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.”
This article appears in June 1, 2010.
I think the students are completely correct on taking their scarves and putting them on as they walk across the stage! It shouldn’t be just the Brazilians to wear the scarves, anyone that wants to show where they’re from should be welcomed to do so. Good luck guys!
My father came to this country in 1915. He grew up in the United States although he did not become a citizen for nearly three decades. His ambition was to become an American. As Teddy Roosevelt said, “There is no room in this country for hyphenated Americanism.” In 1942, in order to become a commissioned officer in the United States Army and fight for his adopted country, he became a naturalized American citizen. What don’t these children get? If you want the blessings of the United States (surely going to Colgate counts), act like an American!
My problem with the decision is really only the fact that the native americans and the african american kids are allowed to wear the things that they feel show pride in there backround and we as brazilians only want to do the same. If we were the firsts to try to do this i wouldn’t have taken it so hard but they have been wearing there colors for years now and us not be allowed to is just stupid to me. Can someone tell me how that is fair? And just for brazilians but let anyone wear something that represents nationality even the “first generation americans”.
I wanted to take this opportunity to reply to my two fellow writers. A few years back a Brazilian student at the high school, when asked about the U.S. immigration laws, responded that they were only words written on a piece of paper. I’ve kept from saying this since then but both the the Constitution and the Bill of Rights are just words written on a piece of paper. We are a nation of laws; a nation of rules. I read frequently of the rampant crime and poverty in Brazil and can understand why someone may want to leave. When one comes to America there is an expectation of order because we are a nation of laws; a nation of rules. You don’t get to choose the ones by which you live. If you wish to benefit from those laws which benefit you then you must also abide by those which may cause you inconvenience.
One difference as I see it, is going to HS has nothing to do with being an American citizen. It may mean that one is simply a resident here and a Citizen of another country. Many of these posts dont reflect the fact that this is a distinct posibility. Where I live there are many Chlldren of UN members from other countries qho may attend the local school. Hope my point ocmes out.
My First Comment could Not be published about this Brazilian issue I see, SO — Hopefully they will at least publish, “””I AM NOT HAPPY”””!!!….
****Woody Williams****…..
I teach at an urban high school with, I can assure you, far more ethnic diversity in my homeroom than the entire MVRHS. I have never heard of a student asking to wear anything to show their country of origin on graduation day. To an outsider, this just looks like a copycat sort of trend that is merely a tempest in a teapot. School colors for everyone, period. Wear what you like on your own time. Get over it. Sheesh.
My grandparents immigrated from Ireland to America in the early 20th century. I wish I still had their letters about how wonderful it was to be in this country. When I graduated from my high school and college, I never considered wearing the Irish colors on my cap and gown, despite my Irish heritage. After all, we are Americans.
‘First generation American’ mentions rampant crime and poverty in Brazil…
Sounds a lot like a description of the United States to me since we have more people incarcerated at any time than many countries have inhabitants.
I hope those involved decide to follow the precedent set by local Native American and African-American students.
first-generation american,
As a person of Brazilian and American heritage (I’m half Brazilian, half Irish Amerian), I would like to point out to you that you are making yourself ignorant by dismissing Brazil as a place of “rampant poverty and crime.” I spent the summer’s at my grandmother’s house in Brazil growing up, and it is one of the nicest places in the world to live.
Brazilians aren’t aching to leave their country because they think it’s crap and America is the greatest.
It’s nice that your only experience with Brazil is that you “read” about the “rampant crime” down there. But I’ve actually lived there and here, and it’s not as horrible as you like to think it is.
Why can’t we celebrate our heritage? I enjoy celebrating my Irish heritage on St. Paddy’s day, and I enjoy celebrating my Brazilian heritage when the World Cup roles around. I don’t see what is so dangerous about Brazilian kids celebrating their heritage at graduation when other students are allowed to celebrate theirs.
I emigrated to this country and have raised two children here, have taken great pride in the US and have served my community well. That said, I am very proud that I am Irish as well as American. I think many writers miss the point of the greatness of America and that is its ethnic diversity and the celebration of heritage. While living in the US, I have seen many St. Patricks Day Parades, enjoyed linguica at many feasts of Queen Isabella at the P.A. Club, co-founded the African American Heritage Trail and my heart always misses a beat when I hear the very moving drumming of the Wampanoag people of this island. I could go on, but my point is that this country is a unique mixture of great traditions from every part of the world and I would argue that all of the people I refer to consider themselves loyal citizens of the United States. There is a saying that if you don’t know where you come from, you can’t know where you’re going and I believe that to be true. Each of us made a journey whether it was our parents, grandparents, ourselves or two hundred years agao when the pilgrims stepped of that boat in Plymouth.
