Verde and the Third Wave

Text by AKHIL JOONDEPH, JERRY PRESENTED WITH A RAW The Third Wave FANG and KATHERINE CHENG story idea and much to be uncov- After facing difficulty conveying the Art by SAMANTHA HO ered, Verde Magazine staff writers Emma Cockerell and Stephanie way Adolf Hitler gained power after World War I to his students, Cubberley High THE THIRD Lee had little idea as to what they were getting themselves into when presented with a unique story idea weeks before the 2016 School teacher Jones created a simulation in his class to mimic Hitler’s regime. He began by engaging in simple activielection. The editors at the time wanted ties with his students like creating an offi -

WAVE: TIDES OF TENSION to publish a story on a social experiment known as the Third Wave, conducted by Palo Alto teacher Ron Jones 50 years prior. The student journalists were prepared to reflect and report on the anniversary of this monumental event, but quickly realized that the tale they were enlisted to tell was cial salute to build discipline and community. When Jones returned the next day, he was surprised to see his students continuing to play their experimental roles, and decided to continue the experiment for the remainder of the week. Over the next four days, the experiment “You could see the striking similarities [between] the kinds of tactics that Jones ... and Trump were far more than just a nar- employing.” spiraled out of control; A 2016 STORY rative about a classroom simulation gone rogue. — EMMA COCKERELL, writer Jones’ students started to turn against each AND ITS As Cockerell and Lee began their process of researching and reporting, they became fascinated not only other under the guise of loyalty to the wave, and Jones himself began to enjoy his new power so much that

RELEVANCE by the experiment itself, but also by its connections to the election. he was afraid of ending the experiment and letting go.

TODAY Now, four years later on the eve of the next election, our nation stands even more divided. The consequences of the polarThis turn of events gave both Jones and his students a clear picture of the influence of authoritarianism. ization caused by what Jones describes as a government moving towards authoritar- The Third Wave at 50 ianism are more evident than ever While a story about a 1960s social exbefore. periment modeling an event of the 1930s may seem disconnected from the present, the writers began to see parallels between the Third Wave and the political climate of 2016. “You could see the striking similarities [between] the kinds of tactics that Jones was employing and the rhetoric that Trump was employing on the campaign trail,” Cockerell recently said. During an intimate interview in Jones’ San Francisco home,

the writers gained incredible insights into found that the partisan gap is wider than the minds of politicians through the teach- it has been in 20 years. A different study, er’s experience at the head of an authoritar- also from the Pew Research Center in ian movement. 2019, found that 72% of American Re-

“He had a lot to say that he’d held back publicans believe Islam is more likely than for so long, but he [Jones] really felt a moral other religions to encourage violence, a beimperative to speak against some dangerous lief that has shown a steady increase since trends in Trump’s behavior,” Cockerell said. 2016. Muslims are just one group targeted

Unfortunately, the story did not ulti- with hateful rhetoric by the Trump adminmately draw as much attention from the istration, and the effects of this as well as press as the magazine had hoped, apart a strong message of political animosity is from a video of their interview with Jones evident. that gained 5,000 views overnight. Howev- While a sense of belonging and unier, both Cockerell and Lee found that the ty has historically been a key value of process of researching and writing this story American democracy, Mark Hancock, was not just important from a journalistic one of Jones’s standpoint, but fundamentally changed students and a them as writers and people. participant in

For Lee, it helped her understand the the original Third necessity of keeping her point of view sep- Wave experiment arate from her reporting in order to write an unbiased story. “It [the sto“Community is one of the most profound things that we all chase believes that events and tension in the past few years have tarnished this feeling. “America in the last ry] forced me to confront my as human beings. We four years has gotten away from that sense of commubiases,” Lee said. all want to be a part of nity that has been so good “It made me realize the need to something.” for this country,” Hancock said. “I would love to see keep my personal — RON JONES, creator of the Third Wave more people talk about feelings and poli- coming together and [fewtics out of report- er] people trying to pick ing.” on other people.”

Cockerell shared her own perspective on Jones reinforced the importance of comhow writing the story affected her mindset munity in our nation. towards journalism. “I think community is one of the most

“[I learned about] the idea that there is profound things that we all chase as human no objective truth, and all that you write beings,” Jones said. “We all want to be a is…the accumulation of a lot of other peo- part of something.” ple’s thoughts and opinions,” she said. “It According to Jones, despite the polarizwas a challenge to separate and disentangle ing impact the current administration has his [Jones’] personal beliefs from a more had on our country, the recent rise of proobjective truth.” tests in response to the killings of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and many more has The Third Wave at 54 united people from across the nation in the

The current political climate is tense for fight for justice. many Americans of all political affiliations. “When I look on the streets and see peoThough the current race is different to that ple protesting peacefully, I see it [America] of four years ago, the strategies of fear mon- has potential,” Jones said. “These are big gering and ostracizing minority groups shifts taking place right in front of us.” are still a prominent political Through his experience in the Third tactic. Wave, Hancock realized the importance of A 2019 Pew Re- critical thinking and curiosity — concepts search Cen- he continues to value today. ter study “You’ve got to have the curiosity to ask

questions and look behind all that [political rhetoric], and not just take it at face value,” Hancock said. “Standing up and getting involved is so important.”

As we wrapped up our recent interview with Jones, he concluded our meeting with a poem that he wrote, which he sang to us before saying goodbye. v

THERE IS A MOMENT

There is a moment Moment in time that comes to everyone This moment in time, it’s not expected Something is wrong Injustice, right in front of you What will you do this moment that is here today Will you speak out loud or pray it away This moment, a choice you must make of silence and fear or risk that will take you to freedom Freedom What will you do There is a moment — Ron Jones