Reacting to Inappropriate & Privileged Comments in Class.

One of the great things about law school is that you’re interacting with a lot of smart people and most of them have specialized interest for justice. It can really broaden your horizons and expose you to knew causes and pursuits.  That was very much the case for me.

On the flip side, you will also encounter some of the most close-minded and culturally bereft people in your life. Meaning that you may have classmates who have lived in such sheltered, privileged way of life that they make comments without thinking (or caring) about the implications.

Case in point, when I was a 2L we had to take a class where we had to write posts/comments on a blog (lol, but it was 2008 and the admins were trying to be hip, ok?). During a discussion on immigration, a wealthier, white student commented about how “stupid” it was for parents to cross the border with children—he was shocked because he thought they just didn’t understand the dangers and were being negligent in crossing a desert with kids.  Or there was a time in Contracts, where we discussed predatory loans and another student spoke up about how if people were too dumb to understand the terms of the contract they deserved to be taken advantage of…

I mean, everyone is entitled to their opinion, but it’s hard to be a person of color who has either experienced things wealthier students judge negatively or you may have had family members taken advantage by a justice system that everyone defends.  In fact, it’s very likely that members of our families have had negative interaction with the justice system—not just in the criminal system, but the civil system also has many examples of bias laws and regulations that impact our community (and our families) in negative ways.

It’s hard to sit and listen to someone who hasn’t had too much worry in their life make judgements and cast aspersions on things you have experienced. And for many people in law school, the injustices people face are peripheral to them.  They discuss things, like predatory loans, without ever having experienced negative affects so they can make outlandish comments because they are secure in their privilege and ignorant in experience.

How do you handle these types of classroom discussions?  Do you ignore it and not participate? Do you share your experiences (exposing maybe more about your situation that you had wanted to)?

For me, every instance required different reactions; there were times I didn’t feel comfortable speaking and other times I did.  It’s important to gage the situation and do what feels right for you.  Here are some of my suggestions on how managing inappropriate/privileged comments in class:

  One. Speak up, if you want to. It’s not our job to teach others about the experience of minorities. But, I am a proponent of making your voice heard, especially in settings where there aren’t as welcoming to your opinion.  I encourage this because it’s empowering to voice your experience and educate other people. And, while it may not seem fair, keep in mind that many of your classmates will hold positions of power whether it’s in corporations, politics etc. Imagine the change you can create by exposing them to different viewpoints and perspectives.

Two. Keep your cool.  Easier said then done. There were times during class discussions where other students made outrageous comments, seemingly not understanding the meaning behind their words.  While you may feel inclined to call them out, you’re risking a big backfire if all your reaction ends up doing is making you look overly “emotional”—remember, Latinas are almost always stereotyped as “fiery” and whenever women in general get upset we’re labeled hysterical, so being able to manage your emotions, helps off-set how people react to your anger so that they hear your message rather than dismiss it because of your tone.

Of course, if someone is truly inappropriate, racist, sexist, etc. do what you got to do.

Three. Seek comfort from your own.  It’s so common to hear outrageous comments in class, speak up against them, and then have nothing happen—no professor interjection; no support from other classmates—because many fail to acknowledge inappropriate comments, or don’t think there’s anything wrong to begin with, or are scared to stand with you.  It can be frustrating and infuriating.  In these cases, it’s so important to have emotional support from people going through the same thing you’re experiencing.  This is why culturally-focused student groups are so vital.  Groups for students of color provide an outlet to meet and vent with other people experiencing the same thing, which is so necessary for your mental health; it’s not just a social benefit. They can provide the support you need to validate what you’re experiencing, which is often lacking in law school.