Speaking Out Without Walking Out - DPS Students Discuss Race, Social Justice

High school students from across Denver Public Schools gathered at Manual High School to both honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and continue vitally important discussions about race, social justice and reconciliation. They are conversations that began immediately following the deaths of Eric Garner and Michael Brown, and have continued within DPS classrooms throughout the year. Volunteers from the community helped lead discussions centered upon Dr. King's life, the tumultuous year of 1968, wage inequality, gentrification, and community organization. Ayinde Russell, a national slam poetry champion, led one discussion that took students through the process of dissecting words and symbols -- connecting that to how we often overlook the critical details that define an individual's story. In doing that, Russell said, students have a greater understanding of how to pursue racial reconciliation within their own community. "The occasion is significant. Especially at a time like this in our country’s history when we are once again reminded that we are not just frayed around the edges, but also frayed in the seams," he said. "With this, they get something that causes them to feel a bit more connected to others around them and maybe to question some of the things that are embedded that need unraveling so we can move toward beloved community that Dr. King talked about."