Breaking Barriers: Racism in College

Starting college can be a real trip if you’re not used to being in mostly White spaces. If you’re lucky to attend a diverse college where you don’t feel isolated, that’s fantastic (fr fr) but most of us attend incredibly homogenous schools where your awareness that there are few students of color is super acute. This situation can create feelings of loneliness, a sense that you don’t belong, and in turn, can make you believe you aren’t capable of succeeding in that environment because there are few like you. It can feel overwhelming. And at the time, you may not understand exactly, why it is your feel that way you do.  Aside from the general mental impact of non-diversity, you also have to socialize and work with groups of students who may make you feel uncomfortable because of their ignorance or overtly bigoted behavior. For example, imagine how a student from a mixed-status family may feel when the frat down the street throws a “border patrol,” party? An all too-frequent of an occurrence, btw.  In sum, getting acclimated to college as a student of color requires a little more energy than most other students.

For me, I really loved my college experience, but there were moments, especially my freshman year that made me uncomfortable and unsure of myself. My freshman year was great, but for my roommate who was racist. Of course, there was never any overt acts by her to me, but just like most people of color, I can pick up cues and behavior from Whites that let us know they’re not friends (like Justice Stewart says: I know it when I see it).  In my case, the roommate was incredibly friendly via email up until the time she called my house and a family member who spoke Spanish answered the phone. It was incredibly cold-shouldered from then on. After move in, I tried my best to be friendly and warm, but at every turn she rebuffed and acted incredibly rude. There are quite a few tales to tell about her inconsiderate behavior that really rose above just being a shitty roommate. I tried my best for the first few months, but I soon came to terms with my situation.

I was able to easily ignore her bad behavior, but it sucked because it mired one of my first experiences in college and set a very negative tone. And like, now it’s a funny story, but in big picture–what a shitty thing for anyone to have to go through on top of going through the normal ups and downs of being a new college student, you know?

I mention this experience to show that I know that at the onset, college can seem like a misstep if you’re enduring bigoted behavior, casual racism, questioning of your intelligence, etc. Situations like my Freshman Roommate could cause students to second-guess their choices or question whether they belong in higher Ed. This is a real barrier many new students face. However, while these atmospheres makes colleges feel unwelcoming, you do have options to take control of your college experience so that you benefit from it and earn your degree.

The first step to take is to find your tribe. Find your group of friends that will make your experience a positive one. I was so lucky (and continue to be lucky) to become friends with two women of color who happen to be my soul sisters. But beyond them, I found real, integral support through the organizations focused on students of color. Upperclassmen from those groups reached out to us and helped us form a community. I know this was vital and made the difference in how much I enjoyed my time (and I realllllly enjoyed it). If strongholds like this can happen in Northwest Indiana, they can happen in other small & large college communities. But the first step is being proactive in seeking out those students that you know will understand your experience.

Second, when confronted by ignorant comments or behaviors–do what makes you comfortable. If it feels better to ignore it, then do so because it’s not fair to add more stressors to your life to be someone’s teacher in How Not to Be a Bigot. But if you see bad behavior and want to call it out–do that too. I did finally confront my roommate and she gave me a wack ass response and I remember thinking this is the best she can come up with?! That was the moment I decided I was going to put no more energy into that situation. Vaya con Dios, I was through, but confronting her emboldened me because I stood up for myself & she got the hint that her bad behavior needed to stop because I wasn’t the one to let it slide.

But whether you confront someone or ignore it, the main goal is to not let jerks derail you from your goals. When you experience situations that seem intimidating or you are exposed to comments that make you second-guess your abilities or potential then remind yourself that you have overcome so much already. You have sacrificed and worked harder than most. You have more grit and potential left in you, and you are capable of reaching your goals.

I am hopeful everyone’s college experience has started off on a positive note, and encourage those that are struggling to remember they belong there just like everyone else!

Did you ever experience any type of dog-whistle antics or straight up bigotry in college? How did you respond?