Filipi Gomes and Andora Aquino are exactly the kind of young people who grace the US embodying the best values of this country. They are hardworking, creative individuals who play sports, attend our classes and whose contributions to this country will be of great value. It has been my great pleasure to be their teachers for a large part of their high school careers and I am so very proud of them as would anyone be if they knew these fine young people. They have embraced the best of our traditions and have excelled. They merely wish to remember their origins in the same way as do all other ethnic groups in the US.
I would sue because the school is violating your First Amendment. I guarantee you will win in court. If other people an express their heritage so can the Brazilians.
First-Generation-American: What country did your father come from? Not proud of the country? You may have family that lives in your father’s “homeland” that you’ve never met nor cousins that doesn’t speak English that are probably more educated then you are. It’s sad to isolate yourself.
The principal at your school should be fired for making that decision. It’s the same with the school in Mississippi that refused to let the girl go to her prom with her girl friend. What’s the big deal ? Man, accept people of who they are. If I want to wear a skirt in school.. do I have to ask for permission? Girls wear pants all the time do they have to ask for permission? Times have changed right?
Show your pride, wear your colors…be who you are…this is your day students and no one can take this away from you…a long time ago a good friend gave me this advice, “act first ask for permission later.”…Congratulations and be proud.
Yes Sam, times have changed.
If this were happening in 1972 when I graduated at least a third of the class would have worn the colors to show support and solidarity. My, how we’ve changed.
Now we live in a more xenophopbic country that relies on excessive flag-waving, epithets and empty displays of nationalistic fervor in order to prove who is the most patriotic. A sad and dangerous state of affairs indeed.
RE: Elaine Cawley Weintraub, Have you ever thought about classes to teach the kids how to become legal citizens and how to make their parents become Legal? You say you “would argue that all of the people I refer to consider themselves loyal citizens of the United States”.
I say what about the millions of Illegals that are here illegally,not paying taxes, driving illegally, dumping all their furniture on the side of all our roads, filling up our emergency rooms for free, filling our court rooms for all kinds of crimes many repeated crimes and supplying them with not only lawyers but interrupters – they are Illegals many deported many times!
What say you now? Cant you possibly do something about this with your teaching position?
Also, what do you think about America adopting immigration laws like Mexico & Brazil they are the biggest population of illegals, criminals and the ones sucking the blood and money out of our country?
SHAME ON YOU Chappy! AND check your spelling 🙁 You demonstrate how important it is to share our differences lest our grandchildren learn from the likes of you. I am an MVRHS graduate and students have worn all kinds of positive items at graduation over the years to share their pride with the community. These are all OUR students. Wear your scarves with pride and dignity like so many have done before you. Congratulations!
You have got to ber kidding! If you want to graduate wearing Brazilian colors – they graduate in BRAZIL!!! Other than that – if you “use” American education system to get your education then you should wear RED, WHITE AND BLUE and be AMERICAN!
My greatest concern with illegal aliens and Brazilians is the crime and their in your face demands for rights that they don’t even get in their own country. Google “Crime and Illegal aliens”, it is absolutely shocking and uncontrollable. Massachusetts and the island are sanctuary places for illegal aliens. The Gazette does not post the island’s public court reports anymore but look at the MV Times and you will see the biggest percentage of crimes on the island is done by illegals.
I remember the Irish kids that came here in droves years ago and they were a totally different breed. A number of them worked for me. For the most part they abided by all our rules, were very polite, worked very hard then returned home. This new breed of immigrants are a totally different bunch. They can not wonder why a lot of us are not as receptive to them than those on the left. They have done and are doing a great deal of damage to our country.
If you look quick the Brazilian Colors are similar to BP’s colors.
It is a mystery to me why there is a discrepancy. However, I want to acknowledge that ordinarily – at pretty much every high school on the planet – you where a cap and gown or school colors. Show some team spirit!
As for the immigration issue at home and on the Island, I am totally disturbed that any immigrant or resident, legal or illegal would refer to our country’s laws as just “words on paper” — illegal means against the law, if you don’t like it, leave.
How this country has accepted the immigration situation for so long is astonishing. The sooner Americans get real about immigrants who come her illegally, the better America will be. So many of my resident/immigrant friends who follow the laws and come here with legal status have my respect and support. Don’t expect me to stand up for those of you who decide on your own, whatever your country of origin is, to settle in this country with no concern for your legal status. You are breaking the law.
Forget the colors, focus on the graduation – this issue is bogus.
Immigrants from any country are easy targets for some of the people posting about this story.
People who are seen as foriegners are often treated poorly and with suspicion. With that in mind I think we should set the record straight-
While I do notice that many Brazilian names appear in the MV Times Court Report each week it is nearly always for motor vehicle related infractions, not violent crimes, DUI’s, selling drugs, larceny and breaking and entering to name a few. Most of the aforementioned crimes are committed by people who call themselves proud Americans.
