On the first of December, the Black Student Resource Center hosted an event entitled Black Lives Matter: Real Talk. Students of all backgrounds gathered, eager for the opportunity to delve deep into the topic of race relations without the pressures of political correctness. Approximately fifty students and faculty members participated in this open forum discussion facilitated by graduate students.

The facilitators asked questions about the community here at the University of San Diego, specifically whether we felt that USD could do a better job of teaching its students how to see the issues as others, such as black issues, as human issues. At this point, Ayodeji Bandele, a student with an interest in social activism, expressed his views stating, “The problem I have with USD is the division, but this is really something that happens everywhere. We look at social injustices as black issues, or women’s issues, or muslim issues when really they’re all the same. Like if you make a derogatory joke about Mexicans around me it is just as offensive as you making black jokes to me. I may not be Mexican, but I am a person of color and I know what it’s like to be the butt of the joke so I wouldn’t allow you to do it to anyone else. We’re really all the same. They say injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere and that really is true. If I permit people to disrespect other races how can I then request the respect of my own?” When asked how we could address this problematic way of thinking, there were many suggestions such as talking about race relations in the classroom, having more collaborative events between organizations (i.e an event thrown by the Women’s Center and the Black Student Union), and including a seminar about privilege and race relations to the ones already required for freshmen entering this institution.

During the first few weeks of freshman year, all students attend mandatory seminars on how to use politically correct language, the consequences of drugs and alcohol, and sexual safety. The facilitators agreed that such a seminar would be very useful and encouraged the audience to look into how to make something like that happen. Such an event would have a main goal of better equipping students at the University of San Diego to be empathetic, which is something that can help students in color in particular because the climate of the campus will be more inclusive. Currently USD’s white majority and affinity for the politically correct can produce feelings of exclusion with students of color who feel out of place on campus. Many students commented that they find this institution “too politically correct” and sometimes unwilling to take on the messy conversations that surround controversial issues. This can feel unfair to students who want to talk about the world issues that affect them whether they talk about it or not. Junior student Jane Henderson identified a time when in her sociology class the black community was left out of a lecture on society and then added, “Just because we’re a smaller population doesn’t mean we don’t count and typically I’m the only black person in my classes so anytime I want to talk about something that has been categorized as a ‘black issue’ it feels like everyone else is thinking ‘here goes the angry black girl again always wanting to talk about black issues’ when really they should see that the issues of my race are human issues.” Student and faculty alike identified with this sentiment. The facilitators pointed out that this is the problem with extreme political correctness and seeking constant comfortability.

Reluctance to leave a world of privilege and ignorance to the issues hurts those who are excluded from that world. The audience members of this event nodded gravely, understanding that everyone has the responsibility of using their privilege to help others. The talk ended with the statement that social justice issues belong to all of us and united is the only way we can make progressive. Then came the chant, “What do we need?!” The response came, “Allyship!” Then, the next question, “When do we need it?” Most voices bellowed, “Now!” Then, one straggling voice, “In the 1600s!”