by Dominique M., Assistant Editor-in-Chief What is your background? Do you come from a happily married couple or do you come from a single parent home? Did your family constantly worry about their next meal or were you able to excessively eat? What if I told you that both were forms of privilege? Each person in the scenario has an innate form of privilege that is always there, yet we rarely distinguish as such. The big question here is why do we have such a problem pointing out this notion within us all.
A rationale for why our views on privilege might be skewed is because when we often think of privilege it revolves around white privilege or the idea that white people receive certain opportunities based on their skin color. Our society has been quick to explain how, based on the United States’ lengthy history of exploiting minorities, the majority has, in turn, become accustomed to reaping particular benefits. Although the idea of white privilege may be true, why does that stop us from acknowledging other privilege? As a minority at a predominantly white institution, I am accustomed to seeing forms of ignorance and biases against other minorities from my white peers. When viewing these things, I found it easy to say that they are acting certain ways, or getting certain things, because of their privilege. But what was so hard for me to understand, as I gradually progressed through school, is the privilege that I also had despite me being a minority. I didn’t grow up in a single-parent household. I didn’t grow up scrounging for food or money. I didn’t grow up struggling to find opportunities to learn. Yet, I always felt that I never had any privilege, because of my skin color. But privilege is more than just skin deep. Privilege is the fact that I was able to attend an optional school and receive a stellar education, because my parents were willing and able to do whatever it takes to help me. No matter what we feel disadvantages us in this society, we still have a specific amount of privilege based on the opportunities that have been presented to us in life. Yes, there are large groups of people in America who constantly have their rights stripped from them and who have to fight for the things they have, but that doesn’t negate the privilege that is evident. So, what does this change for you? More than likely, you’re probably thinking that knowing your privilege won’t change your actions or words moving forward. But I can almost guarantee that now that you know, it will be hard not to think about it. Imagine walking around all day with something on your nose. You are continuing your day unaware of what is on your face until someone tells you. The rational thing to do afterwards is to remove it from your face. But even after you remove it, you can’t help but to think it could still be there. After someone confronts you about your privilege, it may be easy to not think about it, but it is impossible to forget that it was there. Only when we begin to acknowledge the privilege and actually use it to progress and inform others, will we truly begin to see a shift towards a better society.
0 Comments
by Simone E., Editor-in-Chief This Black History Month, let’s be thankful for our black educators at UTC.
I’m grateful for the black educators at UTC that I’ve interacted with. Admittedly, there’s not as many as I would like, but, I can definitely say that a lot of my “success” today can be attributed to them, and I know many of you feel the same way. My first black educator in college was within the political science department. By this point, I had gotten so used to having white professors, especially in my department, that when I walked in and saw him, I paused for a second, before I sat down. I didn’t fully unpack though, until he said who he was, because I honestly didn’t believe that I would actually have a black professor. I’d never realized how necessary it was for me to have a black professor. I finally had confidence that I wouldn’t be the only black person in my field. Realistically, I knew this. But there’s a difference between seeing and believing, and for me, in this instance, seeing was believing. I remember being excited to go to that class, even though the subject matter was kind of boring. It was just cool for me to see a professor who didn’t feel the need to “mask” his blackness, and that brought hope that I wouldn’t have to once I entered the field. I’m sure you know what I’m talking about. “Talking white” or “acting white” or code-switching. I disagree, though, with white people being the standard for how to act and speak professionally, but I digress. So anyway, thanks Dr. Mauldin because I probably wouldn’t be in Political Science anymore, if I’m being honest. There’s about ten black students within the department that I know of, and I’m not even sure how many are in my specific concentration. I’m not going to go too in depth on any more black educators, but here’s a few that I’ve gotten the opportunity to know personally, and if you don’t know them, get to know them if you can. Dr. Bryan Samuel is leaving; however, he was very influential in getting me involved in different scholarships and opportunities, as well as events such as the MOC Forward Diversity Conference, and so much more. We also have Dr. Mo Baptiste, Dr. H.B., Ms. Nicole Brown, and Mr. Stokes. I know each of these educators on different levels, but I do know that not only do they give good advice, but they are able to offer invaluable experience and connections. There’s Dean Mathis and Terri Thomas in the Multicultural Center who are influential and helpful, Sherese Williams in the Honors College, while new, is very supportive, as well as other black faculty and staff all around campus. There’s also Dr. Trae Cotton, who will be officially starting his position as Vice Chancellor for Student Development today. I only know him through an interview that I attended, but from what I can tell, he’ll be another black educator that we can count on. Be sure to stop by his office within the Dean of Students office to get to know him. This wasn’t meant to be an emotional article: simply an article that expressed my gratitude for the black educators that have helped me so far, and that I’ve seen help others. It’s impossible for me to list every single black educator that we have at UTC, but while we’re celebrating black history, we can appreciate the black educators who are helping us make history. by Simone E., Editor-in-Chief Many of you may think that I’m this Black Panther wanna-be who hates all white people or “the man.” This is so extreme: I certainly don’t hate all white people. I don’t hate anybody. However, I have had some experiences that has made me more wary, than others, of people who voted for Trump--who may or may not be white, and I figured I’d share them with you all.
