Reflections

Kumi Trip
11/13/24
I boarded a plane by myself to Chicago not knowing what to expect. It was a four-day trip packed with different activities and meaningful learning sessions to help find comfort in being a Jew of color. There were two different tracks in which we split up, 12 Jews of color, and 16 white Jewish anti-racist allies. Each day we would write down different experiences when we were ashamed of our identity and how we can overcome those thoughts. We did seminars and learned how to interrupt racism, antisemitism, and other manifestations of oppression. We wrote letters to our future selves proclaiming our identity. The Jews of Color track wrote requests to the white Jewish allies on how we can feel safer in the world and how they can help. I made so many meaningful relationships and learned more about myself than I thought I ever could. This teen leadership experience imparts knowledge and skills for exploring justice and equity from a Jewish lens. Through my experience at Kumi, I was challenged to explore my connection to my own Jewish identity and build the skills to turn their values into action. I finally can start finding comfort in my identity and know people feel similar to me around the world and I don't need to hide or cover up my true self.  

10/25/24
Mass Moca 
Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art (Mass Moca) had so much to offer to my new perspective of art. This facility is one of the largest centers for visual arts, music, dance, theater, and film. The immersive installations were fascinating and took advantage of the vast industrial space. Mass Moca stands as a vibrant testament to different artwork. Spending the whole day in an art museum gave me so many more perspectives on pieces I could have never had the chance to see. A piece that stuck with me was the dark room with chalk. I stood in there for at least 15 minutes reading all of the quotes. The quote was: “My teacher says everything in life is beautiful, even suicide because it is an attempt to be free. This quote was powerful to me because so many people struggle in silence and have it in a pitch-black room with the white bright chalk that eventually slowly fades. When at the plastic bag store it was crucial to see all the plastic daily use. When watching the video about how this will affect our future was super impactful. When walking into the icicle room, surrounded by plastic, and how much climate change plays a role. I also learned about Micropalstics and how harmful they are, yet there in our daily food, with the different health impacts. Plastic chokes our marine wildlife, damages soil, and poisons groundwater. Without a change, there won’t be a future environment. One of the many rooms that connected to global studies is the prayer room. It was a beautiful vibrant green room with different elements to connect the room such as a prayer sheet and a gaming chair. Since those two items are immensely different, I was surprised at first. With the soft dim lighting and multiple seating options, my mind felt at ease, even though I don’t practice Christianity this room was impactful and showed different traditions and cultures. It was impactful to see the messages and passages displayed. I was so lucky to have the opportunity to go to this art museum see diverse artistic voices and address universal themes. 



10/16/24
Arn Chorn-pond

   Last Monday, we had a special extended all-school to hear from Arn Chorn-Pond as he reflected on his life and gave us insight into what he experienced growing up. Arn is a Cambodian musician, human rights activist, and a survivor of the Khmer Rouge regime. Arn was born in Cambodia and had to endure the horrors of living through the government during the genocide in the late 1970s. He has dedicated his life to promoting peace and preserving Cambodian culture. I find it fascinating how he can tell his story out loud, especially to a group of strangers. After hearing his story, I realized how incredibly grateful I am to live in a safe place, where we do not have to experience the torture and pain many live through. He is so strong and always sees the good in people. Something that stood out to me during his speech was when he talked about his high school experience. Arn boarded a boat to the US by himself, not knowing the English language and still managed to go to high school in Massachusetts. He was bullied and ridiculed every single day. Yet, when talking about the people who bullied him, he was still respectful and did not speak negatively about them. I hope Arn finds peace when sharing his story because it is so impactful to me and many others. He is a bright light in the world and I am so inspired by his strength, positivity, and resilience. 

10/1/24 
Justice Mullins' Public Hearing 

On September 29, I attended Justice Raheem L. Mullins' Public Hearing for Confirmation as head Justice of the CT Supreme Court. Hearing his opening speech, I learned much about his life and how he plans to improve the justice system. His story is influential in how he dealt with being a teen father through his high school years, to being chief justice of the Connecticut Supreme Court. He is the second Black and youngest state justice in history. After his opening speech, justices asked him questions about his policy. Mullins said, “My goal for the judicial branch is to leverage technology so that we can enhance access, efficiency, and transparency with the ultimate goal being to better serve our citizens.” There was an interesting contrast between the different voices and opinions shared. I admire how Mullins kept his composure even when faced with difficult questions, such as his opinion on gun rights, faith, and abortion. I believe Justice Mullins will make a great impact as a Head Justice and I will be excited to see his different contributions.



Caste 

9/26/24 
Over the summer I read the book Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents by Isabel Wilkerson. The story takes the reader through an immersive eye-opening, deeply researched narrative, linking the caste systems of America, India, and Nazi Germany, Wilkerson explores the eight pillars that underlie caste systems across civilizations. Wilkerson explores the unspoken caste system that has shaped America and shows how a hierarchy of human divisions still defines our lives today. The book displays the history of caste systems in different countries and draws parallels to the racial hierarchy in the United States. Wilkerson uses a combination of historical research, personal narratives, and analysis to illustrate how caste affects every aspect of society, from politics to personal relationships. The book is a profound examination of the invisible structures perpetuating inequality and a call to understand and dismantle these systems.

   I understand that all caste systems are hereditary, benefiting only a small portion of the population. When watching the movie, seeing the visuals of Trayvon Martin being killed greatly put things into perspective for me. Trayvon Benjamin Martin (February 5, 1995 – February 26, 2012) was a 17-year-old African-American young man from Miami Gardens, Florida, who was fatally shot in Sanford, Florida, by George Zimmerman, a 28-year-old Hispanic-American man. Martin was walking home from the convenience store when Zimmerman saw Martin and reported him to the Stanford police department for looking suspicious. Zimmerman ended up fatally shooting Martin in the chest, taking his life. There was an interesting depiction between the book and the movie, and I was able to capture scenes the book does not provide. I find it helpful that the movie explains and deciphers different events. Reading the book before watching the movie was beneficial because it provided a preliminary understanding of the backstory. Overall, I am very happy we read the book, and although some parts were difficult to read, it is important to understand what has happened and how we can grow as a society to improve our caste system. 
 
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