“If you’re surrounded by whites, you have something to prove,” says Sam Boarkye, who attended Ohio State University. An article in the New York Times entitled “Interracial Roommates Can Reduce Prejudice” states that several university studies have found that having a roommate of a different race can reduce prejudice, diversity friendships and even boost black students’ academic performance. But, the research also found that these relationships are more stressful and more likely to break up same-race pairings. Boarkye is the only black student on his floor and feels that he is pushed to do better so that he can disprove the stereotype that black people are not smart.
When I first read this article, I was not surprised by the findings at all. I can personally attest to this type of behavior by minorities. For my first year of college, I had a black roommate. This was not because of race; this was because we were from the same high school. At that time, there were about twenty Afro-Americans on campus. We were all either in sports or directly related to someone who was in a sport. At that time, black people were not lining up to go to school in North Dakota, a lot of us were victims of some type of misfortune. Whatever the reason, all of us felt that we had something to prove.
Black people are told from when they are very young that it is not enough for us to do just as well as everyone else. We are always pushed to do better in anything that we do because there are too many prejudices otherwise. So when we are around a group that is predominately white, we try to exceed all expectations.
It is the same now. I live in Wahpeton, North Dakota, which is not exactly the multicultural center of the universe. When I meet people, they assume that I play a sport at the college (NDSCS). They are not quick to assume that I am a student that does not play a sport, or a teacher at the local high school. To me, these are honest mistakes (though stereotypical) and not something that I should be angry about. I figure that I must try harder to get my name out in the community so people will know that we have black community members along with athletes.
Minorities in general have more pressures than most non-minorities realize. Every time we are in public, we have a responsibility of crushing stereotypes that the general public may have. Sometimes, even we forget that.
David,
ReplyDeleteI’ll start by saying that it is very hard for white people to talk about race. Most people, including me, don’t want to touch it with a ten-foot pole. It has to be frustrating living in the presence of stereotypes. I don’t think I have ever felt what it’s like to be discriminated against. I won’t try to empathize because I don’t know if it is possible. The only thing I can think of is a trip to Florida. I interviewed for a job at West Palm Beach high school and the assistant principal said that I would be the whitest guy the kids had ever seen. I think the Florida heat would have got me before my minority status though.
Instead I’ll ask for some feedback on some current events. That’s the social studies teacher in me. I like to analyze the intellectual components of the news. I’ll assume this is o.k. since you made race the theme of this blog. I do know what happens when you assume, ASS-U-ME.
President Obama recently visited Cape Coast Castle, a nightmarish place where thousands of Africans were shipped as slaves all over the world. The first lady and her mother claim descent from slaves sent to South Carolina.
Katrina Browne also visited Ghana. She had learned her family made millions trading rum for slaves from the late 1700s to early 180s.
Last month the U.S. Senate issued an apology for slavery. The state governments of AL, CT, FLA, MD, NJ, NC, and VA have plans to do the same.
Browne believes that an apology is necessary. She created a documentary "Traces of the Trade: A story from the Deep North," for PBS. A reason being, she states the U.S. government supported and condoned slavery.
The President said the nation and the world should never forget the scourge of slavery because it's still relevant in today's world.
However, some disagreed about the apology. MSNBC's Chris Matthews heavily criticized Tennessee Rep. Steve Cohen for backing such an apology He argued that half of the country was killed opposing slavery in the Civil War.
MD State Rep. Patrick McDonough opposed an earlier Maryland apology for a number of reasons. One included, his family came from Ireland, where slavery was already abolished.
Do you have an opinion on any of these topics: President Obama, the slavery apology, its relevance, and or the 100th anniversary of the NAACP? Or, any other thoughts on race in America.
Have a great summer. If I don’t get a response I’ll assume you are building your lake cabin☺ Go Vikes! Arek
I agree with Arek. Most white people are very uncomfortable talking about race. I find it amazing how accepting young kids are. They barely notice the difference. I remember having a conversation with my son when he was a 3rd grader. He was trying to explain to me who is partner was on a school project. He told me the boy's name but I couldn't place he, so my son started describing him. "A little taller than me, he always wears a Vikings hat to recess, he's got dark hair." I still couldn't get it.He then said, "He's the one that I sat during music program." It wasn't until then that I knew who the boy was. Never once did my son think of saying, he's the black boy in my class. Fortunately, Bismarck/Mandan is more multicultural than some areas in ND, but I see social issues becoming more difficult for those of another race as they move into middle school and high school.
ReplyDeleteI was raised as a military brat and had friends from all walks of life...African American, Asian American, Jewish, Hispanic...race and religion weren't a big deal to me. We were all a bunch of kids who moved around a lot due to the military life. It wasn't until I moved to North Dakota that I really saw evidence of difference being stressed. I was amazed at how hung-up on race many people were. I was told that my opinion on race was going to be questioned when I applied for my current position on a reservation and quite frankly, I didn't know what I was going to say. People are people to me, regardless of skin color. Luckily, it wasn't brought up, but on the flip side I am now amazed at the amount of discrimination there is in that community against white people. What a "no-win" situation. But, all I can do is be a good person myself and raise my son to be a good person.
ReplyDeleteI understand that there are a lot of pressures on minority students, especially in rural states that lack racial and cultural diversity.
ReplyDeleteHere is what my experiences have taught me. I was in the Marine Corps from 1983 - 1987. I was stationed in New Orleans, Louisiana for 2.5 years. I was a kid who group up in rural North Dakota, a kid whose hero's were Dr. J. and Kareem A.J. Still, I didn't know any Afro-Americans and only saw few those 17 years in North Dakota.
However, after boot camp, I was ordered to New Orleans as my new permanent duty station. New Orleans was probably 65% Afro-American at that time. It was the best form of racial education I could have ever been exposed to. In very little time, almost all my friends were Afro-American. Within months, I no longer saw Afro-Americans, only people I liked and didn't like, just like the whites I sometimes hung around.
I learned very very quickly that my lack of exposure to different cultures and peoples created a bunch of preconceived ideas as to what people were and what they weren't. My parents never spoke racial hate and they were always very respectful of other races. Still, it wasn't until I was basically integrated into an Afro-American population that I came to see all the similarities I had with people of all colors.
Personally, I love to discuss race, and I love to meet different people. The idea of having interracial roomates in college dorms isn't all that bad of an idea. If it does nothing else, it makes all of us, black and white, face our ignorances and eventually get to know people not color.
Now, to keep it honest. After years back in North Dakota, I have to say that I have become one of those individuals who notices people from other races. I notice them because there is so little diversity in our state. I am not thinking anything negative or bad, just seeing something I normally don't see.
I really miss those days in New Orleans and I miss the comradary that a bunch of strangers from different places and backgrounds had. We had each others backs and we were best of friends. I learned to trust my life with Afro-Americans, many who treated a small town boy from North Dakota very very well. I am not a minority, but I stand up for minorities when people talk foolishness and lack real life experiences with other races.
I say Universities should continue the roommating concept and if necessary tweak it to make it better. We as a country have to continue to find ways to promote racial harmony and if this is one step toward making that happen - then great. Hopefully some roommate experiences will be similar to my New Orleans experience.