Racism, ableism and homophobia are on the rise in Los Alamos public schools – Los Alamos Reporter

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BY OLIVIA HAMILTONFreshmanLos Alamos High School

Dear LAPS School Board Members,

As a person of color at Los Alamos High School, I have experienced racism in our community before. And repeatedly inside and outside the school. As a freshman at LAHS this year, racism, ableism, and homophobia within our schools began to rise.

Ever since I moved to Los Alamos and been in the school system starting in 4th grade, and I’m currently in 9th grade, and even in elementary school, I’ve experienced racism. I was told the following: “You are black on the outside, but white on the inside.” This was said to me to try to assert that there is a certain way I should act because of my skin color. That I don’t fit the stereotype they believe of black people. This happened at the downtown activity center and was said by a 6th grader at the time, to me a 4th grader.

Just in the last two months, I decided to see how many insults and disgusting remarks I could save at school. Below are quotes from students, mostly freshmen at LAHS, that I have heard. These quotes contain racist, ableist, homophobic and just plain nasty remarks.

“No, I hate *name*, that’s a big ass!” »

“What do you hate? »

“I hate mean people.”

*written on his phone was “faggots”*

“You monkey! *Laughs*”

“You are an albino monkey!”

“I hate people with disabilities.”

“No, I said you’re retarded”

“*various stereotypical Asian noises*”

“*name* your bitch!” »

“Negro.”

“Like nigga, nobody cares.”

“What would you make illegal if you were on the county council?” »

“Homosexuality.”

“What else would you make illegal?”

“Transgender”.

“Like nigga, nobody cares.”

“Go America beat the terrorists!” (watching the USA vs Iran World Cup)

“Queer.”

“Nigga.

“Fagot.”

This is a fundamental problem within our community in Los Alamos. As in our schools, students are expected to feel safe and welcomed to continue their education. But I don’t feel welcome when people look at me like an animal. I am alienated from my classmates. When I interact with others, it’s an insult or someone caresses me and touches my hair, like I’m an animal in a petting zoo. Even outside of school, for example at Smith’s, I am unable to enter without people looking at me. Indeed, many Los Alamos adults went to school in LAHS or a school near Los Alamos. And they weren’t taught in their schools or reprimanded for the lack of diversity at Los Alamos. I find it disgusting that even in our elementary schools, children are beginning to discriminate against their peers.

I strongly urge the LAPS School Board to find a way to let their students know how horrible and disgusting it is to say those words, because I personally know that I hate having to hear things like that every day. I propose a course or even a lesson to prevent the remarks and remarks that I have to hear today. These lessons or classes should begin around 4th through 7th grade and continue through high school. Because without proper education on these words, I know that racism, ableism and homophobia will not stop and will only continue to grow.

Editor’s note: Olivia told the Los Alamos Reporter that the school district has started cracking down on these issues in schools and is beginning to treat them as a serious issue. She told the Acting Superintendent. Jennifer Guy contacted her and school board president Melanie Colgan,

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