Name: Paige Hodges
Age: 17
Hometown: Kansas City, MO
Current town: Kansas City, MO
Education/Activities/Future Plans: I’m an incoming high school senior [at Liberty High School], I plan to go to a 4-year university pursuing a career in education, I’m on the leadership team of my school’s Diversity Council, I’m a Section Editor and Online Manager for The Bell [Liberty High School’s student newspaper], I’m the Executive Secretary for Student Council, and I play the cello and piano.
What does being Black mean to you?
“This question truly resonates with me because all my life I have experienced people trying to put me in a box. I have been told that I am either ‘too Black” or ‘too white,’ so knowing who I am as a Black individual is essential. Aside from DNA, being Black is embracing the legacy that you’re born into. African-American men and women are a part of generations of resilient people. Being Black is knowing where you come from and the history of your people. Being Black is standing in your uniqueness unapologetically. Being Black is being your brother and sister’s keeper. Being Black is having the power of melanin, tradition, creation, and strong ancestors behind you. Being Black is being true to yourself and who you want to be.”
If you don’t mind sharing, what was your earliest experience with racism?
“One experience that does stick out in particular is a point in time during my 4th grade year. For me, this experience was painful because it was unlike the daily microaggressions I became accustomed to. People that I considered my closest friends tormented me everyday with their racially insensitive jokes about my skin complexion. I didn’t say anything to anyone about how much their words hurt me. Everyday I would dread lunch because I knew that I would have to listen to my friends make jokes, make everyone at our lunch table laugh, and not even consider what they were saying.
I assumed my friends didn’t mean any harm; I told myself everyday that I was just too uptight. I persuaded myself into thinking that, as many people were laughing, it had to me that was the problem. I believed that maybe they were right; my skin is ‘made of poop,’ and I do resemble ‘an animal.’ I figured that it was okay to be the brunt of the joke if everyone else was comfortable.
The jokes, laughing, and my delusion made for weeks of very bad lunches for me. Nothing changed until I told my parents about it after crying to myself, and even then I wasn’t completely forthcoming because I knew that my parents would do anything to stop my pain. I didn’t want to draw more attention to myself, get my classmates in trouble, or disappoint my parents for not speaking up.”
What do you want non-Black POC and white allies to know right now?
“I want them to know that we are experiencing a revolution; real change is beginning to occur and white people need to decide what side of history they want to be on. I also want them to understand that POC are tired of bearing the burden of bringing up the conversation of race, or facilitating change. I encourage white people to discuss topics amongst their friends and family, especially if it makes them uncomfortable. The discomfort that they may feel is not even a quarter of what POC endure everyday. My message to people that want to be strong white allies is for them to make an intentional effort to diversify their lives and educate themselves. There are so many resources that are available for people to find ways to step out of their comfort zone or learn about what other people in America experience. White allies need to seek opportunities to learn more about how they as individuals can help uproot racism in their workplaces, homes, schools, cities, etc. They also need to know that it isn’t Black people’s job to educate them, validate their ‘wokeness,’ or make them comfortable. I also would like white individuals to know that they have privileges that many minority groups don’t, but they shouldn’t feel guilty about it. In fact, they should use their white privilege to help elevate POC. If everyone works together to speak out, stand up, and create change, we will make progress.”
Want to share a story about race, racism, colorism, prejudice, etc.?
“Unfortunately, I have plenty to tell regarding those topics. My parents, grandparents, friends, extended family, and even I have had negative experiences in regards to our race. To be honest, the amount of stories I can tell is disgustingly high.”
Have you had any experiences with systemic racism (in school, work, etc.)?
“I think many white people, and some minorities for that matter, have a hard time detecting the negative effects of systemic racism. Unless you are a victim of systemic racism, or are forced to think about it, then you don’t even consider it as an issue.
In school, I have witnessed systemic racism adversely affect many Black students, and, unfortunately, most of the time it goes unnoticed. Many teachers don’t even realize that their biases subconsciously affect their decisions or perspective of certain students.
As early as elementary school, I remember being disciplined differently than other white students. Just like what is exhibited in the U.S. justice system, I would do the same thing other students would do, but I would receive no warning [like they did] with harsher punishments. This would especially happen whenever there was a substitute teacher, or when other educators in the building that weren’t mine felt I needed to be called out. This all made me feel like a target was on my back, which was definitely annoying, however it was a harsh reality I had to learn. I am not always going to be treated the same as my white peers; I cannot do everything that my white peers do because there are just some mistakes that I can’t make without being adversely affected.”
What has been your experience with your high school Diversity Council? What has made it that way?