Welcome to the KKKolumn. I don’t write these to get people in trouble, or to report someone, or even to garner sympathy. I write simply so that, for those who have never experienced racism, you can see it from my side, and for those of you who have experienced racism, you’ll know you’re not alone. #1 For the first edition, I’m going to tell you about a time that I was asked whether or not I wanted to be called “colored.” Now, I’ve actually told this story a few times, so if you know me well enough to have heard this, feel free to peruse the rest of The Torch: Reborn. I walk into a professor’s office. I’m not going to give too many details because as I said, I don’t want to get anyone in trouble. So I walk into her office, ready to talk and get down to business. We’re talking, and the professor suddenly asks me, “What do you like being called?” Now, I was initially thrown off by this. What did that mean? My first thought was, seeing as I have a somewhat difficult name, whether or not I wanted to be called Nina or Simone or NinaSimone or some other variation. As she was looking at me and continuing her side of the conversation, I began to realize that she was talking about my race. What did I like to be called? I responded with, “Black or African-American is fine.” She obviously didn’t notice my discomfort. At this point, I’m twiddling my fingers and staring at the wall, and she continues into her story. Get this. Apparently, a student of hers was fulfilling whatever requirements are necessary for student teaching. On one of her reports, said student called the black students at the school “colored.” When she said colored, it was as if my entire soul was trying to escape my body. I couldn’t breathe. I didn’t know how to feel. Colored? As opposed to what? I didn’t even know that people still used that word in relation to black people anymore without irony. Apparently though, according to the professor, things are so “PC” nowadays and “it’s because of the area that she’s from that she uses that language, ya know?” I didn’t know. I was unaware that it was okay to use certain racist language simply because of your geographic location. I was also unaware of what to do in that moment. This was a professor that’s indirectly related to one of my scholarships. Not only could I literally not pop off, I was tired. Why do I always have to educate? Sure, I’ll vent to my friends, but this is an old lady. She’s had plenty of years to educate herself. I don’t know. The whole thing kind of took me off guard, and she wasn’t saying anything with malicious intent; in fact, this may have been her way of learning. I haven’t even gotten to the part where she almost touched my hair. The way my neck snapped back, I’m surprised it’s still attached to my head. She wanted hair “like mine” and she just wished, with all her little heart, that “it puffed up and out the way [mine] did.” I responded and said that, “yea, your hair is pretty flat” and she goes, “yea it is.” I know, rude of me. I couldn’t resist. Mind you, the entire time, I’m still staring at the wall. I did get a quick glance at her once or twice to see her move her hands around her head in motions that I suppose were meant to resemble an afro. Either way, I left that experience with, well, a saddened heart. As dramatic as that sounds, I had gotten used to the idea that with the advancement of technology, came the advancement of knowledge and here this lady was, asking me if I minded being called “colored” and then proceeded to attempt to feel my hair. I just figured I’d share one of the many painful experiences that I get the wonderful opportunity to live through. This wasn’t one of the worst, but I figured it would be a start. Let me know what you think in the comments! by Adeola I., Staff Writer I am a sophomore at UTC, meaning I have completed one and a half years of my college education, and I am still struggling to figure out what I want to do with the rest of my life. As you can imagine, this is a daunting task.
