Brazilian-American students graduating from Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School this month have been refused permission to wear scarves in the color of the Brazilian flag over their gowns at the graduation ceremony.
Several weeks ago, a group of some 10 Brazilian students wrote to the school administration asking to wear scarves in green, yellow and blue to honor their ethnic heritage. The students recently were notified that their request had been denied.
Principal Stephen Nixon’s denial caught the students by surprise, some in the group said, because it appears at odds with past experience for African-American and Wampanoag students.
At press time, Mr. Nixon had not returned calls seeking comment on the issue.
Some of the Brazilian-American students said they intend to go ahead with wearing the scarves.
“I still plan to wear mine at graduation,” regardless of the consequences, said senior Fillipi Gomes. “I will go out of my way to make my point.”
Senior Andora Aquino described Mr. Nixon’s explanation for denying their request:
“He said students weren’t allowed to wear personal things, or else it would grow out of hand and everyone would be wanting to wear their flag.
“I’m just not really happy about it at all, because it was a big part of our culture,” said Ms. Aquino, a regular on the honor roll who is involved in many extracurricular activities and is bound for Colgate University in the fall.
She pointed to other student groups which have been allowed to wear similar symbols of their cultural heritage.
In past ceremonies, a group of African American students were allowed to wear Kente cloths from West Africa.
Mr. Gomes said that Wampanoag students have also worn items in tribal colors to signify their Native American heritage.
Before she got word that their request had been denied, Ms. Aquino said that she didn’t anticipate a problem in wearing the scarves at graduation. “The African American students do it, the Native American students do it, I think it’s part of our culture. It’s something we want to share.
“I think it would be a disgrace to the school and really ignorant of them to not allow it,” she said.
Ms. Aquino also said that she and others planned to wear the scarves despite the administration’s decision. “Even if we’re not allowed to, we’re just taking it in and putting it on while we walk on the stage.”
Ms. Aquino was born in Brazil, and immigrated with her family to the United States at age six. She was one of the three main student organizers of the first ever Brazilian awareness day, a celebration of Brazilian customs and culture, at the high school last month.
Mr. Gomes, who is Ms. Aquino’s cousin, also was born in Brazil, and immigrated with his family to the states at about the same age. A member of the Peer Outreach Program, a selective group of students who receive education and training on how to be effective helpers to their friends, he was also one of the students behind Brazilian awareness day.
Both Mr. Gomes and Ms. Aquino are frequent visitors to their home country, returning to visit family once a year.
Mr. Gomes said that he and several classmates have already ordered the scarves, and he’s not happy with the decision. Even under the threat of a written warning or detention, Mr. Gomes said he plans to wear the scarf at graduation.
History teacher Elaine Wentraub, who worked closely with the students organizing Brazilian awareness day and plans to teach a class on Brazilian history next semester, said that the students who put in the request are divided in their reactions to the news.
“Not everybody feels the same way,” she said. “Some students say, ‘Okay, fair enough,’ and some don’t.”
School superintendent Dr. James H. Weiss said that he could not comment on the decision or the school’s policy on acceptable attire for the graduation ceremony.
“I really can’t at this point,” he said. “You’re going to have to talk to Mr. Nixon about that.”
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