“Diversity Council has been one the highlights of my high school career. I met so many great people, expressed myself in ways that I wouldn’t have imagined, and found a space in the school that makes me feel truly welcome.”
How does your race affect you in the journalism field?
“For the most part, I have only experienced positive effects. I am able to bring up issues that others may not consider because of my personal experiences and perspective. I also am able to use Newspaper as a platform to express myself and bring to light a variety of topics to a larger audience.”
In your education history, how would you describe the diversity in school; diversity in the people teaching you, as well as what they’re teaching.
“I have had two teachers of color thus far in my academic career. One teacher being a Black man that has since left my high school, and another being a hispanic woman that teaches Spanish. Basically the lack of diversity in education, and my district specifically, is especially evident. I have experienced teachers trying to incorporate diversity, or more variety in topics during the past school year. However, I have not had that experience in previous school years at all. Also, there is a lack of cultural, perspective, and life experience diversity. Many of the teachers in my school district graduated from the same universities, lived in the same cities or states, and in addition, many never even lived outside of the midwest.”
As someone who wants to work in secondary education when they’re older, how do you think we should improve diversity in schools?
“This is a great resource: https://e4e.org/call-action-diversifying-teaching-workforce To Keep teachers of color/diverse educators in schools we need to:
Give them structured support from their peers early in their careers, including opportunities that allow educators with similar backgrounds who encounter similar challenges to learn from each other Also, ensure that they will receive help with teaching students that are of a different race than them
Create teacher leadership groups that provide career and professional growth opportunities for teachers of all backgrounds
Make all schools inclusive environments that acknowledge, respect, and celebrate all students and teachers identities
Develop a system that doesn’t allow teachers of color or diverse educators to be targeted/isolated
Provide all teachers and school leaders with access to supports and training to reduce bias among their staff, their students, and themselves
Ensuring there are no racial or gender disparities in teacher compensation and salaries
Ensure that the teachers of color or diverse educators feel protected by their employers or leaders above them, especially when issues are reported about them
There should also be diversity and inclusion. We will increase recruitment of teacher candidates from underrepresented backgrounds by:
Increasing teacher compensation so that salaries of educators are competitive with comparable professions in the same community
Ensuring students of color see teachers of color in front of their classrooms and leading their schools, so that they will see teaching is a viable profession
Providing students in middle and high school with learning opportunities that foster their interest in the teaching profession
Targeting outreach to communities underrepresented in the teacher workforce and making potential teachers, from current students, paraprofessionals, to mid-career individuals, aware of the opportunities to build a career in education
Reducing the financial hardships for prospective and early-career teachers, such as those associated with program tuition, housing, transportation, and certification
Reach out to HBCUs with good education programs and build a relationship, or a pipeline to schools in need of diverse educators.
Ensure that diverse educators feel comfortable sharing new ideas, promoting new concepts, or addressing issues that they come across.”
What are you passionate about?
“I am passionate about my family, friends, education, social justice, politics, and the social climate of America. I am also passionate about music and writing; I feel like they both act as avenues of self-expression. I also enjoy helping others, bringing light to those that are underrepresented, and volunteering my time or money any way I can.”
What inspires you?
“My life experiences, friends, and family inspire me. I also am inspired by the world around me and the current issues that affect people.”
Who do you look up to?
“I look up to my mom, dad, and the strong women in my life that love me. I am inspired by women like former First Lady Michelle Obama, Angela Rye, Yara Shahidi, Viola Davis, and Ruth Bader Ginsburg. I am also inspired by activists like Aalayah Eastmond, Cameron Kasky, David Hogg, Emma González, Greta Thunberg, Tarana Burke, Alex Wind, Naomi Wadler, Mari Copeny, Marley Dias, Mya Middleton, and Malala Yousafzai.”
If you have something you want to promote (your art, music, business, etc.) do it here!
“I have a small business called Pretty Neat Living Company. The company provides organizational services and advice.”
Here are some organizations Paige would like to promote!
Dream Defenders: https://dreamdefenders.org/
Loveland Therapy Fund: https://thelovelandfoundation.org/loveland-therapy-fund/
NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund: https://www.naacpldf.org/
Girls on the Run Greater KC: https://www.gotrkc.org/
Know Your Rights Camp: https://www.knowyourrightscamp.com/
National Urban League: https://nul.org/
The HBCU Foundation: https://thehbcufoundation.org/
Any COVID-19 Relief Fund (here’s a database of them): https://candid.org/explore-issues/coronavirus/funds
Here are 20 of Paige's favorite songs!
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