White nationalists and Nazis have been inciting violence and racism nationwide, originating from the Charlottesville attack. Our very own president, Mr. Trump, reacted with a simple statement: "I think there is blame on both sides." Continuing on, he said, “You had a group on one side that was bad. You had a group on the other side that was also very violent. Nobody wants to say that. I’ll say it right now.” What he means is that the Nazi protestors were also responsible for the violence that took place. There were no reported cases of the Nazi protestors encouraging violence or hate, yet the president feels strongly that the Nazis did not act alone. In light of these recent events, I have decided to interview a few college students from different areas who are people of color (POC) and get their take on the current racial climate. Most importantly, I wanted to give them a voice and the representation that they deserve.
1. Re'Nyqua Farrington, Sophomore at Nova Southeastern University.
"Honestly I'm not surprised by recent events. We (black people) have been saying that this kind of overt racism has manifested its way into American institutions and systems for years, for decades, for quite some time now. I am thoroughly disgusted though."
2. Olivia Sutton, Senior at Grossmont Health Occupations Center.
"Personally, it's pretty devastating and unnerving. I always knew there were still racists out there, but I didn't realize how many there really are and how open they are with their hate. This presidency has brought out the absolute worst in America."
3. Monique Antonia, Senior at Triton College.
"It's 2017, I'm 28, and being asked my opinion on the Nazi riots...riots that recently took place. Sad. I learned about Nazis in history class. My teacher presented this topic as though it was some historical truth that shaped our past. I was unprepared for it to begin to monopolize my present and suffocate my future. I am sad because like my peers I want to be planning my life, you know husband, kids, house and dog...but I can't. I can't plan for a future while I'm busy trying to prove I deserve to have one. While my peers, the diverse group of kids that were represented in my graduating class boldly hold torches fighting for white power (as though they lost it) these people I saw in the paper on TV these were people my age, the masks were off. I always thought a history forgotten was bound to repeat it's self. That's clearly untrue. So I guess that's it, the only thing that has changed is that we have created an environment for a well know hate group to confidently exist free of shame, consequence and mask. Sad."
4. Si Si Thompson, Junior at Ursuline College.
"The riots were terrifying. As a person of color, every day we have to worry about ourselves and our loved ones because of skin color. Police brutality, individuals who are intimidated by the color brown and now Nazis. IN AMERICA. Typing it out seems silly but it's reality. Seeing them march and brutally beat someone, then the car that killed a peaceful protestor made me want to throw in the towel. I had made up my mind that I no longer wanted to have children of my own because this is the world I would be bringing them into so full of hate because the amount of melanin they would have in their skin would make them different, in a world where different isn't accepted. In those dark moments, my hope for humanity changed [when] people of every background young and old came out to help. With that being said, Nazis can march until their legs fall off but HATE WILL NEVER WIN!"
5. Diderot Occelus, Junior at Palm Beach State College.
"The recent events surrounding the Nazis and the white supremacists have not been surprising. Sadly enough, the 2016 presidency has only brought the worst in people to the light. Electing Donald Trump basically told the world that racism was acceptable. If the president of the United States supports and encourages certain behaviors, it would be difficult to condemn the rest of the world for following suit. What makes me the most angry is the fact that I have to feel terror whenever I leave my house. Those who believe that we are progressing are not watching closely enough. These types of incidents only prove what I already know; being black in America is dangerous."
After speaking with these college students, it became clear that the state of the world is deteriorating. It's 2017 and we are not even able to say that racism is something of the past. Witnessing the Charlottesville riots has confirmed that we are just as divided now as we ever were and that many peoples' lives are at risk. For those who may not be directly affected by these occurrences, it is important to recognize your privilege and use that privilege to speak for those who are unable to speak for themselves. I will personally continue to fight against these kinds of hate-filled beliefs and ideologies. Following the infamous Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., I will stand proud and say that "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere."