When does the “real world” start? In high school, I was told you enter the “real world” when you graduate. In college, sometimes, I am told that you enter the “real world” when you graduate. Life is similar to riding a bicycle. High school is when you get on the bike with training wheels and your mom or dad is holding onto you and the bike the whole time. College is when your parents let go of you and you're on your own, riding a bicycle with two training wheels attached. Once you let go of the training wheels, that is you attaining your bachelor's degree. Whatever comes next is the real world, whether you choose to pursue a higher degree, or begin work in a career. It is almost as if life does not count until you've accomplished something, like attaining a degree or job. That brings up the question, when do children become adults? In high school, there were times certain teachers would call students young adults, but most of the time we were referred to as kids. In Western civilization,entry into adulthood is identified by a number: age. Adulthood is not based upon whether one has mastered a certain skillset, learned how to relate and interact with others appropriately, or demonstrated great responsibility and maturity. For some time now, society has known that the frontal lobe of the brain does not complete development until a person is in his or her mid-twenties. The frontal lobe is the area of the brain that is the center of decision making, judgment, planning, etc. Yet, so many people are forced to make these life deciding decisions at such a young age. Wouldn’t it be nice if the higher education system had more of a focus on experiential learning and students were more exposed to actually finding out what careers there are out there for them? So many of us live life on a timeline. The average American timeline consists of working to the point of stress in school, then in a career, and ends with a small fraction of time saved for retirement. Why do we live life this way? Keep your helmets on tight, this is going to be a strenuous and hopefully rewarding bicycle ride. by Dominique M., Assistant Editor-in-Chief Entertainment drives our everyday lives: whether it is binge watching Netflix, or going to a basketball game. No matter what we are doing, there is typically some sort of entertainment value included. But what we never take into consideration is our casting aside of anything that remotely takes away from this level of entertainment. This can be seen in the way that we treat teachers and intellectual ideas.
When listening to myself interact with friends, I can’t help but wonder why gossip and amusement is the center of conversation. I believe our inherent desire to partake in this isn’t because we have lower intelligence, or because we have nothing else to talk about; rather, it’s because it is always the focus of our society. Entertainment is so ubiquitous in this world, so it is fitting that those who provide us with entertainment (i.e. basketball players, actors, directors) are paid the most money. But what isn’t so fitting, is the reasoning behind their actions. A standard professional basketball player is paid, on average, hundreds of thousands of dollars to have people watch them do what they love. On the other hand, we have teachers who are paid under a hundred thousand dollars to provide the basis of every piece of knowledge that we have. Now, I think some may argue that teachers get paid less because their reward comes in the form of being influential and realizing how much they impact the future. While this statement is true, the amount of influence that entertainers hold is on the rise. We are able to see this in the superficial choices that people make after watching the Kardashians or the depth in choices people make after watching hundreds of NFL players kneel during the National Anthem. These entertainers’ influence can make people want to change any and everything about themselves, yet there is so little regulation on what these entertainers can say or do. There is no rule book to say this is how a celebrity/entertainer must act or what they can or can’t say. But teachers, who are presumably the ones with the most influence on upcoming generations, are so heavily restricted and so underpaid. They are restricted in that they can never truly express certain facets of life, such as religion, culture, or personal things because “The content taught by a teacher must be relevant to and consistent with the teacher's responsibilities, and a teacher cannot promote a personal or political agenda in the classroom” (Reuters 2017) However, there are so many facts in life (like our personal and political beliefs) that are experiential-based and can’t be learned from textbooks. Yet, we still continue to force teachers into a stringent way of teaching and we force them into a low grade of pay under the guise of reaping a reward of influence. In my experience, teachers aren’t allowed to voice their opinions on everything (which could facilitate great open discussions), so people turn their attention to entertainment. Some forms of entertainment are learning-based like art and music. Forms like mindless cartoons or athletic based activities only appeal to the primal part of who we are. Those who participate in these types of entertainment will forever be paid more and will forever have the most influence on us, because we are drawn to their world. “[We] are facing the first major teacher shortage since the 1990s” (Heim 2016). This decline in teachers is on the rise: most likely because they are paid too little and are demanded to follow such specific guidelines. Whereas, the increase in entertainers will always be trending because who doesn’t want to be famous and have influence on society? But when we finally start to realize that we are losing the ones who are building up and teaching our society, maybe we will start to make a change for the better. References: Heim, Joe (2016, September 14). “America has a teacher shortage, and a new study says it’s getting worse.” The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved October 18, 2017, from https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/america-has-a-teacher-shortage-and-a-new-study-says-its-getting-worse/2016/09/14/d5de1cee-79e8-11e6-beac-57a4a412e93a_story.html?utm_term=.89c609ed3cbb Reuters, Thomson (2017). “Teachers’ Rights: Overview.” FindLaw. Retrieved October 18, 2017, from http://education.findlaw.com/teachers-rights/teachers-different-freedoms-and-rights.html by Dominique M., Assistant Editor-in-Chief “You talk white.” “You act black.” “She only hangs out with white people, so you know she isn’t really black.” Do any of these phrases sound familiar? If they do, then you know that it delineates how often we describe people as a color.
