YWCA stands in solidarity with Black girls and the Worcester NAACP and calls on our community to take action.
We must hold ourselves and one another accountable, challenge harmful behavior, and commit to creating spaces where every student is treated with dignity and respect. Recently at a game in Andover involving South High’s girls basketball team, Black girls were once again subjected to racist and sexist tropes that have persisted for far too long. These harmful stereotypes carry real consequences. They dehumanize, marginalize, and reinforce bias in ways that impact how Black girls are treated every day. The historical demeaning of Black girls and women continues to persist even in 2026. It is unacceptable. These narratives are rooted in a long legacy of racism and sexism, and their presence in our schools today is a reminder that we still have work to do.
