It’s a Wednesday. A group of ten sit gathered around a table sharing their conceptions Blackness in America. When conversation lulls, the quiet hum of an air conditioner can be heard in the background. These people are members and supporters of City High’s new Black Lives Matter Club.

“That’s one thing that drives me to be in this [education] field, to show young people that they can be who they wanna be,” Ja’Korey Walker, City High staff member and a Black Lives Matter Club sponsor, said.

The club was started by Razaney Pulley ‘22 and inspired by the movie Fruitvale Station, which follows a police shooting.

“My teachers and I were talking about it, and I was like, ‘we should start a Black Lives Matter group so we can talk more about the things that they don’t teach us at school.’ We should let communities know that just because we’re black doesn’t mean we don’t have a right to do something or say anything,” Pulley said. “Not much is covered over black history or black people at all and some black people don’t actually feel comfortable not knowing their history and why they’re here.”

Black Lives Matter club will be focusing on more than anti-black violence though. The club will also help students learn about history and black culture, aiming to educate on under-covered topics.

“I don’t think it should just be about violence. I think it should also be history and stuff like that, and people can bring their ideas and could go to field trips to learn about black culture,” Pulley said. “But it doesn’t have to be just black people, all races are invited to learn about more if they want to.”

Students are invited to join the club at their weekly meetings, which take place every Thursday after school in Walker’s room, 1113.