As far as workers go, in my twenty years of employing a total of several hundred year round and seasonal workers I have found that the Brazilians were far and away the best, most loyal and hardest working of any of the people who come here from abroad and I have had them all!
To:Elaine Cawley Weintraub, ILLEGAL, repeat ILLEGAL’S demanding special rules. www.theamericanresistance.com/issues/anchor_babies.html
This is what you get when a Government teacher who pushes this mind set. On no not me you say, well who are we to believe, you or our lying eyes.
Dear First-generation American,
It sounds like you are threatened by a small group of Brazilian students merely trying to show the same pride for their native country that you show for the United States. Patriotism however, that blindly follows rules, or patriotic people, as you say, who “don’t get to choose the [rules] by which [they] live” is the reason that this country is so ignorant. In Charles E. Russell’s book, The Path to Reconstruction, she explains that blind nationalism causes someone to acquire the power of making excuses for all that is stupid, cruel, and unjust in the conduct of his own group or nation. That being said, dear Whay Say You, please take the time to inform yourself of who is “sucking the blood and money out of our country.” If you happen to find some correct information, I’m sure you will find it hard to believe that little money actually goes to helping the poor (welfare, health care, etc.), and that a gross amount of our tax money goes into military funding.
Furthermore, it is pathetic that people are still racist, and that many are completely ignorant of real issues in the world. Wake up people, get informed, stop creating conflict over trivial things, and realize that outside your little bubble of perfection called Martha’s Vineyard, the majority of the world is suffering.
I have thoroughly enjoyed reading the various comments made from both “sides” of this discussion… it’s nearly funny, but then again it isn’t. What IS funny about it is that according to this article, there’s a few kids that want to break some rules at the high school…. kids that aren’t even old enough to vote. If they’re going to violate school rules, which isn’t all that uncommon anyway when it comes to dress codes, then they will have to face whatever consequences they will face. They should “play by the rules”…meaning the school’s rules. If not, then they are the only ones that are facing whatever small and short consequences that will/might come their way.
The not – so – funny aspect of this string of responses is the realization that our island is divided on the issue of immigration. I, for one, believe that the INS is a for-certain understaffed group of law enforcers in this great country. Personally, I think that there should be INS agents working at the boat. I mean, we live on an Island! For God’s sake, how hard would it be to ID every single person coming and going from this place? Form a line, step up, and show some ID. If you aren’t legal, then you shouldn’t be here in the first place.
Call me racist, call me bigoted, call me ignorant, call me whatever you wish… but I’m not. When I fly to San Fran or NYC, I am asked to show my ID by TSA employees…. why not do it as folks get on the boat? Maybe then we could get past this issue of colors on graduation uniforms… and let everyone sport whatever color they’d like… including the rainbow flag.
To: 5th Generation American:
Personally, I think that there should be INS agents working at the boat. I mean, we live on an Island! “For God’s sake, how hard would it be to ID every single person coming and going from this place? Form a line, step up, and show some ID. If you aren’t legal, then you shouldn’t be here in the first place”.
Some times the most obvious solution and the correct solution is not implemented.
Send this great observation to Steamship Authority and see what reply you will not receive.
To “E Johnson”–You state that most crimes are committed by illegals and just look at the paper. Hmmm…what I see is young white girls being arrested for drug dealing, another for killing her friend while driving drunk…I’m not sure, but it seems to me that our young “American” kids are the ones who are committing the most dangerous crimes on this island.
it’s been well-documented by cis.org (center for immigration studies) that brazilians target MA for its easy health care access – just got to the emergency room some night – that and 100 other reasons to drop your kids here…
If the Brazilians want to wear their colors, send them back to Brazil where nobody gives a damn what they wear.
Some of you have no idea how hurtful your words are. If you were to analyze the Brazilian population, or the “Illegals” as you all call them, you would see that many of them are, in fact, legal and are in this country hoping to make better lives for themselves and their children, and while doing so, they are also paying their taxes like any other law abiding citizen. As far as those who drive without legal documentation and don’t pay their taxes, there is no excuse. But they are not everyone. I love this island and this country as if they were my own; this is the place where I have grown up and where my parents decided I would live. As an immigrant, I try my hardest to adopt the American life because that is what I believe is the right thing to do. But wearing our colors during graduation should not be an issue that gets everyone so fired up and offending people left and right. Even though I love this island, I have lived other places, and I have never seen the same amount of hatred that happens here. The kids, for the most part, are victims. I would like to see one of you who has written a seriously racist comment generalizing all of us, come up to me and tell me those things to my face. You generalizing all of us Brazilians as criminals is no different from the old Jim Crow laws. I am not asking for your sympathy, but walk a day in our shoes, and see how HUMILIATING it is at times to have people say awful things about you without you even deserving them.