In my ethics class, we discussed if we would be friends with someone who used the n-word in a derogatory term towards black students. All of us said no, but it’s more than the word. We don’t see the ideologies of a lot of our fellow students, which leaves room for students to have racist tendencies. We only see the outward projection of these ideologies, whether it is writing a swastika on a door or the use of the n-word.
So why should we care about racism on this campus? The obviously dumb question with an obvious answer: because we believe in equality. Going to a liberal arts school, I am given the opportunity to express my views on race and why we should care about it. Racism is a thing that surfaced on our campus as an evil that needs to be dealt with in some way, and those fighting for something to be done about the racism on campus will not go quietly. Being part of the demonstrations that have happened in these past weeks, I have seen dedication towards this goal because the students of color do not feel safe on this campus, which is completely unfair to them, as we all know. We are in an environment where they should be given the opportunity to thrive, not be discriminated against because of something they cannot change nor want to change.
I am white (if you didn’t notice by the picture below…) and I stand in solidarity with my fellow students of color because I believe no one’s lives should have prejudice get in the way of it. I, as a white male, walk through campus not having to worry about students looking at me differently, so why can’t that be the same for students that are black, Hispanic, or any other race or ethnic group? I have white privilege, and it’s a fact. White privilege is a set of advantages and/or immunities that white people benefit from on a daily basis beyond those common to all others. I can say I have benefit from being white and also I will help students of color in their journey to overcome the challenges white privilege has them face. You may call me crazy, or a weirdo, or be confused that I’m white and I chant black lives matter, but all of this should be normal.
Why should we care about racism on this campus? Because it takes a collection of student and faculty members marching up to Father Shanley’s office for people to be talking about it. It takes a march at midnight to get students to wonder if this campus is safe for students of all backgrounds. Racism is not something that should be with us, and the response to racial slurs should not be “people need thicker skin” because it is fueled by hate, not disagreement of opinions. If you are against racism, then do something to fight it, no matter what color you are. Know that this stuff is going on and come together to change the thoughts on this campus because they are not progressive. The ideologies of racism creates a descent into a world where we believe hateful speech is defended by the First Amendment, which it is most certainly not because we live in a country that is founded on saying every man is created equal, and going against that does not protect one from “free speech” or the First Amendment.
I call everyone at Providence College, the country, and even world to stand with your fellow man and woman in order to eradicate racism because we should not have the mindset that it will always be here. We should not have to worry about people of color feeling threatened because of their skin color. We should allow every student the ability to succeed in the Friar Family because, as a family, we do not hate one another. We need to use love, understanding, and knowledge to come together as one.
