As a graduate student at the University, I often find myself torn between two worlds; The looming reality of finding a job in the real world always hovers over my head, yet I am still engulfed in the microcosm that is the University campus. I have found that the University contains a fair amount of students who feel that they are treated differently because of the color of their skin, and because of this they feel highly disenfranchised and alone on this campus.
While I would never want to discredit the claims of others who feel that they have been mistreated or discriminated against, it seems that many times when these claims are brought forward in the Emerald, as seen in Diego Hernandez’s letter to the editor (“Racism is still an issue, even if people ignore it,” ODE May 8, 2007), the argument is brought down to the level of “I am brown, therefore you hate. You are white, therefore you are privileged and powerful and do not understand.”
As a white student, I find this highly offensive. I personally, like many other students of all colors at this university, have struggled to get where I am today. Where some see a white, privileged woman, I know my personal truth – that I was only able to afford to come to college because I was awarded an opportunity scholarship for children of disadvantaged families. Because of my personal struggle, I know that others have struggled as well, and that many do so silently, like I have. To assume that because of the color of one’s skin that they have not had to struggle is to conveniently ignore the plight of others. This, in turn, creates a situation that parallels the current University climate, pitting students of all walks of life against each other, instead of banding them together to move forward in the fight against racism and other injustices, which exist in this world and on this campus.
On NPR Monday, a young black man submitted an essay for the long-running series “This I Believe.” In his essay, he described being made fun of in high school for participating in honors classes, wearing clothes that didn’t hang off of his body, and because he preferred rock and techno to rap. What struck me about this young man was his mature wisdom in the face of oppression, as he proudly stated, “My skin color has done nothing to change my personality, and my personality has done nothing to change my skin color.”
This young man has already realized that his self worth does not hang on the words of others. It does not matter if his actions are not in line with the “culturally perceived actions” of a black man; it is more important to be true to himself and respect himself than it is to play to the expectations of others. When I read the words of Diego Hernandez, I see deep hurt and sorrow, as this man, as well as others on this campus, feel that they need to first effectively “take down” the white man in order to build themselves up. Maybe they should take a lesson from this young man and others. In assuming that all white people are against you, in your life, that becomes your truth.
I, for one, choose to see that we are all in this together. We have all struggled in one form or another. Therefore, let this be the basis for our shared understanding, that life may be daunting at times, but if we all work together against the injustices of this world, we can make our campus a positive and safe place for everyone who wants to wear the green and gold.
Andrea Blaser is the publisher of the Oregon Commentator