'My skinfolk ain't always my kinfolk'
Bailey McBride
Issue date: 2/6/09 Section: Opinion
More than a month before my nine-hour bus ride to the Southwestern Black Student Leadership Conference, I met with the adviser for the trip to discuss my attendance. Though she saw no problem with it, she left me with a warning: people would probably be mean to me. They would probably not understand why I, a 19-year-old white female, would desire to attend a leadership summit for black student leaders and that I probably needed to keep my mouth shut, even when I didn't want to.
Needless to say, this warning was pretty intimidating.
And I took it very seriously. I expected that the 800 conference participants would shun me, judge me and punish me for the years of discrimination that they and their families had faced from the perceived establishment that I represented.
I could not have been more wrong.
Instead of shunning me, they educated me. Instead of judging me and my lack of knowledge, they gladly explained the things that I had never heard of or did not understand. And far from being punished, I felt embraced by a community of people that seemed glad to share with those who were willing to learn and listen.
I heard a lot of different perspectives during my weekend in College Station, Texas. I heard from black women who were frustrated with the lack of black males who had the same level of education as they did. I learned that for every 70 single black males, there are 100 single black females. I heard from black males who just wanted the women in their life to accept them and be proud of them for rising above the status quo. That was, in fact, the conference theme: "Transcending the Status Quo."
During my time there, I learned that prisons judge how many spaces they expect to need in the future by visiting fourth-grade classrooms and seeing how many black males can't read at their grade level.
I learned about a community that faced many of its biggest problems from within - because of colorism, discrimination and religious conflicts - yet realized at the same time that a house divided falls.
Needless to say, this warning was pretty intimidating.
And I took it very seriously. I expected that the 800 conference participants would shun me, judge me and punish me for the years of discrimination that they and their families had faced from the perceived establishment that I represented.
I could not have been more wrong.
Instead of shunning me, they educated me. Instead of judging me and my lack of knowledge, they gladly explained the things that I had never heard of or did not understand. And far from being punished, I felt embraced by a community of people that seemed glad to share with those who were willing to learn and listen.
I heard a lot of different perspectives during my weekend in College Station, Texas. I heard from black women who were frustrated with the lack of black males who had the same level of education as they did. I learned that for every 70 single black males, there are 100 single black females. I heard from black males who just wanted the women in their life to accept them and be proud of them for rising above the status quo. That was, in fact, the conference theme: "Transcending the Status Quo."
During my time there, I learned that prisons judge how many spaces they expect to need in the future by visiting fourth-grade classrooms and seeing how many black males can't read at their grade level.
I learned about a community that faced many of its biggest problems from within - because of colorism, discrimination and religious conflicts - yet realized at the same time that a house divided falls.
Viewing Comments 1 - 8 of 9
Jeremy
posted 2/05/09 @ 11:28 PM CST
Well, I agree that it is likely that if you are a white person in a crowd of black people, you get funny looks.
Having attending a "black" church for a number of years, I can safely say that you will receive all manner of looks. (Continued…)
Jeremy
posted 2/06/09 @ 2:22 PM CST
Assumption one: my statements are reflective of white privilege. I can see why you would guess that, but in the end it is just a guess.
Assumption two: I cannot see the barriers imposed on colorful minorities due to my stature. (Continued…)
Syard
posted 2/06/09 @ 3:04 PM CST
It appears as though you didn't Google anything.
I have nothing against personal responsibility, and agree that lots of people could do good to take more of it. (Continued…)
Jeremy
posted 2/06/09 @ 10:25 PM CST
Well...what can be said...
I looked at the checklist you mentioned, because somehow without doing so I am incapable of discussing. I admit freely it did give me insight beyond your statements in this forum into how important race is to you. (Continued…)
naffel
posted 2/06/09 @ 11:09 PM CST
"I am not made acutely aware that my shape, bearing, or body odor will be taken as a
reflection on my race."
Bwaa ha ha ha ha ha ha...
How sad the world is. (Continued…)
Syard
posted 2/07/09 @ 9:12 PM CST
If only your "race doesn't matter" views were true. The reality is, it still does. Hopefully, someday the right experience, research, or encounter will enlighten you to the world as it is, not as you see it. (Continued…)
Jeremy
posted 2/08/09 @ 11:40 AM CST
I wish i could think that someone of your ilk would appreciate the fact that I don't show preference or extra consideration based on race, given the fact that to do so is the opposite of racism. (Continued…)
Alex
posted 2/09/09 @ 1:51 AM CST
That checklist is ridiculous.
Most of those are simply directly attributable to the fact that "Caucasians" outnumber African Americans more than 5 to 1. (Continued…)
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