assembly and the little that I was able to observe during the repainting of the rock, I felt that the negative painted statements were aimed at the minority groups of Bromfield. As a member of a minority group, I felt distressed and anxious. The rock incident got a lot of attention, but it’s not the first time that something hateful was expressed to minority groups.
I have trusted adults that I know I can rely on to talk with. They provide me with clarity when I’m concerned or upset. I have spoken with close friends and attended a church-sponsored event at which I witnessed an older student speak out about their feelings in regard to intolerance and hateful images and words in Harvard.
I would like people to consider what it is like to be a member of a minority group. I think increasing education on race relations, personal sensitivity, and intolerance may help our community. I think parents should be more involved in their kids’ activities because hate speech and targeting behavior from kids is not OK. While the staff at school tries their best to assist when incidents happen, it’s the students who truly can make the biggest difference. When kids see something wrong, they need to find their inner strength to call out negativity and hate. This is a community problem, not an individual student problem.
I would like the community to realize that hateful speech and actions are everybody’s problem. It’s not just the schools, the victims, or the individual who practices hateful actions. Silence when people witness something wrong is seen as acceptance.
—African-American middle schooler
“I was disappointed but not surprised. These incidents are more an indication of a problem in the community itself.”
I was disappointed but not exactly surprised [by the rock incident]. On one hand, nobody wants to see that kind of vandalism anywhere, especially not somewhere that’s essentially a symbol of the community, but at the same time, I think it’s entirely likely that the perpetrators didn’t even realize the severity of their actions. People often say that Harvard is a bubble and that we lack diversity, and it’s true. A lot of students will joke around and draw swastikas on each others’ papers or casually use hateful language, not realizing why what they’re saying is offensive. This isn’t to say that the graffiti isn’t a big problem, or that the perpetrators shouldn’t be punished—it is, and they should—but rather than just being a couple of “bad apples,” these incidents are more of an indication of a problem in the community itself.
I think the biggest thing is empathy. It’s true that we have freedom of speech and such, but you have to think about how your words and actions affect others. When you know that a word, phrase, or symbol is negatively charged due to its historical usage or connotations, why do you have to use it? There’s a lot of talk about how the world is “too PC” or that people are too easily offended, but the important issue is respect. Maybe you have the right to say something, but if what you’re saying is something that is considered offensive, then the best thing would be to not say it instead of telling the people who are offended that they shouldn’t be offended.
I think there’s definitely a stigma [against LGBT+ kids]. The whole issue with the graduation robes shows how people see transgender/gender nonconforming people as just making extra trouble and that other people’s gender identity is an inconvenience rather than a right. In addition, I think there’s a stereotype about what the LGBT+ people are like in Harvard and someone could come out and have people say, “I never expected that” as if there’s one way to be LGBT+. I don’t think many, if any, people are downright bigoted about it. I think the acceptance comes from a thought of “it’s what I’m supposed to do” rather than legitimate understanding. There are students who use “f**” in their day-to-day speech or people who call things “gay” because they’re bad. I doubt it’s because they actually hate LGBT+ people, rather just that these words are used so often that people forget the meaning behind them or why they might be hurtful. However, this still makes Harvard a slightly uncomfortable environment, and although there’s no outright hostility toward LGBT+ people, there are many things that happen that make the community seem closed off.
—Bisexual high schooler
“Stereotypes are probably the biggest things for Asians. Everyone expects so much more. There’s already this bar … you have to try so much harder to jump.”
OK, so let me just start off with this. Other people get like an A on a test or an assignment, and their friends will be like congrats and stuff. If a Chinese person, aka me, gets an A+ or just something in the A range, people will just be like “oh, of course.” And no, I worked just as hard as you did, I stayed up till one studying for that test or working on that homework. Why is it “of course” when I stayed up as late studying as you did? Just because I’m Chinese?
Kids say stuff. I remember one time someone [mimes pulling eyes back]. I called him out. I mean, the teachers came, even Hoffman came. But racism is never going to be taken out. Nice try, but it’s never going to be gone. I think the school’s response is appropriate, but [others are] going to see it as an overreaction, because they aren’t, you know, minorities. They say stuff like, “Ching chong bing bong.” But it doesn’t mean anything! That’s not Chinese! What do you mean “ching chong bing bong”? I mean that sounds more Korean than anything. Honestly, regarding the assembly, I’d rather they did a good assembly on Tuesday where everyone is prepared and ready. Monday? Not ready. Just because it’s, like, two days after the incident doesn’t mean it’s no longer important. The whole thing isn’t just going to, you know, fade away.
Here’s another stereotype. Rice. People think I like rice. But I was fed rice every day since I was little. I tell people I don’t like rice. And they’re like “whoa.” Rice is a cultural thing, not, like, a preference thing. I mean that’s what my parents grew up on. That’s what they know how to make. Not, [affects fake Chinese accent] “I like rice.” It just makes the flavors go together better. It’s neutral. Blends the flavors.
Stereotypes are probably the biggest things for Asians. I mean I don’t like math either. My sister, she’s a math major, and I skipped a grade in math. Just because, expectations. Everyone expected me to do it. Everyone looks at me and goes, “Yeah, math! You’re good at math! You love math!” And I’m like, “No, no, I don’t!” Everyone expects so much [more] of you than a non-Chinese who doesn’t look like you. There’s already this bar set for you that you have to try so much harder to jump.
—Chinese high schooler
Kate Selig is a Bromfield sophomore.
