4 FEATURES AND ARTS TOWER/APRIL 30, 2018 FEATURES AND ARTS 5 BLACK LIVES MATTER: THEN AND NOW Carolyn Alston recounts challenges as Masters’ frst black student Equality is not easy: witnessing a BLM protest BLM protest OPINION “An all-white society” and not just for yourself. ABC sent me there, my family sent me there: you want to do this not only for yourself but for other people also. And that’s ziA FOxHAll lice, I hereby declare this an unlawful assembly. I order AlexAndrA bentzien kind of heavy for someone in high school.” attempts to cross In September 1965, Masters’ ABC students arrived. Though the records of their Contributing Writer all those assembled at the 9A northbound to immediate- Features Editor coming to Masters is unclear, it appears that not two, but three students arrived: Administration did try to welcome Alston as best as it could, and she does not ly disperse. If you remain in this immediate vicinity, you Alston, an African-American from New Haven, Connecticut; Maria Viera, a Latina remember “anybody intentionally doing anything overtly racist.” may be arrested or subject to other police action.” dAVid Oks from New York City; and Josephine Youpee, a Sioux Indian girl from Poplar, Mon- “I think everybody did what they thought was right. I always felt that the Within the frst thirty minutes It was in this moment that I really had to pause and Tappan Zee Bridge Opinion Editor tana. administration, at least the administration that I interacted with, were trying to of arriving at the Black Women’s observe my surroundings. Out of all the offcers present Alston had come to Masters from Basset Junior High School, a school in a work- act honorably,” she said. March in Tarrytown, we were wel- that day, only one was black. Not only was there almost ing-class part of New Haven. “I came from an environment where things were seg- Nevertheless, Alston felt like somewhat of an outsider. “Even though every- comed by the jeers of a woman no representation of the black community amongst the one did what they could to be inclusive, they didn’t really understand me and asters prides itself on fostering regated,” she said. “Going to Masters was totally different, as it was an all-white yelling from her car, “Go home!” police offcers, there was a clear disconnect between the Vincent AlbAn a 32-year-old son faced the police Ma inclusive environment, where society, it was an all- I didn’t really understand them, so I did feel kind of isolated,” she said. “In Disheartening, as it was, it served people and those intended to protect them. The wall of head-on. With tears in her eyes, diversity in opinions is encouraged and girls school. So it was housing, I think, I was treated as reminder of how necessary these marches are. Ten state troopers blocking the ramp would not even look the Photo Editor she said, “I’m tired of [them] kill- emphasis is placed on implementing a big cultural change.” differently. As a new student, I minutes later, a man driving into the CVS parking lot protesters in the eyes; it was dehumanizing. ing our babies. That’s why I’m here. progressive change. Administrators in The diffculty of was assigned to a single room exclaimed “This is New York, there is no discrimination The leaders of the march and those involved with the emmA luis I’m tired of being a mom and I’m and later years I roomed with particular have articulated a school- coming to Masters here!” a statement further perpetuating the point that protest were aware that the crossing of the bridge is an News Editor scared for my son every day. I call wide vision refecting core values; af- was compounded by another ABC student.” there is not enough representation nor acknowledgement illegal action, but what is the most frustrating was the him every morning and at night. I’m fnity groups have fowered into being, leaving her family. In September 1966, The Tow- of the black struggle in New York, let alone America. NYPD’s readiness to resort to violence and to hurt, not tired; that’s why I’m not scared to offering settings for students with sim- In New Haven, she er ran an article on the progress When it comes to being a black girl growing up in Amer- help. Even before Green had told the protesters to head Despite the risk of arrest, organiz- cross this bridge. It’s scary to be a ilar identities to meet; and students had been close to her of the ABC girls, titled “Carolyn, ica, I have been fairly sheltered. The brunt of the racism back, an offcer had begun unloading the disorder control ers of a #BlackLivesMatter protest, mom of a black man. He’s 32 years from a variety of backgrounds from all brothers, sisters and Maria, Josi: A Year Later.” The I have faced has been through microaggressions, ignorant truck with the weapons used to physically break up riots, Tania Conner and Vanessa Green, old and I call him every day like he’s around the globe are represented in the cousins. “My life be- article found that Alston had ac- comments or I was just too naive to fully understand. the same weapons that have caused deaths and countless pushed to have protesters cross 12. ‘Where are you? Are you safe? community. fore Masters totally climated well to Masters: “Happi- However, when looking around at the world, anyone who injuries while attempting to disperse protesters. the Gov. Mario M. Cuomo Bridge Did you get home yet?’ Every day Yet it was only 50 years ago that Mas- revolved around my ly enough, they all enjoyed them- pays enough attention can clearly see systemic racism With the amount of manpower and offcers working starting from the entrance ramp in I call my son because I’m scared. ters’ frst black student, Carolyn Alston, family,” Alston said. selves for the most part, yet they surrounds us. It wasn’t until the Black Women’s March, overtime on a Saturday morning, I believe they could Tarrytown, New York on Apr. 7. In- That’s why I’m here. That’s why we graduated from Masters in 1968. Upon “You were separated admitted a few things did take a on April 7th, that I bore witness frsthand to members of have directed that energy into safely helping the protest- spired in the wake of the recent po- march.” frst stepping foot on Masters campus from your family, as little getting-used-to,” the article society actively trying to thwart the success of black peo- ers cross the bridge. Even if that was too much to ask, lice shootings of Stephon Clark and “This is such an important cause. in 1965, Alston was aware of how her I was a boarding stu- said. The ABC students “agreed ple. there was still no other solution proposed, only the exer- Saheed Vassell, as well as the lack I’ll do anything for it, and I am not very appearance made her an outsider, dent.” that life at a boarding school was Before the march even began, the rally itself was incred- tion of power over the protesters. I strongly believe that if of representation of black women in afraid to fght for it,” protester and separate from her peers - the major- Though Masters enjoyable for them.” The article ibly inspiring. Seeing strong black women, like the leaders this had simply been a women’s march, the police would the Women’s March national move- Black Trans Women rights activist ity of whom were privileged - and her had tried its best to quoted Alston as calling other of the march, standing frm in what they believe in, gave not have been so oppositional. For if they had been, they ment, Conner and Green gathered a Phoenix Gehl said. teachers, who were solely white. Alston welcome her, as legacy Masters students “amazing” and me the deep desire to one day stand in their shoes. Despite would have been under much more scrutiny from the pub- group of over 100 protesters, begin- Green emphasized, however, that opened up to Tower about how her three students entered the saying she “likes them immense- this feeling, even getting to this peaceful protest was a lic. Instead, in this case, the backlash was against the ning in the CVS parking lot. the protest was a peaceful one and years at Masters impacted her life, re- school, Alston still felt ly.” By then, two other ABC stu- struggle. With the idea circulating of protesters crossing protesters. Following the march, the comments on sever- The organizers received multi- not a rally with violent intentions. fecting on the opportunities presented alone, and noticed how dents had arrived on campus, the Tappan Zee Bridge, the police made the decision to al news outlets said hateful and bitter things about the ple warnings from the police lead- “This is not that kind of rally. If you to her and the growth that came from much she stood out and she was no longer the only close off several roads entering into Tarrytown, making it protesters, stating that thousands of people were inconve- ing up to the march, stating that see someone try to start some stuff, them, as well as the diffculties of learn- when she frst walked black student. hard to get to the march in the frst place. As a result, the nienced by this march. protesters would be arrested for get them off the line. I need to keep ing to rely on herself for support and be- onto campus. She The number of black stu- actual number of people in attendance was much lower Yes, it was inconvenient but I do not think achieving illegally trying to cross the bridge. my people safe.” Green said. ing a representative of an entire race. could see how famil- dents had risen to fve when than expected. Nevertheless, the leader of the protest, Va- equality will be convenient. The pedestrian walkway remains Protesters then began to iar everyone else was Alston was a senior in 1968, the nessa Green from 100Sistas and Black Lives Matter Hud- It will not be clean, it will not be simple, it will not be under construction and until it is push further toward the bridge, de- “Distinct academic risks” with the school and CAROLYN ALSTON, ABOVE, WAS the first black student at Masters. Pictured left in her senior yearbook pho- year Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. son Valley, led us up the hill towards the bridge, with the pretty. It is not convenient when black women are not opened, pedestrians are not permit- manding answers from the