I find that I must respond to Ava Sophia Brown’s article, “POWER Doesn’t Empower” addressing misconceptions of the POWER Scholars Program at Harriton High School.

A study of being Black in a community predominantly lacking color is deficient without the inclusion of unions and organizations targeted at cultural unity. In a school saturated in white privilege, as is the inarguable reality of the Main Line, is it really justified to attack a class focused on African-American enlightenment?

The prestigious colleges and universities of our nation all have Black student unions or alliances. Harvard alone has a Black Students Association that was founded in 1977. Their aspirations, ultimately, are to “provide a forum for the open expression of the political, social, and cultural views of Black students.” To degrade this principle of racial progression is to promote societal retrogression.

The self-proclaimed goals of the POWER Scholars Program at Harriton High School are to “provide a forum that is safe and healthy for African-American students to voice their ideas, differences, [and] goals, along with celebrating their cultural heritage. In POWER, students have the opportunity to dialogue about the importance of receiving a rigorous and well-rounded education through high-level and rigorous course work.”

These statements are explicit in their intention. You, yourself claim in your article that these goals “…seem to promote a very positive atmosphere for black students in Harriton, and, without a doubt, are largely met.” However, your assertion is contradictory, especially when you proceed to spew false statements as to why the program is less than beneficial.

Students are notified about the POWER Scholars program prior to high school, even if not explicitly given the option to actively select the program. Similar to physical education, health class, and study halls. If there is merit in understanding anatomically how the body works, is it not important to understand culturally who you are? There would be more credibility and integrity in your desiring an expansion of cultural classes, specifically targeting other minority groups.

Asian, Indian, and Middle Eastern empowerment is insufficiently recognized. Why not promote that? Harriton’s motto is Carpe Diem. Seize the day and the opportunity to praise inclusive programs that aim to assimilate students into its community. POWER welcomes anyone who wishes to join, even those who are biracial. I have known many people, previously and currently, who are of mixed races and thrive in the supportive environment this class provides.

 You claim to be part Irish and part Black. You state, “Heritage is important to me, and I wouldn’t say for a second that I identify as Irish before black.” If this is true, why not embrace the opportunity to further your understanding of one half of your lineage? Why dehumanize it? Why not even attend one class to experience its benefits before dismissively rejecting its value?

As someone who is often questioned about their race, I am especially cognizant of cultural implications. I have grown keenly aware of a skewed perception of how the world views people of color and how people of color view themselves.

To embrace and understand my African-American heritage is invaluable to me. I cannot fathom that someone of my race, of any race, in fact, could be so uneducated as to openly criticize it in the manner of your article. That being said, obviously this is indicative of your incomprehension. Those who agree with you should also sit in on a POWER class, to understand the class, the process, and the benefits.

Opting out is potentially one of the biggest mistakes or missteps of a novice high school student, but is yours to make.

You also proclaim, “While the benefits to providing at outlet for African-American students seems fundamentally good, forcing them to forego an elective—an engineering, perhaps a journalism course that might have given students a leg up in college admissions AND life skills—is not worth it for many students.”

It is rather impressive to see a sophomore attempt to lecture on the principles of college admissions; there are unmistakable discrepancies in that which you have alluded. If the students in the program wish to participate in an engineering course, the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) or the Technology Student Association (TSA) are viable and available options, in which many POWER students do participate. For journalism, there is clearly The Harriton Banner, as you have so readily exhibited to the Lower Merion School District.

However, there are two issues that I find to be problematic with these alternate “outlets,” as you have called them. The first being time. You speak with genuine concern about the perils of the “motivated Black student.” So then you should be aware of the numerous commitments the typical “driven” student would possess.

After school athletics, clubs, study sessions, and jobs often leave miniscule time for additional extracurricular activities. The typical high-achieving student would, in fact, be relieved by the effortless incorporation of an ethnic class into their primary course schedule, right? I think so.

From my perspective, it is unfortunate that we are being labeled by a young girl who seems to be motivated solely by taking the effort to write a piece that, although passionate, is misinformed.

Personally, as a senior, I advise you to place your energy into more positive, productive actions that will profoundly further your academic career. In the future, I beg that you be thoughtful enough to take into consideration the legitimacy of your claims. Please do not speak about a topic of which you have no knowledge. You have never stepped foot in a POWER class.

You also go on to say, “An opt-out program targeted to a minority is essentially wrong. Why must POWER be a part of every black kid’s school day?”

If a primary aspect of your argument is that POWER is automatically placed into schedules, why are you condemning the ability to “opt-out”? You have proven that it is not a part of every Black student’s school day. You can voluntarily choose to leave. Furthermore, why avoid expanding your knowledge in the realm of African-American achievements?

How is spreading education insinuating a stereotype of intrinsic negatives? You speak about Black straight-A students wasting their time in this class. That is a generalization in itself. If you are such a scholar, why are you attacking a program that promotes learning? Why are you falsely condemning the accomplishments of all of the high-achieving students who have successfully, happily and willingly, participated in this program?

Your dismissal of POWER is demeaning and speaks of condescension. In turn, if you would ever like to compare grades, and/or rigor of schedules in regard to AP and Honors courses, please let me know. From personal experience, despite high academic achievement, the skills acquired in this class are vital to every student, from all academic levels.

“Patronizing.” A cultural class is patronizing? Attempt sitting in an AP course as the only Black student. Try sitting in four of these classes. Explain to me that reality does not speak to the perceived inferiority of minority excellence, not in lack of ability, but lack of resources and encouragement.

If you question the execution of POWER, you can look to history to justify its current relevancy and necessary implementation as a regular curriculum course. Before your time at Harriton there was a club known as D.R.E.A.M., which enforced the same goals as POWER. Due to previously mentioned complications in mass simultaneous scheduling, and its intrinsic similarity to POWER, this club was transformed into the program we have today.

In 2016, amidst a time saturated in racial tension and injustice, you are the shining example of misinformation and fear of the unknown. The epitome of negating a program before you know what it truly is and for what it fundamentally stands. It is for people such as yourself that programs like this are constructed, essentially for the betterment of cultural awareness and societal evolution. If you would ever like some future advice on this topic, the door to Mr. Bantoe’s class is always open. We are happy to welcome and inform all who are curious and wish to broaden their minds. All you have to do is ask.