Response for 2/26/2019


In Melissa Harris-Perry’s article, “What It’s Like to Be Black on Campus Now”, she illustrates the stories of 10 black college journalists who share their experiences of being Black in college. I chose this article to write about as it is an all too familiar subject as I to am a Black Student at a Predominantly-White Institute. A common theme throughout the article is that many of these students witnessed or are victims of racial injustices or inequalities one the various campuses. I haven’t personally endured any racial conflicts on this campus, however I do feel isolated at times. In my opinion, it is blatantly obvious that this campus is not diverse in the least bit. I remember when I first visited W&J and Washington, PA; I was overwhelmed with this sense of fear that there was no other Black people around. It subsided overtime during my visit , but it is a feeling I always live with. As someone coming from the Tri-State Area, even though the area I grew up in was predominately-white, I am accustomed to diversity; something Washington, PA and even Pittsburgh lacks. A quote that stood out to me was, “To be black on campus is to be black in America.”(Harris-Perry) I feel like being Black on this campus is somewhat of another challenge to being Black in general. As a young Black woman, I already feel as if I have to work twice as hard as the next person, but to be in an environment where I feel as if I have to code switch more often than not and have an argument pre-built for a class where I am the only one is something I relate with to the students in this article.

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