Let’s Talk About Race
“Real change starts when every voice, big or small, feels heard, safe, and valued.”
by Tugesyege Kimenyi, Tanzania (RBC 2024-26)
On 30th January this year, our school community came together for a powerful event: Let’s Talk About Race, a Special Focus Day dedicated to raising awareness, challenging stereotypes, and creating open, brave spaces for conversation and learning. While the initiative was born within our school, its message and spirit should be a global reminder that conversations about race matter everywhere.
In preparing for the day, I had the privilege of working closely with the Anti-Racism Group, a dynamic and passionate team made up of both racialized and non-racialized student and staff members. Our goal was clear: to listen deeply to our community’s voices, to address their concerns honestly, and to create a space where every participant could feel heard, seen, and safe. We gathered input, brainstormed ideas, and built an event that wasn’t just about learning but also about action.
Offering emotional support
One of the most important aspects of our work was anticipating the emotional impact such discussions on the day could have. Peer supporters were designated and were ready to offer emotional support if needed. Participants were allowed to step outside whenever discussions felt overwhelming, because taking care of oneself is just as important as engaging in discussions.
An invitation to reflect and inspire change
The workshops offered during the day were classified according to their emphasis: Learning, Empathizing, and Acting. However, each was a powerful reminder that racism wears many faces – some loud, some subtle – and that they all must be recognized and addressed if we are to make progress. Each workshop also encouraged participants to reflect on their own beliefs and experiences while motivating them to be agents of change. For example, I was able to attend:
- Black Jesus or White Jesus? — A bold discussion that challenged how racial perceptions have shaped religious imagery and identity.
- You Asians Are So Nice — A critical look into the hidden harm of “positive” stereotypes, showing that even compliments based on race can be damaging.
- The Colourism Talk — An exploration confronting how lighter skin tone is often unfairly privileged, from beauty standards to broader societal opportunities
Also on the day, I was honoured to host the panel discussion alongside Emilio, our school social pedagogue. We welcomed four inspiring experts:
- Grace Wacera, a Kenyan researcher based in Belfort,
- Dinh Hung Vu, a psychologist and researcher living in Norway,
- Anas Sansar, a researcher at ABI Freiburg, and
- Jarral Boyd, an anti-racism trainer based in Berlin.
Each shared their personal journeys, the experiences behind their passion for justice, the challenges they’ve faced, and the lessons they’ve learned. The experts also offered practical advice on how to recognize racism, how to respond as a bystander, and how to be resilient in fighting for equality even when the road feels long. One message that resonated deeply for me was that hope doesn’t come from ignoring problems; it comes from confronting them together.
Building a world where everyone belongs
The entire day was a vivid reminder that anti-racism work is not just about reacting to injustice but about proactively building a world where everyone belongs. It showed the school community that efforts at change don’t just take the form of grand gestures and official campaigns; change lives in everyday actions, everyday conversations, and everyday courage.
I’m very grateful to have helped organize and to participate on the day, and I strongly believe that events like these plant seeds that grow into lasting change. I now hope that the spirit of “Let’s Talk About Race” won’t live on in just memories of that day, but also in the choices we all make moving forward, every single day.
Silence never changed the world.
Speaking up, listening deeply, and acting boldly –
that’s how revolutions begin!