Now a color can be adjective, but in our current society it is ubiquitous to use these words to highlight someone’s characteristics. But the problem that arises is how can a person possibly act like a color? The source of the problem stems from our constant need to judge others coupled with the racial tensions evident in the United States. What falls under the constraints of acting or speaking black? Is it the stereotypical loud, confrontational, and “ratchet” voice? Or is it the quiet, elusive, and intelligent person in the front of the classroom? Why do we place people in these subjective boxes with little space to break free? What about speaking or behaving white? Why is it stereotypical that you are white if you speak more proper than your classmates or if you dress a certain way? If you really sit down to think about the things that you say on a daily basis, you will probably realize that you have said that someone acts/talks like a color. When this occurs, why don’t we realize how ignorant it sounds to label someone a specific race because of negative or positive qualities they possess. More often than not when we label people as colors, we label those with “favorable characteristics” (like speaking proper) as white and those with “unfavorable characteristics” (like being loud or rude) as black. The system of labelling just perpetuates the divide between blacks and whites because we are lifting up one and demeaning another. Additionally, the problem forces people to feel like they don’t fit in with their race, because they don’t fit into those particular characteristics. So what are we left with? A broken society. A group of judgemental people. A divide that is only continued because of our reliance on labels. The sad truth of it all is that we will probably never change because we tend to not dwell or acknowledge our mistakes. The only way that a change can be made is when we realize that just because you are a certain race, doesn’t mean you are a certain characteristic. Your race is the backbone from which you should grow and be your own person. Your culture is something that will always be with you, but your characteristics are always shifting. So don’t allow your “color” to unjustly label you. by Simone E., Editor-in-Chief I've been asked a few times, by white students, about the excitement that black students have expressed over having a black homecoming king and queen. More specifically I've been asked, “What's the big deal?”
