Millbrook Explores Inequalities on Diversity Day

For most of the day, students and faculty participated in the "Star Power" experiment. Through trading colored chips with their peers, they accumulated wealth and moved upwards in society. The group with the most wealth was given the ability to make the rules for the game as it progressed. Through often unfair rulings, students learned how distribution of wealth can greatly impact how a society functions.

Later that evening, the negative aspects of income inequality were reinforced in the form of a hunger banquet organized by Danielle Tartaro ’15, Mrs. Keller-Coffey, Mrs. Stefanopolous ’92, Mrs. Hardy, Mr. Metcalf, and Ms. Jankowski. Designed to raise awareness of the unequal distribution of food resources around the world, the banquet also served as a fundraiser for OXFAM. Participating students and faculty were assigned to an income class and received a corresponding meal to eat for dinner. Members of the lowest income class sat on the floor and ate a small bowl of rice without any utensils, while higher income classes enjoyed a variety of more substantial foods in a more comfortable setting.

 

The experience was thought provoking and prompted many anonymous student reflections including the following:

• “We always hear about the unequal distribution of wealth, but we never see it and experience it.“
• “Although I’ve heard it before, being reminded that earning $6,000 a year constitutes a high income class in the world was humbling. I also found myself eating my whole plate before remembering that directly behind me people were hungry. I am glad that someone pointed it out.”
• “Eating an extremely small meal on the floor without silverware made me realize how fortunate I really am to have food whenever [I want it].”

Student and faculty participation in the hunger banquet raised over $300 dollars for OXFAM.

 

Following the hunger banquet Bria Horsley ’14 and Tahrieq Koonce ’17 spoke to the community at a special Diversity Day Chapel Talk. Having recently attended the White Privilege Conference, they shared their experiences, “It’s a weird name right? But yes, we attended the conference to discuss the privileges that those who identify as white or Caucasian experience,” Bria explained.

The conference was attended by 2,400 students and educators who were genuinely interested in what is classified as white privilege and what this means for our society. Visit our Millbrook in Motion page to watch Bria and Tahrieq’s chapel talk in its entirety.