Voices From the Community
Racism is not history – it’s daily life
By: Izonnah Perry and Darea Vargas
In 2025, racism continues to shape the lives of students, families, and educators instigated by many sources from the fear of ICE detentions to debates over how history is taught in Connecticut schools. Three Co-op community voices share how these struggles affect them and what hope looks like for the next generation.
When people hear the word racism, they often reflect on history books with grainy black and white photos. In all truth, it is much deeper than that and books can’t give you those reluctant answers. For many Americans, racism is not history, it’s daily life. In a city school filled with diversity but also divided by inequality, Co-op reporters set out to ask three community members how racism impacts them today. Their answers reveal a mix of fear, frustration, resilience, and determination.
Mari, a 16-year-old high school student leans back in her chair, backpack still on, ready to leave at any time. “Sometimes it's the little things,” explained Mari. “Teachers are quick to call me distracted or lazy but when a white student forgets their homework – it's an off day. People assume I'm undocumented just because my parents are from Mexico. When Esdras, that student in New Haven, was detained by ICE, I was terrified. I kept thinking, what if that happened to me or someone else in my family? It's hard to focus on algebra when you're worried your cousin might not come home.”
History teacher Mr. Boroski had his classroom plastered with posters telling stories of civil rights marches and the experiences of immigrants. He admits that those posters are only the beginning of how minorities confront racism in America. “Schools are supposed to be safe places, but they're also mirrors of society,” explained Boroski. “If racism is alive in America, it's alive in our schools too. When the Smithsonian exhibits were changed for political reasons, it reminded me how even history has been rewritten to fit an agenda. That's why I assign texts like Ta-Nehisi Coates Between the World and Me. Students deserve the unfiltered truth, even when it's uncomfortable. Because if they don't hear it here, where will they?”
Nita has a daughter who attends a New Haven middle school and every day she worries about what she might face. “For many families of color, racism means constantly having to explain to ourselves, to teachers, to bosses, to police. The fear of ICE is huge. I know moms who send their kids to school but are not sure if they'll be there when the bus comes back. And even if you're a citizen, the fear lingers,” explained Nita. “But there's the thing. Our kids are brave. They're leading a protest, writing articles, and creating art. They remind us that racism isn't the end of the story. Change is coming, even if it's slow.”
These three voices show different angles on the same truth. Racism is still alive in 2025 but so is the fight against it. From Mari’s quiet determination to focus on school despite fear, to Mr. B’s refusal to sugarcoat history, to Nita’s call for community action. The message is clear. Racism is not just a headline. It's a life experience. Journalism at its best is about making sure these voices are heard.
As we reflect on the stories shared, several questions arise. What specific actions can schools take to create a safe and more inclusive environment for students of color? How are community organizations supporting families dealing with the fear of ICE and racism in their daily lives? What steps are being taken at a policy level to address and combat systemic racism in education?