sometimes, people's blindness truly baffles me. so many people live in ignorance -- some of it may be unintentional, but some of it, i'm convinced, is absolutely deliberate. the really interesting part is that so many of the people who are completely ignorant of the plight of their fellow human beings, the human beings who sit next to them everyday in class, are law students. how can i be at one of the top law schools in the country, surrounded by intelligent, educated people, and still be slapped in the face every day by people's ignorance?
i'm always a little sad when i find out that people i know -- people who had thus far seemed like cool, socially aware people -- think that racial and ethnic minorities are not discriminated against anymore, that the students of color on campus have the same experience as the white students, that when students of color organizations want to support each other, it "just segregation and reverse discrimination." i just can't help but lose respect for these people.
how can anyone in their right mind believe that racial and ethnic minorities are now being treated equally in america -- on an institutional or social level? how can anyone with a rational faculty think that when students of color go to class everyday, legal issues that pertain to them are given equal treatment as those that pertain to white middle/upper clas america? how can smart people believe that students of color are allowed to make comments with the same impunity as white students, without fearing that white students will brand their comments as representative of their entire minority race?
how can people at this law school -- supposedly one of the most progressive and liberal in america -- really believe that if students of color organizations want to come together and form a space on campus (just one room!) where they can keep their organizations' files and equipment, and just chill with each other -- a room that would be open to everyone, white students and students of color alike -- that it would be discriminatory?
don't they realize that our school is 75% white, so every space that exists in the law school right now is already, de facto, a white student space? don't they realize that the very existence of any organization -- any organization -- in some way makes that organization exclusionary to some degree? students of color can have their own organizations with their own listserves and activities. why are they allowed to have cyberspace that's "exclusionary" or temporary real space that's exclusionary, but not permanent real space that's "exclusionary?" the truth is that none of these phenomena is actually exclusionary -- white students can join the listserves and attend the activities of students of color organizations, and they would most certainly be welcome in a students of color space as well.
just like students of color can most certainly join listserves and go to activities of "mainstream" organizations, and they can even go to class or just hang out in the law school -- of course, students of color are still the minority in all these scenarios. but they're welcome to do these things. similarly, white students would be welcome in a students of color space. they would just the be the statistical minority for once.
God forbid that should happen. that would just be too painful of an experience, too discriminatory. they would suddenly realize that most people in the room have a different complexion from them. they might feel that they had had a different experience growing up than everyone else in the room has had. they might even venture to guess that the people of color in the room might be making unfair assumptions about them, since the number of white people that those people of color in the room had interacted with was just a fraction of the number of other people of color that they'd interacted with. it would just be to uncomfortable, too difficult.
wait, no it wouldn't.
that's right -- we live in the real world. the real america. where people of color are always the minority, where they always interact with white people, where they have white friends and realize that not all white people are the same. so more likely, what would happen is that white students who came into that space would be treated just like everyone else in that space. they would be respected and listened to. and students of color would appreciate that they made the effort to be there. so even if the white students were the numerical minority in that room, they still would never have the same experience as racial minorities in america... although they might to get hear some really interesting things about minority experiences that they'd never get to hear in class.
but wait, some of them say... "how can you have a students of color space? what about women and LGBT people -- they're minorities too, don't they deserve a space?" well, they're welcome to have spaces on campus if they want them, too. but, the fact is that some big corporate law firm accidentally made a public racist feaux pas, and to make amends, they paid the NYU student organizations a bunch of money for diversity programming. that's just how the chips fell. if women and LGBT students want their own spaces, they're free to pursue those avenues. but as students of color, we were given that money and we're tying to use it for a good cause... we've already started a minority student scholarship fund, and hopefully, we can have a students of color space on campus too.
it's already kind of silly that we have to be pushing so hard for this ourselves. many many school across the country, my undergraduate institution (hook 'em horns!) and NYU undergrad included, have institutionally-sponsored, adminstration-run, well-funded offices for students of color and diversity programming. but not only does NYU law refuse to create such a space for us and provide those resources, they won't even allow us to create it ourselves.
the administration just won't let us. and many of the white students don't want to let us either. the administration wants us to relax, not do anything important, not try to create any kind of lasting infrastructure. "just have a big dinner," they say. "blow the thousands of dollars you've been given on food, and then afterwards, put on a big show full of ethnic performances for all the white students on campus."
great idea! should we get our own monkey suits too, or can you provide those?
good lord.
what is wrong with people? how can white people look me in the eye and tell me they know what black, latino, asian, and middle eastern people are feeling, thinking, and experiencing every day? how can they have the audacity to say that students of color don't need this space? how can they, fully aware of the dark history of this country and the continuing legacy of racism, confidently declare that a students of color space is unnecessary and exclusionary, and that it would discriminate against white people?
you people, you "intelligent" individuals who make these bold statements -- you are "the man." you fancy yourselves enlightened, political, progressive; you think that you are changing things in your own way, that you're making your mark. you think that you're revolutionary. you think that you're fighting the man. but how can that be? you *are* the man. you are part of that slow, cumbersome, bureaucratic, prejudiced, oppressive, and ignorant mass that is the primary instrument of the man. you are nothing but a tool. and you thrive on ignorance.
***
i always thought ignorance was a curse of the deprived. but now i see that ignorance is a consistent feature of many who have been given every advantage in life -- and it's often embraced, cultivated, and purposefully maintained by these people. they cling to it tenaciously, and spout it defensively.
ignorance, it seems, is just another gift of privilege.
