I know who I am. My skin is coffee brown and I identify as an Afro-American. I am all woman, Afrikan at its finest, who like most had to start from somewhere. Before attending college, I was oblivious to racism. In fact, if I hadn't gone to my smaller school I wouldn't have gained the social and psychological resilience that I feel fit to take on the world. I don't know what it is like to attend a Historically Black Univeristy (HBCU) or a larger university. However, at my smaller college, I have learned that racism continuously affects many aspects of my life. First, I will tackle my educational experience. Here are eight lessons I learned:
1. Peer culture is a manifestation of hostility.
A coward will always be a coward. Significantly, Yik Yak is a social platform that makes it easier to connect with your local community, but anonymously. For that, it cannot and should not be tolerated anywhere. Yik Yak contributes to having someone you see every day on your campus, smile in your face, and anonymously disrespect you because of the color of your skin, culture, or gender. Negative attitudes towards the presence of multi-cultures produce an uncomfortable environment to reside and learn. Lesson Learned: Racism is a collective institution created by Eurocentrists. It is not a person. Prejudice and bigotry are often mistaken as racism.
2. Self-segregation is a coping mechanism to maintain cultural independence.
As a black student in a white institution, isolation is common among blacks who find it necessary to create an atmosphere that fashions their own cultural values. The genesis of many black student unions, multicultural offices, and historically black fraternities and sororities stem from exclusion from the larger campus community. I have had the best memories working with those who share my experiences and letting everyone know that we're here to learn just like everyone else. It is especially difficult when the studies don't provide us a platform to understand why the dominant culture is so different from ours. How can we retain cultural identity if the paradigm is set up to create divisions between ethnic groups? Lesson Learned: Self-learning is significant.
3. White supremacy is here to stay.
For black students wanting a liberal education, the lack of black faculty is internally bruising. The lack of African, Black American, or any other non-white centered studies shows just how much we don't really know. The monocultural perspective depicted in the history textbooks, believe it or not, has helped me to confront ignorance head-on. The nuance of Eurocentric ideals is those that dominate the education system. The white male creates and enforces the ideals. At a young age, our teachers, often the white female and the "nurturer" serves to eliminate the paradigm we've been taught in our household. Then we are forced to question our very own culture. Lesson Learned: Learn to 'unlearn' and shave off all the layers of self-hate and ignorance.
4. The classroom is a battle for fear of perpetuating black stereotypes.
The fear of sounding too black in the classroom or fear of not having a bigger vocabulary can greatly hinder learning. I have always been afraid to speak up in class discussions, especially as an English major, who didn't read To Kill A Mockingbird in high school or read John Donne in my spare time. I read Toni Morrison and Jamaica Kincaid. My voice makes me who I am. I've heard the snickers and felt the cutting eyes. However, it feels good when you're passionate about something and it shines brightly for everyone to see. My poetry is constantly showing that I too do exist. Lesson Learned: Never diminish your standards to make anyone feel better about themselves. Speak your mind.
5. Natural hair is NOT an accessory.
I have constantly felt the eyes and heard the oohs and aahs. Yes, my hair reaches to the sky at all angles. Even though my hair has some major shrinkage, those curls marvelously connect to the cosmos. Ah, what a feeling! My curls are not an accessory for everyone else's convenience to pet it whenever asked to touch them. Lesson Learned: Natural hair is a community. My natural hair is my body.
6. If you want to advocate change, do something about it.
The more change you want to be seen, the more action you take. Action speaks louder than words. I should never be the black girl to educate someone about everything that occurs in black culture. Do your homework. Be an ally. You want a multicultural affairs office, put the work in! Lesson Learned: Understand that one does not know everything and if you see something, address it in the moment.
7. Look at society through the dominant culture's eyes.
We must be able to balance both cultural worlds in order to survive in the major dominant society. Knowing who you are and where you come from makes it easier to ignore the hostilities of a certain environment. Being able to name your oppressors helps to identify the problem dealing with balancing both aspects of each culture. Lesson Learned: Learn everything there is to know about the dominant culture in order to identify and rule with your own. Do that and nobody can tell you a thing!
