Sasha Ronaghi never expected her idea for an anti-racism media club to go viral.
In fact, she “thought 15 people would respond” to her Instagram story announcing the project.
“I literally downloaded Instagram that day to post this Instagram story,” the 17-year-old told USA TODAY.
But less than five days after the California teen posted her solicitation of participants on May 31, 350 people had signed up. Now, three weeks later, the Anti-Racism Education Project has more than 470 participants and 115 organizers from 38 states and 16 countries.
Ronaghi describes the ARE Project as a community “to connect teenagers — young people in high schools and colleges — with resources about raising awareness for the Black community.”
Ronaghi said the initial idea for the ARE Project developed out of her observations in the wake of George Floyd’s murder and subsequent protests against police brutality and racial inequality. She noticed discussions of racism becoming more prevalent, both online and offline, and wanted to “take part in these conversations and advocate for what I believe in” with knowledge on her side.
“I think as a non-Black person, it is my privilege that I don’t have to think about anti-Blackness 24/7,” Ronaghi said. “So it was about finding a means to continually educate myself because I don’t feel educated whatsoever.”