Photo via @blackatking/Instagram
April 29, 2021, 1:36 pm*
A private school in Stamford, Connecticut had to issue an apology after an Instagram account spent months documenting examples of faculty racism from its Black students, including one case of acting out a slave-catching.
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The account, “Black at King,” was created in June 2020 and soon had dozens of kids who were current or former students at King School recounting how they were singled out, harassed, and sexualized by staff members, including teachers.
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One particularly horrific story detailed how white staff members set up a kind of reenactment of the Underground Railroad, making Black students run through the woods and hide only to be “caught” by white classmates.
“We were led by another white counselor to a ‘safe house’ and made to hide in the bathroom,” wrote one anonymous individual. “The ‘slave catchers’ then found some of us in the bathroom and captured us, splitting us from the group.”
According to the student, this happened in a 6th grade class.
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In addition to sharing stories like these, the Instagram account shares photos of King School faculty members with specific accusations of racism leveled against each. One such post accuses Becky Rabassa, chair of the counseling department, of mocking protests against the police killing of Eric Garner as well as “patterns of undervaluing Black students capabilities during college counseling,” and even “drinking on school trips.”
In addition to patterns of racism, multiple female students shared their discomfort with Athletic Operations Director Thomas Decker, with one saying he “continuously hyper-sexualized female students to the point where students didn’t want to play specific sports due to their uniform and the discomfort of knowing he was around.” Another accused him of frequently commenting on the clothing of female students yet “no one of higher power ever took any action.”
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The Black at King account contains over 100 stories like these, including many instances of focus on and non-consensual touching of Black hair and use of the n-word among white students.
After the account began catching attention, King School issued an extensive statement apologizing for what Black students had endured on their campus and detailing their plan to increase diversity in the school and ensure that students of color feel safe within their walls.
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“Our plan derives from a firm commitment to be better and do better – as individuals and as a school,” the statement reads. “We deeply regret and apologize for the pain suffered by anyone within our walls. Our goal to become a more inclusive school and an anti-racist institution will require us to work to ensure a safe space for every member of our community – especially for those who belong to communities of color.”
*First Published: April 29, 2021, 1:35 pm
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