"Justin Walton and Emiliano Estrada founded the club so that people could share their experience of being a person of color in America." --Trevor Walton
The brothers of color club started this year at OSA. Justin Walton and Emiliano Estrada founded the club so that people could share their experience of being a person of color in America. I’ve been to this club since it started and I am amazed with how people are able to talk about things that they wouldn’t normally be able to say to other people outside the group. The people in the club get to bring up anything in this society, like racism, current events, and anything else that’s going on in their life. Ms. Menzies is the advisor of the club, which meets in room 302 on Fridays at lunch.
Trevor Walton: When did you guys meet?
Justin Walton: His freshman year and my sophomore year. Emiliano was shadowing literary arts.
TW: Why did you guys create this club? Who’s idea was it to make it?
Emiliano Estrada: We’re apart of this group called Link Learning. And, we talked to Mr. Oz about how we need a safe environment were boys of color can go in a safe space.
JW: A lot of people were giving us input. But, we were the main core of it.
TW: What ideas do you have for the next club meeting? Meaning, what are you guys going to bring up at the meeting?
EE: Last time, Mr. Secrease talked about how short black history was and we want to talk more about it since black history month is every day.
JW: We also wanted to talk about how masculinity intersects with race and culture.
TW: What’s your favorite thing about the club?
JW: My favorite thing about the club is that men of color unite and can talk about their experiences and thoughts in a safe space.
EE: My favorite part is being able to share my story and not educate people about it, and everybody knows what I am feeling.
TW: Can both of you tell me one word to describe the club? like wonderful or powerful?
JW: Unity, because all of us is coming together as one group.
EE: I would say home because I feel safe, respected there, trusted, comfortable, and can trust everyone else.
TW: When both of you guys go to college, are you gonna end the club or have a new leader or leaders?
JW: I feel like we’re not leaders, it is open to everyone and everyone can lead the club if they want, with a topic. And, hopefully it can still go on and hopefully it can count as a class like a class period for it.
EE: What I want is people to look forward to being there and feeling like they can be a part of something bigger themselves.
TW: What goal do you want to bring or have in the club?
EE: My goal is if we can have a family at OSA that we can look at each other and call them brothers.
JW: I want everyone to feel like they have a voice.
TW: My last question I have is, which historical person or current person to you look up to and can describe you and see yourself like them
JW: For me, it’s Common. I have always look up to him as a powerful black artist, writer, and poet. He inspired me to start rapping and writing.
EE: So, I look up to my mom because she helps underserved people.
TW: Anything else you both want to say?
EE: It’s important to know that we are not the co-presidents or leaders. All we did was give space for a community to be itself.
I sat down with Cava Menzies, who is the advisor of the club as well as the Diversity and Equity Coordinator at OSA. What she had to say was special and amazing.
TW: Can you tell me any words to describe the club? like wonderful or powerful?
Cava Menzies: I was going to say powerful, united, strength in numbers, and excellence.
TW: What’s your favorite thing about the club?
CM: My favorite thing is seeing young men of color coming together and seeing faculty adult men supporting our brothers.
TW: Why do you think a club like this is important to exist at OSA?
CM: I think this kind of club is essential in adressing the marginalization of our young men of color at OSA, and I would like to add that too often young men of color are stereotyped and seen as either behavior problems or disruptions in the classroom. We need to disrupt this line of thinking and create a platform where young men of color are celebrated and supported at OSA.
TW: My last question I have is, which historical person or current person to you look up to.
CM: For me, it’s Maya Angelou. I love the way she always speaks the truth. And, her personal story of overcoming adversity and finding her own voice empowers me to use my own voice.
TW: Anything else you want to say?
CM: I am so excited that we have a brothers of color group at OSA and I want to thank Justin Walton and Emiliano Estrada for their leadership and vision.
Trevor Walton: When did you guys meet?
Justin Walton: His freshman year and my sophomore year. Emiliano was shadowing literary arts.
TW: Why did you guys create this club? Who’s idea was it to make it?
Emiliano Estrada: We’re apart of this group called Link Learning. And, we talked to Mr. Oz about how we need a safe environment were boys of color can go in a safe space.
JW: A lot of people were giving us input. But, we were the main core of it.
TW: What ideas do you have for the next club meeting? Meaning, what are you guys going to bring up at the meeting?
EE: Last time, Mr. Secrease talked about how short black history was and we want to talk more about it since black history month is every day.
JW: We also wanted to talk about how masculinity intersects with race and culture.
TW: What’s your favorite thing about the club?
JW: My favorite thing about the club is that men of color unite and can talk about their experiences and thoughts in a safe space.
EE: My favorite part is being able to share my story and not educate people about it, and everybody knows what I am feeling.
TW: Can both of you tell me one word to describe the club? like wonderful or powerful?
JW: Unity, because all of us is coming together as one group.
EE: I would say home because I feel safe, respected there, trusted, comfortable, and can trust everyone else.
TW: When both of you guys go to college, are you gonna end the club or have a new leader or leaders?
JW: I feel like we’re not leaders, it is open to everyone and everyone can lead the club if they want, with a topic. And, hopefully it can still go on and hopefully it can count as a class like a class period for it.
EE: What I want is people to look forward to being there and feeling like they can be a part of something bigger themselves.
TW: What goal do you want to bring or have in the club?
EE: My goal is if we can have a family at OSA that we can look at each other and call them brothers.
JW: I want everyone to feel like they have a voice.
TW: My last question I have is, which historical person or current person to you look up to and can describe you and see yourself like them
JW: For me, it’s Common. I have always look up to him as a powerful black artist, writer, and poet. He inspired me to start rapping and writing.
EE: So, I look up to my mom because she helps underserved people.
TW: Anything else you both want to say?
EE: It’s important to know that we are not the co-presidents or leaders. All we did was give space for a community to be itself.
I sat down with Cava Menzies, who is the advisor of the club as well as the Diversity and Equity Coordinator at OSA. What she had to say was special and amazing.
TW: Can you tell me any words to describe the club? like wonderful or powerful?
Cava Menzies: I was going to say powerful, united, strength in numbers, and excellence.
TW: What’s your favorite thing about the club?
CM: My favorite thing is seeing young men of color coming together and seeing faculty adult men supporting our brothers.
TW: Why do you think a club like this is important to exist at OSA?
CM: I think this kind of club is essential in adressing the marginalization of our young men of color at OSA, and I would like to add that too often young men of color are stereotyped and seen as either behavior problems or disruptions in the classroom. We need to disrupt this line of thinking and create a platform where young men of color are celebrated and supported at OSA.
TW: My last question I have is, which historical person or current person to you look up to.
CM: For me, it’s Maya Angelou. I love the way she always speaks the truth. And, her personal story of overcoming adversity and finding her own voice empowers me to use my own voice.
TW: Anything else you want to say?
CM: I am so excited that we have a brothers of color group at OSA and I want to thank Justin Walton and Emiliano Estrada for their leadership and vision.