This week, students were treated to a unique experience: a peer-led exhibit detailing the life of Anne Frank. The exhibit was curated by the Anne Frank House, a museum and non-profit dedicated to spreading the message of Frank’s life and ideals.
“This exhibit is about Anne Frank,” said peer volunteer and Sophomore Noah Grossberg. “It’s about her life. It’s about the story of her hiding, and it’s about the Holocaust, the rise of the Nazis, and why [Frank’s] story is still important today. By providing this holistic context around the life and death of the young diarist, the exhibit helps to transform her story from a mere tragedy of the past into a powerful lesson for the future. “We say never forget,” added Junior Ivy McConarthy, another peer volunteer who helped lead students through a guided tour of the exhibit. “This history is very important for us to relearn year after year…it’s important that we reflect on this event, so we have a better understanding of what we can do to be better people in our lives today.”
With antisemitism and hate on the rise nationwide, this exhibit provides a valuable lesson. The story not just of Anne Frank’s life, but also of how it—along with the lives of millions of others—became imperiled in the first place. It provides a bleak warning of what can become of a world in which bystanders passively allow bigotry to persist. In an increasingly divided world, the memory of Anne Frank reminds us that the fight against hate should be a powerful uniting force.
