Cultures Compromised: The Hidden Colors of Vestavia

The media below contains the opinion of an individual student and therefore does not represent or speak to the values of Vestavia Hills High School and Vestavia Hills City Schools

Photo Credits: Tero Vesalainen / Getty Images

To some degree, anyone who attends VHHS is privileged. And that is not a bad thing, necessarily, but it should be acknowledged that there are facilities, opportunities, and lifestyles we are accustomed to as Vestavia students that other students in our area can not enjoy. We have access to high-quality research materials, a plethora of extracurricular activities to choose from, and a wide and strong support system of teachers and administrators who help make Vestavia a thriving environment. That said, it should not come as a surprise that Vestavia, well-endowed and flourishing it may be, still suffers from a pervasive threat blemishing our school lives. 

Racism can happen anywhere, and it definitely is not the fault of a bunch of teenagers in a high school who are still figuring out their lives. But it is our responsibility to do better than those before us, and be mindful of the messages we knowingly and unknowingly spread. It is an uncomfortable topic to talk about (and for me to write about), but it is even more uncomfortable to live with. The following are student experiences that show some of the unfortunate colors of Vestavia.

Interviewee A says that she was looked down upon for being from a predominantly Black neighborhood when she transferred here. She understands that there are innate biases that everyone holds, but is disappointed with the lack of guidance for students who choose to discriminate. She describes the feeling of being the only Black student in classes, clubs, and other extracurriculars as uncomfortable and disconcerting; it gives her the impression that there is an inherent gap between her and her classmates and teachers solely because of her race. The most disturbing part of her account, however, is the issue of racial slurs. These derogatory remarks became an experience she got used to ignoring, due to the fear of speaking up and the knowledge that little would be done. She talks about parts of her Black culture being treated as a joke or a tool, even when they have shaped Birmingham, Alabama, and America as a whole. The one thing she hopes Vestavia will do to combat these issues is take responsibility and accept the fact that there are issues in the first place.

Interviewee B, another transfer student, mentions racial slurs and being the only Black student in class as problems that exist here in Vestavia. She similarly has faced multiple instances where students blatantly and ignorantly use slurs as though they are everyday vernacular and not words that are aimed at dehumanizing Black Americans. She expresses that it is frustrating to know that the repercussions for these kinds of actions are often a slap on the wrist, with no substantial plan to correct the behavior. Besides interactions with students, she mentions that her academic ability gets questioned unnecessarily, despite her having good academic standing. She has faced resistance when trying to sign up for challenging courses and has to prove herself in order to have the education she wants. She feels alienated by these experiences and hopes that Vestavia (and by that she means students and faculty) realizes the gravity of ignoring racism and takes action to do better.

Interviewee C (surprise, also a transfer!) talks about the feeling of having to choose between heritage and fitting in, knowing that certain aspects of her lifestyle and background clash with what is considered the norm. An issue she points out is the use of her heritage as a trend and a tool to showcase diversity, but not to truly honor it. She appreciates that people try to explore other cultures and understand their significance, but wishes that there were attempts to better educate students (and teachers) on the importance of cultural appropriation vs. appreciation. She mentions the pressure of feeling “White” enough, and giving up certain parts of herself that have shaped her in order to feel like a part of the group. Similar to Interviewee B, she says she has been underestimated academically as well and that she has had to fight for her abilities to be appreciated. She hopes that Vestavia can take these issues to become a better community for the diversity that exists in our lives.

The above accounts serve to allow Vestavia students to speak about the troubles they face as racial minorities without worry, and to show the community as a whole that there needs to be action. As a transfer student and a part of a racial minority myself, these problems matter to me, but I believe they should matter to anyone. I think I speak for most when I say that VHHS is putting in effort to become a school that embraces diversity for all its students, with I am Vestavia Week, student panels, feedback surveys, biliteracy seals, and more. But until and unless the problems that everyone pretends don’t exist are battled, racism at Vestavia will continue to be a burden on students’ backs. If there is anything you can take away from this article, let it be that change can start small, and it can start with you.

Vestavia can be racism-free if only everyone does their part.