Student Spotlight: Shannon Blankenship '21

Shannon has been a leader at Beaumont from the beginning. As a senior this year, she helped start the student-led Show Up Program this past summer to put a focus on the black community, hear their stories, and inform those around them. They added the LGBTQIA+ community this fall, and want to impact not only Beaumont, but the greater community as well. You can follow them on Instagram at @showupprogram. She will attend SUNY Brockport in the fall 2021, where she will play basketball and major in broadcasting and journalism, with a concentration in Sports.

Who has been your inspiration when it comes to social justice/anti-racism?

Personally, my grandfather/family is my inspiration. He was born in 1935, and if he was still living, he would only be 85. When he was growing up, he would be taken out of grade school to go work tobacco fields for rich white men. He left home at 15 with little to no education, in hopes of finding a better life and it’s hard to believe it was less than 100 years ago. This is my inspiration. I feel I must lead the Show Up program at Beaumont because I want to show that my family did not go through everything for me to not make a difference.

What values do you feel are most important for young people to learn when it comes to social justice and anti-racism work?

Young people should learn that when it comes to social justice, you have to pick your battles. There are always going to be people that try to get under your skin and only focus on frustrating you. We are taught in history class that even if a side wins the battle, it does not mean they win the war. Social justice is a war for equality. If you fight every battle, you tire yourself out. Not every battle is worth fighting.

What has your experience at Beaumont taught you about social justice and anti-racism?

Beaumont has taught me that even in the safest place, there are still people that do not want to see you succeed. I’ve spent the last four years meeting new people, making friends with people of all interests and passions. I never thought I would have to defend myself for being black. I never thought I would have to sit down and talk about why being racist in a diverse school is unacceptable. To me, Beaumont is a safe space; however, they cannot control everything that happens outside of school. Students must handle situations that they didn’t think they would have to. My experience here taught me that social justice lies in every corner and you must be tough enough to face it head-on, and sometimes by yourself.

What do you hope to see happen at Beaumont in terms of social justice/ anti-racism programs and projects in the coming years?

I hope Beaumont does not slow down. This fight for equality cannot be taken lightly. We need to continue to push and show that we are in full support of oppressed communities everywhere. I hope that the school becomes more involved in the outside community. I want to see that Beaumont is not just trying to get more black students to come here, we need people talking, starting drives, collecting money, having people visit our school. It's bigger than us and I hope that Beaumont students continue to inform and educate people.

How has Beaumont prepared you to be a leader?

Beaumont has enabled me to be the person and leader I am now. I am where I want to be in regard to leadership. There is always room for improvement, but I want to find a stronger voice for myself. I am extremely grateful for the opportunities Beaumont has given me.

Original Article: https://www.beaumontschool.org/news/2021/04/15/beaumont-news-winterspring-2021-frontline-heroes-living-dynamic-adaptability