police its traditions, as moth- to, 50 years ago1968. Right, Alston now, as the Executive Vice President and General Counsel to the Coalition was assassinated. She recalled band blaring; our chants ringing through the air. hired for jobs after wearing their hair naturally to the in- ted to walk on the bridge. However, and chanting “Black Lives Matter”. Beginning in 1963, independent ers who attended the of Government Procurement. the event as one that struck As we crested the slope leading to the bridge entrance, terview. It is not convenient when black people are pulled Conner and Green pushed forward, At some points, state troopers phys- schools like Masters witnessed the school embraced each her immensely, as a frightening my heart rate rose with anticipation only to be stopped over for no reason while driving late at night. It is not wanting the protesters to cross the ically pushed back on protesters as birth of a novel experiment in second- other, and daughters seemed to have groups of people to converse with. and awakening moment for Afrcan-Americans across the nation, one that also by the sight of a sea of police offcers. Not only were there convenient when an unarmed black man is shot and and bridge in order to make a statement they attempted make their way onto ary education. A Better Chance (ABC), “It was a totally happy occasion, and it was completely foreign to me in my own shocked everyone on campus. In mourning, the student body made the decision over 70 visible offcers and state troopers on the street, killed because he reached for his phone. It is not conve- of the power of the #BlackLives- the bridge, past the police line. On a program inaugurated by Dartmouth personal feeling,” Alston said. to remain at school together instead of going to a local church. there was the K-9 unit, the Westchester County Police nient that black children must be born into a society that Matter movement as well as to go the bridge, there were two lanes of University, aimed to “increase sub- “Even though everyone did what they could to be inclusive, they didn’t really Special Operation Division, Disorder Control, Tarrytown tells them they must live out a narrative that keeps them against the authority of the police traffc closed down and lined with stantially the number of well-educated know me and I didn’t really know them, so I did feel kind of isolated,” she said. Life after Masters police and plow trucks parked to block the entrance of the stuck at the bottom. We are not sorry for the inconve- force. traffc cones in anticipation of the young people of color who are capable As more minority students were accepted, Alston found their shared backgrounds bridge. It looked as though there were more offcers than nience, but now that we have your attention, it’s time you At 11 a.m., a mass of protesters march. However, the police wouldn’t of assuming positions of responsibility became a great source of Alston remembered graduation as her happiest memory of Masters, noting protesters. listen, and it time you joined your black sisters and broth- gathered in the CVS parking lot allow protesters to cross the bridge and leadership in American society” support during her time I DON’T THINK THEY WERE IN A POSITION her pride at having achieved such an accomplishment in seeing how far she Through the cries of the crowd chanting, “Whose ers: fellow members of the human family must join in the in Tarrytown, rallying with chants on foot. The police then issued fnal by providing them with a world-class at Masters, though she TO UNDERSTAND WHAT I WAS DOING BE- had come. After leaving the school, she went to Cornell University and then to streets? Our streets!” a megaphone answered: “NYS po- fght for the fundamental right to justice for all. from “You killed our babies,” to warnings to protesters on the ramp high school education. At the time of often felt she needed to CAUSE IT WAS A NEW SITUATION FOR EV- Georgetown Law School. “We come in peace,” and “We mat- and threatened to call in riot gear to the ABC’s founding, a majority of can- “turn mostly intrinsical- ERYBODY. “I think that Masters actually put me on a path for my teacher education I ter.” The march then slowly moved resist the march. Conner and Green didates identifed as black. The pro- ly” for a sense of assur- - CAROLYN ALSTON would not have done if I hadn’t gone to ABC or The Masters School,” Alston said. up Route 119 to the entrance ramp had no choice but to compromise gram involved an eight-week crash ance, noting that she felt She worked as a consultant to companies selling services and products to the of the Tappan Zee Bridge, where with the police. course in English and mathematics for like “they couldn’t really federal government, eventually rising to the position of Executive Vice Presi- THE BLACK LIVES MATTER protest organizers, Va- protesters were met by Tarrytown “We will be driving across the ffty minority students at Dartmouth understand what it was dent and General Counsel for the Coalition for Government Procurement. nessa Green and Tania Conner speak with New