Many Voices - One Call: Season Two/Episode Six: How to Dismantle a Racist Policy – Bead by Bead!

In April 2022 the Mohonasen Senior High School’s track and field team took a stand against racial bias. When they learned that fellow students of color, especially Black athletes, were unfairly targeted under a New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA) policy banning hair adornments, Zionna Perez-Tucker, Bonnieta Supaul and Zoe Miller-Graham took action. 

Join host Babette Faehmel, Professor of History, and this episode’s co-host Tiombe Farley, Interim EOP Director, to get the inside scoop about how a small group of determined students, with support of their Coach Bill Sherman and other allies, changed institutional policies by standing together and refusing to back down – even at the risk of forfeiting a chance to win.

We were joined in the studio by Zionna Perez-Tucker, Bonnieta Supaul, Zoe Miller-Graham, and Bill Sherman! It was a special honor!

The views voiced on this episode reflect the lived experiences and uncensored opinions of the guests; they do not necessarily capture the full diversity of attitudes within a larger community, nor do they express an official view of SUNY Schenectady.