Diversify Our Narrative Campaign Seeks to Revise Riverdale's Curricula

DON can be found on instagram by searching @diversifyournarrativercs – Graphic Courtesy of Awa Diop

With the goal of implementing more diverse and antiracist literature into the English and History curriculums, five juniors have worked tirelessly to create a sect at Riverdale of the nation-wide Diversify Our Narrative campaign. The inspiration first came to Dariana Almonte as she was scrolling through her Instagram. When she came across their page, she immediately realized the importance of bringing such a movement to Riverdale. Almonte explained, “the English and History curriculum at Riverdale is very Eurocentric... We want to incorporate more antiracist literature and literature that’s relatable to the experiences of people of color so that it doesn’t paint them as otherworldly beings.”

Close friends Maya Fernando, Jada Grant, YoYo Feliz, and Awa Diop joined forces with Almonte to bring the initiative to the Riverdale community. Feliz pointed out that diverse perspectives are usually only heard in language or elective courses, like “Black American Literature” taught by Ms. Shelby Stokes. She also noted that a lack of a representative curriculum “harms students from being able to develop empathy and understanding of other perspectives and cultures.”

The team’s first call to action was seeking guidance from the Dean of the Class of 2022, Ms. Susan Polise. Ms. Polise has been an amazing aid and support system to the team, as she helped them to navigate and plan their next steps.

Each of the five students has a specific role in the campaign. “Everyone does their part,” said Almonte. “We’re like a well-oiled machine.” The roles consist of Co-Leader, Parent/Teacher Outreach, Local Organization Outreach Director, and Media Manager.

Co-Leaders Almonte and Fernando plan and coordinate meetings and the future steps of the initiative. They also remain in contact with the larger organization through a woman named Esmeralda Reyes, a student at Stanford University, who has provided great guidance and resources to get the initiative on track.

Diop, the Media Manager for the campaign’s Instagram account, plans on creating posts that teach students about holistic representation and provide updates on the group’s progress at Riverdale. “The page is important so students can understand what’s happening behind the scenes,” Diop said.

Grant, who is in charge of teacher outreach, has been avidly setting up meetings to facilitate the team’s communication with teachers and administrators. So far, the students have met with the Dean of Faculty, Mr. Ricky Lapidus, the Head of the English Department, Dr. Deborah Aschkenes, and the Head of the Upper School, Mr. Tom Taylor. When the team spoke with Dr. Aschkenes, she mentioned that she would like their help in reviewing the eighth grade curriculum. Fernando added, “The English department has

been incredibly keen to work with us. Our relationship right now is like a partnership. It’s been really helpful for us to move forward.” Likewise, the team has been drafting a petition that they plan to send out to the student body. Since the greater organization of Diversify Our Narrative works with both private and public schools, Diop explained that the team has “had to change the mandates due to different requirements that Riverdale has already filled out and because there are things that specifically pertain to Riverdale that weren’t mentioned by the larger organization.” According to Feliz, the team has also sent out surveys to students and faculty, which prompted them to “reevaluate and revise the information [they] were putting in the petition.”

In the upcoming weeks, the team hopes to meet with the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging Board, the Head of School, Dominic A.A. Randolph, and the Board of Trustees.

The petition will be brought to the Board as evidence of the student body’s passion for change. In the future, Grant has suggested the creation of “a board of students who could advise the teachers on books to add to the curriculum and how to teach those books.” But, the team’s overarching aim for now is to create an opportunity for student communication if one feels there is a lack of representation in any department.

“We deserve to read things that are representative of the community at large and that will help us to dismantle a system that has continually oppressed people of color,” stated Almonte. “Now is the time we are called to action.”