If you were born White in America it would be a miracle for you to not be prejudice. It would mean that the school system had failed, because the school system is about maintaining the status quo, and in this country that is White supremacy - that is one of the things we teach in schools. - Jane Elliot, a White Race Expert. It is important to remember that we are attempting to hold more than just one person accountable, we are challenging the institutionalized racism that exists in power structures throughout the nation and the continued efforts of the power elite to silence the reality of the Black experience in America. We are no more free now than we were 300 years ago, some may say that people like me should feel lucky to be able to attend a top private university. The truth is far more complicated, what I and many others represent, are the feigned attempts at schools to make themselves look more progressive when in reality Black students, particularly those from low-income environments are made to feel unwanted and alienated by their classmates and called lazy by professors. What is never discussed is the fact that Black and White students are taught about each other differently, while we are taught admire our White counterparts they are being instructed to fear, pity, and chastise Blacks for coming from different backgrounds and being poor - as though it was a choice. Throughout schools we are taught that Africa was once great; filled with wealthy Kingdoms that made even some of Europes greatest Empires look poor, we are taught that upon interaction with Europeans; Africans, who are the ancestors of Blacks in America today, brought to America were made to be inferior and remain inferior via the Wille Lynch Letters, and lastly we are taught that when we become conscious of our oppression and we demand that what has been given to others so easily, be given to us, we are beaten, hosed, our churches bombed and war is declared on us for wanting to feel like we are people too. Ghetto, as we all know, originates from a Italian-Venetian word which means, slag or waste, throughout Europe ghettos were built to house Jewish communities whom the power elite wanted to keep separate from society, in spite of all the great things Jewish individuals of accomplished throughout Europe. It is no coincidence that term is used to describe both the conditions of the where Black people live today and Black people themselves. There is a concerted effort in America to silence Black excellence, the memory of Black pain, and the expression of current trauma, that effort has now tried to take Brandeis hostage as we try to make this a safe space for everyone. We cannot afford to be ignored and we will not be made silent, like those in the opposition who believe they are trying to help Brandeis, so too are we. We cannot move forward without acknowledging that racism exists in our school and is like a cancer to our whole community. youtu.be/HcYeFAMoQAk
Posted on: Tue, 23 Dec 2014 16:48:33 +0000
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