'Privilege' and Representation at Staten Island High Schools by Valeriana Dema

New Dorp Assistant Principal Deborah Morse-Cunningham received national news coverage in June after sharing a racist and classist post on her Facebook page. Although not explicitly referring to race, the post shared by Morse-Cunningham invokes welfare stereotypes that have been historically directed towards Black people. Nearly 35,000 people have signed a petition calling for the Assistant Principal’s immediate removal.

Soon after Morse-Cunningham’s post gained public attention, the Equity  Alliance of Staten Island (EASI) penned an open letter emphasizing that,  “the racial tension that exists on Staten Island is not new.” The  collective’s letter goes on to say, “most damaging is that these are  accepted practices and a way of life in our schools causing horrendous  educational injustices and failures throughout our school system.”

On July 2, EASI held a virtual press conference condemning the post and providing a platform for students and parents of color to express their concerns. During the conference, TJ Butler, a New Dorp High School student who graduated this June, said, “When you look at the island, there is not a lot of African Americans going to New Dorp.” Only ten percent of New Dorp’s student body is Black. 

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PFT5 jingle by Patrick Meagher, Read by Valeriana Dema, Produced by Emily Nadal