To the guy who interrupted my progress on our macroeconomics assignment in order to share his unwanted and misplaced prejudices surrounding institutional racism and affirmative action within higher education, this one’s for you.

To be frank, when arguing your side, your facts were wrong and your delivery was shoddy at best. “Reverse Racism” doesn’t exist, socioeconomic status is, in fact, heavily influenced (if not predetermined) by race and no, I did not “take” someone’s spot via affirmative action. While I found your argument that being called “cracker” was an example of racism (notice how I can write out the whole world without asterisks) and that institutional racism and income disparities between whites and blacks aren’t related, to be equally annoying, your misplaced hatred of affirmative action pushed me over the edge. (*Cue Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five*)

I did not “take” a spot that you seem to believe was predestined to someone else — someone else who I am assuming you believe is white. I promise you, I did not. To adopt this view, that people of color, take or steal spots from white applicants at predominantly white institutions is not only toxic, but also rather ignorant.

I think this ignorance shone through when you looked at me and stated, "I mean look at you, you go to a $60,000 school.” To be honest, I am still struggling to decipher the true meaning of this exclamation. I am assuming that it was not simply meant to be a (not so) humble brag about how expensive our university is and that your parents can afford it. I’m also going to assume that you’re not commenting on the fact that I’m a girl. And although I won’t ever be able to understand what’s going through your head, I’m going to take a guess and assume that you don’t believe that I, a black student at a PWI (predominantly White institution), can afford to go here. And based on our conversation, I believe that you think that the only reason I got in was due to an affirmative action prerogative.

I could sit here and show you all of my accomplishments I achieved in high school, but you probably wouldn’t listen and believe that I only accomplished what I did because I am black. I could also sit here and explain to you how hurtful and counterproductive those comments are, but once again, you probably wouldn’t listen because your prejudices are so deeply rooted. Instead, I’ve decided to hit you with some quick facts:

• There are smart black people in the world.
• The ratio of people of color to white students at our own university demonstrates that poc (people of color) aren’t taking away spots from white applicants. Within the class of 2019, there are 48 students of color out of the 455 students enrolled. (Aka 89% of that class alone is white.)
• There are smart black people in the world.
• Interestingly enough, in “race-blind” college admission policies utilized by Berkley and Caltech, 27 percent and 35 percent of the student body are white, respectively. (Aka most of their student body is comprised of people of color)
• There are smart black people in the world.

I could go on for pages outlining the history, the arguments for and against affirmative action, but I doubt you’d take the time to listen. Instead, to all of you who use affirmative action as a veil to shield your underlying racial prejudices (especially you Mr. Macroeconomics-Problem-Set-Interrupter) I ask you to please only give your opinion when asked. And if you decide to ignore my advice, at least make sure that your opinion is based on relevant and legitimate facts, not personal prejudice. (AKA I don't care to hear about how you believe my only merit is that I'm black--especially when I'm trying to finish my homework.)