St. Louis teens breaking down racial barriers

MAPLEWOOD, Mo. -- One of the St. Louis region's most racially diverse high schools is focused on breaking down barriers by talking about race and promoting understanding.

The racial makeup of Maplewood-Richmond Heights High School's 350 students is about 47 percent white, 40 percent black and 4 percent Hispanic. Students formed a group called the Student Group on Race Relations to help teach others how to talk about race respectfully in the hallways, cafeteria or after school, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported Monday.

The concept began as an idea between principals and teachers months ago. The project gained more resonance after the protests over the August fatal shooting of Michael Brown, a black 18-year-old, by Darren Wilson, a white Ferguson, Missouri, police officer.

Teachers and students believe the discussion has helped everyone process their opinions about the unrest in Ferguson, the newspaper reported.

"We've kind of broken down some barriers with kids who might not otherwise talk to each other," principal Kevin Grawer said.

The group's members and staff meet before the first bell rings. Members have tried to build a culture to help everyone feel comfortable speaking their opinions.

A list of 10 or so expectations -- including respecting each other, listening and taking turns to speak -- is read each time the students gather to talk.

"Not everybody has had ... a chance to talk about stuff like this in a setting like this with people who have had different experiences," said Jazmen Bell, a senior. "It's really important."

The format of the meetings varies. The group has watched videos and read essays and columns about race. Members have worked through definitions of words such as "stereotype" and "prejudice."

Sometimes students say things they regret, Grawer said, and the group finds ways to work through it.

"I've had kids come up to me after and say 'That really sounded bad when I said that. Did that come across bad?"' Grawer said. "And I'll say, 'We'll, why don't we start the group talking about it next time?"'

Information from: St. Louis Post-Dispatch, http://www.stltoday.com