This is for all of the people that go to school everyday and are the only non-white person in their class. This is for the people that have to deal with racism and stereotypes everyday. This is for the people who grew up always being the one person in their friend group that was from a non-white family.
As a black female, I have experienced all of this and more. I have grown in places with little diversity and have almost gotten used to the lack of black presence at my school. College wasn't any different, either. When I walked onto campus I didn't see one black person all day. During the tours they said they had plenty of diversity, and by plenty they meant they had 2.5% black population. I knew this was very few, but I at least wanted to see one, jeez. I was looking around like "Where they at, though?". I never realized how much it would effect me to not have any black people in sight all day and every day.
This doesn't just apply to me as a black person, but to any other person who has felt this way walking into a white community. Feeling like an outsider for something you can't control is something no one understands until they are put into the situation.
When you are in these situations, it's easy to get intimidated or want to transfer schools or to feel alone. So, here are a few tips on things I did to make myself feel like I belonged.
1. Join a club or organization
This club can be the south asian student association, a black student union, or any club that surrounds you with people that make you feel like you belong. I know that when I joined the black student union, it made my college experience so much better. It makes you finally feel a part of the university. Make friends and hang out with the people in the club outside of the meetings. Everyone there has probably gone through the same experience and it'll be easy to relate to them.
2. Call people out for ignorance
Some people can just be so ignorant that it makes you want to cry, but some of them are just not educated and need to be put in check. Not only white people are ignorant, either, anyone can be ignorant. If someone says something about your culture or your race, CORRECT THEM! Do not hold of because you want to be nice or because you don't want to make a scene. Stand up for yourself. You can say it politely and without making a scene. Most people will respect you MORE if you are able to call people out for something they've said. It's important to be proud of who you are and where you've come from. Teach them that it's not cool to be ignorant and be on your way.
3. Embrace being the only one in classes
Have you ever been sitting in a class, and they bring up something about your race or culture, and then everyone turns and stares at you as if you were there when MLK Jr. died. Then you're just like "I'm learning along with you guys". It's insane how much this happens and this happens to every non-white person at some point in their lives. This should not only be the time you speak up and ask questions, but also speak up and be interested in all the other things your learning. People are going to stare, but hey, stare at them right back. You get to learn, too. Just do you and don't worry about what anyone else thinks you know about the Korean War, or the Harlem Renaissance, or about Barack Obama. Let them know you are learning, too.
4. Express yourself
You should be able to express yourself any way you want to. People may make fun of your hijab, or your sari, or anything you do that expresses your culture. Who cares? If they aren't hatin', you ain't doing something right. You are beautiful, in every single way. You are who you are. You came from where you came from. Embrace it. Educate people. Be YOU.
With these steps I've learned to be happy at my college. There are many other things you can do. Being non-white and being overwhelmed by a white community can be scary, but I promise you "every little thing, is gonna be alright".
