On October 10, 2015, a group of students formed a small barricade in the middle of a homecoming procession with one goal—to be heard. As they shed light and decried the racist atmosphere in their school and the lack of involvement on behalf of the administration with regards to theses events, some spectators booed and chanted in order to drown out the students’ message. The message was evident-students of color do not have a safe place where their voices can be heard.
Incidents similar to this one have been brought to our attention over the past few weeks. Protests and acts of solidarity at Amherst, Ithaca, Wesleyan, and Yale have highlighted how exclusive and racist some of these atmospheres can be towards students of color. They have also raised the question of how can we create a more inclusive and safe environment for students of color. Safety begins with allowing and respecting everyone’s opinion. However, should a distinction be made regarding the content of what we are hearing?
The first amendment in conjunction with the equal protection clause grant us all, as citizens, the right to express our beliefs freely regardless of race, sex, nationality, religion, etc. Students across the nation have been using the first amendment as framework and reasoning behind their cries for safe spaces. Nevertheless, some people will use the same amendment to defend their racist opinions. Fox News, published an article which basically stated that college students are hiding behind the amendment in order to escape “productive and intellectual” conversations that deal with race.
There is an obvious distinction between stirring a productive conversation where everyone’s voices are heard and acknowledged and silencing other people’s opinions to perpetuate racism. The incidents and subsequent protests that have taken place in Missouri, Yale, Ithaca, and Wesleyan revolve around the administration's lack of involvement in condemning (or taking action) violent acts of racism and demanding action. It is not a call for censorship, but rather a call for freedom, inclusivity, and visibility.
Historically people of color have been marginalized and silenced. We have had to police our language, hoping that we don't come off as rude or incident or even worse, fall into the stereotype of "angry minority that pulls the race card for everything." Even if we have "access" to places, we do not belong there. We can no longer continue to be silent and we will continue to demand safe spaces. A key element to creating a safe place is allowing others to feel comfortable to voice their opinions. However, this can become difficult when students of color are being verbally assaulted, ignored, and belittled on campuses. The first amendment and the equal protection clause of the fourteenth amendment grants us all, as citizens, the right to speak for or against issues that affect us. However, we do not have the right to silence others, particularly historically disenfranchised minorities, in order to exercise our right. Everyone's voice deserves to be heard.
A friend once told me, "my job is not to make you feel comfortable." She said this in context of trigger warnings, but I feel like it applies to issues of free speech as well. Since we have the freedom to say and do as we please, our actions may not always please people. It is ok. However, the content, form and context of what you are saying matters greatly. If what is being said is meant to edify rather than to offend, others do not have the right to silence you (simply because they choose to be ignorant) regardless of what they think.
