The Purpose and the Inspiration

Smack dab in the middle of one of the richest counties in the nation, stands Westhill High School, the "proud" home of over 2400 students. One of the defining characteristics of this school is its unique diversity, a breathe of fresh air in the often one-noted area of "snooty" Fairfield County. However, the wide range of demographics the school offers does not always prove to be a "melting pot of cultures" or scaled utopian version of integration. Rather, two of the school's defining characteristics are the "black" and "white" cafeterias. Divided somewhat apparently by race, the self-segregation is an alarming occurance, sending gossip-ridden whispers through freshman halls warning one to "stay on their side." Although there are without a doubt exceptions to this trend, neither the students nor staff of the large high school can deny that within the school lie boundaries that few try to cross. Whether this split occurs deliberately or unintentionally is an unanswered question, and the possibility of breaking the race barriers within the school's cultures is one that proves to be the bigger conundrum. For now, one can only probe at the race relations that occur at Westhill, and examine not only what is black, and what is white, but instead delve into

The Grey Area.