Change the Pronoun from They to We

By: Tripp Vistica

March 29

Christian Brothers High School Assistant Principal, Brother Joel McGraw was beginning his life a Catholic Brother during the Civil Rights Movement. Brother Joel has seen the worst in the battle against racism, but also seen how far society has come. 

Brother Joel believes it would be a big step in the right direction concerning race, if everyone would replace the pronoun, they, and use the first-person pronoun, we.

“It changes the whole perspective when you say we’re in this together,” said Brother Joel. 

Brother Joel referred to the example from Huckleberry Finn when Jim and Huckleberry are on the run. Huckleberry says to Jim, “They’re after us.” 

Brother Joel points out that Huckleberry did not say, “They’re after you.” That showed that Huckleberry and Jim were in it together. 

“That was the turning point in that novel,” said Brother Joel. “A very important point.”

During times of turmoil, Brother Joel turns to his belief in the Catholic Church and the lessons taught to us by our founding father, Saint John Baptiste De La Salle.

“I think the fundamental principle of our Catholic school is in the fundamental equality of all people. That’s the underlying philosophy of our school,” said Brother Joel. “Our founder, Saint De La Salle, said that you take all your students. They are not different. That’s why we uniform them.”

It’s important the students work together and do everything together. It breaks down the prejudices when you work with people, and your with them. 

“You become friends with them, and you recreate with them,” Brother Joel said. “You study with them and play ball and play in the band together. It’s the togetherness. Separation is the thing that causes the problem. You don’t know them.”

Brother Joel’s thoughts about the Catholic Church and theCivil Rights movement on Vimeo.