It’s just Homecoming, right? It's just a crown, or a sash. I wish it were just that. It's often very hard to explain what's it's like for a minority student to attend a PWI. I usually don't even try to explain it: I just leave it at “it's just...different.” And it is. We don't feel understood, and we often don't feel listened to. I don't always want to have to explain what I'm doing or why you can't say that word or why I'm upset about something that's happening in the news. I began to accept where I was. I knew that within my community, I would find peace and that I would just have to accept the fact that I wouldn't be completely comfortable anywhere else. Now, I'm not saying that this is the experience of all black students. However, I do know for a fact that I'm not alone in these sentiments. When Homecoming came around my freshman year, I was appalled. I had no idea why I would want to have fish thrown at my face, and I realized that since I wasn't a part of a white sorority, I wouldn't even have the fun that some of my white counterparts were having. UTC, however, is constantly improving. After a few round table/open forums, Homecoming events are becoming more inclusive; however, something that none of us gifted with a little extra melanin would've expected, was the amount of diversity on Homecoming Court. I can't speak for the years before I came to school, but when I saw that Brittany Watlington was running for Homecoming Queen, I was immediately pessimistic. Not because of her per say, but because she was black. I thought, “We go to a PWI. There's no way she’ll win.” I was inspired, however, that a black girl had made it onto the Court and that she was competing. I was doubly inspired when there were two black men on the Court as well. In America, black women are coveted. Our bodies are over-sexualized, our fashion is stolen, and we’re recognized as beautiful, but as a “lesser than.” Black men, on the other hand, are often seen as monsters for no other reason than for being alive. With this in mind, when I saw two black men on the Court, I was more than inspired, I was excited. I then remember thinking, again, that neither of them would win. But Solomon Puryear and Brittany Watlington won. I was puzzled. Black people were celebrating the fact that it was the first time we had a black Homecoming Queen and Top Moc at the same time. The joyous atmosphere reminded me of my family when President Barack Obama won. Anything seemed possible. I really did see hope for my life as a black person at UTC. I had always thought, and still do, that my white counterparts thought of me as unequal to them, or as below them. Were they beginning to see that we could all be on the same level? A year went by and suddenly there were two black men, two black women, and one Asian woman running, and the diversity was striking. I honestly thought it was too much diversity. Would people have to choose which diverse candidate to vote for and would that make having a diverse winner more difficult? The uncertainty among my friends of who would win was almost tangible. We were excited about the diversity, but nervous that it would play against us. However, for the second time in a row, there was a black Queen and Top Moc. At this point, I don't know what to think. I am glad that we have administrators who, at the very least, are attempting to listen to us when we are wanting to make the campus more diverse, and for that, I'm glad. I'm also glad that, for the second year in a row, there's someone representing the campus that looks like me and that could serve as a voice of the more diverse part of campus. Even though there's not an overwhelming majority of racially diverse students, I do feel like the campus shouldn't necessarily reflect the wants and needs of one group of people simply because they're the majority. While we’re still working on that, I'm glad that UTC seems to be moving towards more inclusivity. It feels good to see someone with melanin wear a crown. While I shouldn’t have to explain why this is so important to me or explain why it matters, just know that’s it’s great to see someone who looks like me and who can represent me to the fullest. by Dominique M., Assistant Editor-in-Chief Everyone is familiar with how teachers are supposed to operate in a classroom setting. They are the mediators, the lecturers, and ultimately, the decision makers on what is discussed in class. In other words, the professor has the power to create conversation on any and everything: including racially controversial topics.
Discussing why we shouldn’t ruin the reputation of a caucasian student who wore blackface to a party, for example, is something that a teacher is able to present. In the past generations, students were extremely obedient towards authority, specifically teachers, as opposed to our current generation. Maybe that fact stems from the social climate at the time or maybe it stems from the teachings of parents. Nevertheless, the problem remains of whether this compliance should be called obedience or silence in the midst of discussing racially insensitive topics. Now, let’s picture that you are the only Hispanic student in a room full of caucasians. Your professor begins to talk about President Trump’s desire to build a wall to get rid of filthy Mexicans. The first question we should ask ourselves is: should the teacher be able to talk about this in class? Given the demographics of the class, does this not represent an unfair bias against the only Hispanic student in the class? Should the student have the right to get upset at the teacher? Should the student have the right to be angry with their fellow students’ comments? According to the teachers’ rights as the leader of the classroom, this topic is fair game. But should it? When will it begin to cross the line of offensive classroom topics? Maybe the purpose of the classroom is already unfairly biased against minorities. In primary school we often discuss explorers and settlers who discovered “new” land in the Americas. We learn how they cultivated the land and made America what it is today. However, what we don’t learn is how they stepped on any minority who got in their way, in order to accomplish their goal. The discussion on minorities is always limited, but that isn’t attributed to a lack of minority history. It is attributed to a lack of desire by teachers to discuss the realizations and faults of our country. So, when you are sitting in class absorbing the offensive speech from your teachers and fellow classmates, assert your feelings. Don’t let society’s concept of obedience keep you silent. Yes, this system has been broken for awhile, but maybe your statements in class are just the push the teacher needs to shut down a racially insensitive discussion. |
Author's NoteWelcome to The Torch: Reborn, your multicultural newspaper. Archives
December 2018
Categories© 2017 The Torch: Reborn All Rights Reserved
|