The Women of Color Club at Kinder PVA

Last week, Kinder High School for the Performing and Visual Arts orchestrated a club fair during the lunch period. This fair is an opportunity to get involved with other students that share your same passion. We have a variety of everything from saving the environment, drama, student government, to ping pong.

One club that is creating a lot of hype is WOCC, Women of Color Club. It is unfortunate that the world we live in 2019, colorism is still internalized with millennials and Generation Z. How can we all see each other as beautiful when we experience things that make us feel less than worthy. Self-love is unamenable when women have to question their value every time they step out the door. Brown and Black skin communities need to start campaigning for each other instead of ostracizing one another based on their prejudice of skin tone. 

Now within the Latin community, we can come together when we are feeling attacked and discriminated against but let us not shy away from the facts. We sometimes fight amongst each other, trying to separate the Boricua, Mexican, Peruvians, and everyone else in South America on some imaginary hierarchy. We all can do better! We are all just people - do we not all bleed the same color?  Because of my feeling for equality between color and gender, I am proud to endorse this group, and I hope we attract new people that share the same values. 

Pictured are (from left) Alana Bright and Ambar Caldwell signing up recruits. (Photo: Jaylenn Holmes)

President of WOCC, Alana Bright, said, "Being a minority in America is hard. Being a Woman in America is hard. Being both is an experience that is both difficult and mentally-taxing. Feelings of separation and inferiority plague young girls of color; they must continuously walk through life with guards, veils, and defenses up. They are desensitized to believe that they will never meet the beauty, work-ethic, or intelligence standards of society. Women of Color Club encourages them to think otherwise - to know their worth and to fight for their peace-of-mind. I wanted to create a space of encouragement and understanding. There is power in unity and beauty in knowledge. To look at each other's differences and say I have experienced that too or I see you or you're beautiful just how you are. That is what this club stands for." 

Coming back to my love for my high school, I do believe we must be the most diverse group of kids in HISD. Our principal, assistant principals, counselors, and teachers walk by example and celebrate our differences. What a privilege it is to be a part of such a superb community. 

Watch a video about the launch of the WOCC, edited and produced by Alana Bright, here.