police, New York state troopers, bridge going 5 miles an hour with (for boys) or Mount Holyoke Col- like” in her shoes. She retired in 2015 and now works part-time as consultant. Due to York State Troopers and mutliple local Westchester County police, special our hazards on. Not one colored per- lege (for girls). Certain independent “I don’t think they were even in the position“ to understand what I was doing circumstance and a busy work schedule, she has not visited the news corporations before attempting operation units, emergency service son will be left behind,” Green said. schools promised to reserve places for because it was a new situation for everybody,” Alston said. school in years. However, she is still invested in diversity at t o cross the bridge. Despite their ef- units in addition to disorder con- The protest ended peacefully with

students who successfully completed However, Alston did not feel like she had to comform to a certain image while at Masters. “I hope Masters is reaching out to include stu- forts, state police threatened trol response units. Over 77 state a rally after the caravan arrived in the program, and in late 1964, former Masters. “I think because I was so different, there was no need for me to conform. dents of different ethnic and racial backgrounds,” she arrest to anyone who at- troopers lined the entrance of the a park in Nyack that is dedicated Headmaster Cameron Mann proposed I think maybe some of the other girls felt more peer-pressure to ft in than I did,” said. tempted to cross. bridge behind several plow trucks to Cynthia Hesdra, a 19th century Masters as a school to accept ABC stu- she said. Alston hopes that Masters will continue in preparation for confronta- slavery abolitionist. Toni Morrison, dents. Despite her initial discomfort, Alston worked hard and succeeded at her new to strive for inclusion. “Faculty and staff tion with the protestors. There writer, Pulitzer Prize and Nobel The Board of Trustees agreed to ac- school. “I was very involved at Masters. I was always involved in clubs, I was in Gold need diversity, not only for minority were more offcers not block- Peace Prize winner, dedicated the cept two girls from the program, and a Key,” Alston said. Alston was active in student government, and was eventually students, but also for students who ing the bridge, on standby landmark bench in the park to Hes- majority of the student body assented elected to the position of treasurer. are not in the minority, so they in case violence broke out. dra. to the decision during a Morning Meet- She also excelled academically. After she had taken every science class Masters can see them as people who Conner, a mother of ing in the chapel, which now houses offered, she was expressed an interest in taking physics—so Masters hired a phys- are thoughtful and who the Art Studio. The recommendation ics teacher and incorporated the course into its curriculum. have power,” she marked a historical moment in Mas- “I always studied harder. I always felt like I had to make the extra effort to suc- said. ters history: the School had been near- ceed to not blow an opportunity,” Alston said. ly all-white since its founding, with She was a strong student and found that being taught exclusively by white Asian students sporadically joining. teachers did not have a “major impact on my learning,” though it did have a Never before had a black person stud- “a major impact in terms of adults that I could rely on.” She had studied un- ied at Masters. der Miss Eidlitz, an English teacher, who also taught the ABC crash course Despite the preparation ABC stu- at Mount Holyoke, and grew close to her, often turning to her as a source of dents were given at Mount Holyoke, reliance and support. concerns were still circulating as to whether or not the new students would “A representative for my race and be able to keep up with the rigorous ac- ademics of a private school curriculum. family” In an article on the decision from the Her involvement in activities and academic success December 1964 issue of Tower (then was not always an easy road to travel. Alston felt a called The Tower), senior Carol Ken- lot of responsibility to perform to the best of her nedy suggested that, “though possess- ability, which at times was challenging to ing the mental capacity and leadership cope with all on her own. potential,” the ABC students were “I always felt like a representa- “distinct academic risks to Dobbs and tive for my race and family. You every other school taking part.” Ken- feel a lot of pressure when nedy also raised the possibility that you’re in that situation the ABC students “will put an addi- because you want to tional fnancial burden on the schools. succeed They will present problems which the schools cannot foresee.” However, the article ultimately recognized that the accepted ABC students would “make lasting contributions to the schools and eventually to society and that Masters “should be proud that it is willing to take one of the frst steps, in spite of the risks, toward better education for all people.”