Stories Of Racism In Its Halls Fuel Reform At Queens School

BRIARWOOD, QUEENS — An outpouring of stories about racist acts and rhetoric within the halls of Archbishop Molloy High School has prompted officials to form a new advisory council to weigh in on school policies and procedures related to diversity and inclusion.

The new council is composed of Archbishop Molloy alumni, parents and staffers and will work with the school's board and administrators on recommendations, according to a news release.

School officials cited "reported past and present student experiences of racism and sexism within Archbishop Molloy High School" as the impetus for forming the council.

In June, after the school responded to the nationwide protests over George Floyd's killing with a social media statement condemning "all acts and rhetoric of racism," hundreds of students and alumni came forward with their own stories of acts and rhetoric of racism from their peers and teachers at Archbishop Molloy.

Stories flooded the comments section of the school's Instagram account, then filled new anonymous websites and social media accounts that had popped up as an outlet for grievances about Molloy.

The students' and alumni's stories, which were first reported on by Patch, painted a pattern of unfettered racist and hateful rhetoric by teachers and students that they said were continually swept under the rug.

The new council, announced last week, is meant to help Molloy "build a community where students, faculty, and staff of every race, ethnicity, nationality, culture, immigration status, academic learning style, gender, sexual orientation, religion, and socioeconomic background can thrive," officials said in a news release.

Chairing the council is Tenisha McDonald, a 2007 graduate of Archbishop Molloy who is now an English PhD candidate at Princeton University.

"Called by founder St. Marcellin Champagnat to care for the 'least favored,' and rooted in shared Catholic Marist Charism, Molloy and the Council are committed to creating a school community where everyone can succeed, especially those from communities who have been marginalized by society," the school said.