After the recent anti-racism protests across the country, students from high schools across Montgomery County Public Schools have created Instagram accounts sharing experiences and addressing racism in MCPS.
The first account created anonymously was @blackatwhitman, which inspired the creation of many other accounts across the county, including Richard Montgomery High School, Walter Johnson High School and more. This then expanded to accounts addressing other groups in MCPS, such as @queeratchurchill and @survivorsatbcc.
“We have decided to come together to share our stories as a starting point for much needed, important conversations in the community, with the hope of producing change and providing support for the current and future Black students at [Walt] Whitman [High School],” the creator of @blackatwhitman said in an interview with Montgomery Community Media.
The first post was created on June 4, 2020, and the account has now amassed over 3,500 followers and 150 posts. The posts depict current students and alumni sharing their experiences and accounts of racism in Walt Whitman, hoping to spark change within the community and beyond.
Since the creation of @blackatwhitman, dozens of other Instagram accounts from different MCPS high schools have been created as well. Similarly, these accounts share anonymous experiences of students and alumni who hope to create a united community where people feel welcome and have their voices heard.
To some students, these accounts present a hope that change will happen and that everyone, from students to teachers to administration, will acknowledge the structural racism in MCPS schools.
In addition to racism, many students have also faced experiences rooted in homophobia, sexism and much more. @blackatwhitman has inspired many students in other groups and schools to create pages for other issues that need to be brought to attention and that need to be resolved.
Students share their experiences on accounts such as @queeratchurchill and @survivorsatbcc both anonymously and with identification. Similar to @blackatwhitman, these accounts hope to raise awareness about the inequalities and experiences students have gone through and inspire change within the community.
The Black Lives Matter movement has inspired not only adults but students across the nation as well. Student activism and advocacy have surged, allowing many voices that were once silenced to finally be heard.
Instagram accounts such as @blackatwhitman and @queeratchurchill are just some of the ways the students in MCPS have connected and united as a community, offering a safe space for everyone to share their experiences and create change across the county.
Article by Anna Li of Poolesville High School
Graphic by Charles Wang of Walter Johnson High School