Posted by naseem at January 27, 2006 08:28 PMHonestly, Nas. With the ability to express yourself like that, so strongly, clearly, and logically, whatever gives you the impression that you're not exactly where you're supposed to be? Grades? Bah. You are indeed smarter than most of the people there. In the ways that count. In the immeasurable ways. In the ways that might actually facilitate change.
Posted by: george at January 27, 2006 09:56 PMBaha'u'llah and Abdu'l-Baha refer to knowledge as being of two kinds: divine and satanic, and of the power of knowledge to either exalt or debase an individual. Knowledge can be a great veil, and in an institution so esteemed, it's reasonable to think that one would find more examples of individuals in love with their apparent knowledge and wisdom...
You write:
"how can they, fully aware of the dark history of this country and the continuing legacy of racism, confidently declare that a students of color space is unnecessary and exclusionary, and that it would discriminate against white people?"
I would respond that they obviously don't know the history of this country, or, at the very least, haven't internalized or reflected on this information.
And finally, a question: did your school really suggest having a dinner replete with an "ethnic dance" showcase event? Egad...
Our school actually HAS an ethnic showcase event. The one time I went was pretty good, but I agree that there is that blindness about the truth of racism.
Yay for the educational system in this country! /sarcasm.
Posted by: Sholeh at January 29, 2006 11:42 AMI can so see your school suggesting the dinner thing. The university I work for has an International Dinner every April. The students catalogued and monitored by the Center for International Students sponsors the event. It seems like a "We want you to act white all year, so use this as an outlet on this one day only thing."
Posted by: ez at January 29, 2006 01:33 PMYour frustration is understandable and leaps off the screen. I think you need to work on understanding why your classmates are so "ignorant." Ranting and raving may make you feel a bit better, but that's about all it will do. You are surrounded by some amazingly open-minded people, and if they have reservations about a student of color space, you need to find out why and address those concerns with empathy, patience and some openness of your own.
The idea that a white male student does not understand the disadvantages of students of color should be forgivable (but not excused). After all, those in the majority are more products of their society than any of the rest of us.
Keep sharing with us, and your classmates, experiences you've had that have made you less ignorant, and spend less time condemning the ignorance of others.
Posted by: Mark at January 29, 2006 03:50 PMOK Nas I think I understand this one since I did go to law school at SMU...the invisible bag of priviliges and such. I once told mom when she asked me why I was depressed while in law school that it is becuase many law students seem great until you find out they have children chained up in their basements. That was my way of saying what you just said. Just remeber that suffering is a gift from God and that not all people get to experiance it and thus grow into empthetic human being. I don't understand why Mark (don't know him) thinks that you don't understand why other students feel this way...I think it's pretty obvious that you do. I am sorry that some people find others eloquent self expression "ranting and raving". All people who I am aware of who change the world for the better are frustrated with the injustice that surrounds them. It is intresting that those who wished to dismiss our great civil rights leaders but still seem wanted to appear kosher used the same R&R. Of course love is the answer but to further humor the ignorance of those who continue to hold such backwards ideas is unforgivable. Push on sister.
Posted by: Artemis at January 29, 2006 11:03 PMby the way I just wanted to say GREG you rock man!
Posted by: Artemis at January 29, 2006 11:11 PMhi mark. i don't think we’ve met, but welcome to my blog. :) thanks for stopping by. i just wanted to say a few things in response.
first, one of the primary purposes of my blog (and of many blogs, i think) is self-expression and catharsis. so, though i also wouldn't necessarily call this post "ranting and raving," since i'm pretty sure i'm not a lunatic and that it was a fairly coherent critique, it actually did make me feel much better to post about this -- and that was one of my goals in doing so. just wanted to clarify that.
second, i think it would be great for my blog to generate productive dialogue and for it to be a forum for generating ideas for progress. however, in terms of discovering the reasons behind this ignorance, i think part of my frustration is that i'm seeing the reasons, and they don't seem legitimate to me. if i tried to explain the causes, i'd probably just being using other, related, somewhat unfavorable adjectives and terms -- like self-importance, lack of empathy, insecurity, and defensiveness.
my frustration here is because i feel like people genuinely don't want to know and don't want to dialogue. for instance, one white student in my class said he would be averse to even having an open, non-hostile, hopefully productive discussion about a students of color space because he truly believes that black people are lazy and don't work as hard and that's why they're underprivileged in america -- but he's afraid to say that in a group of people. so he won't discuss, he won't examine his own views, he won't entertain the views of others. this is the kind of attitude, the kind of willful ignorance that i'm talking about. i don't know how else it can be explained except to use those other adjectives (above) that aren't especially explanatory or helpful either. but like i said, i’m open and it would be cool if my blog could generate ideas and contribute to progress, so if someone would like to suggest some other possible reasons, feel free to e-mail me and we can chat.
third, i'd like to say that i feel like i'm being fairly open about this already. i'm currently part of a small working group designed to increase dialogue on campus between white students and students of color about all of these issues. i've asked many students of all backgrounds a lot of questions, i've been genuinely open to hearing their answers, and i've recognized their legitimate concerns. i've also done some reflection of my own about what i think about the issues and the points that others raise. i pray and meditate and think about these things on my own, and i discuss with others in as open and honest a way as i know how. and i will continue to try to do all of those things better.
fourth, i'd like to quickly point out, in case i didn't convey it adequately, that one of the main purposes of this space would be functional -- it was originally conceived as a place where students of color organizations could keep their stuff organized, create some type of institutional memory, and network with each other to better plan events. the social issues took over the debate, mostly because of the reactions of the administration and other students. and we're happy to talk about those issues too. but it's interesting to me to see what happens if we frame this whole issue in terms of constructive uses of space -- if you think about it as students of color organizations sharing one space instead of each one getting its own space, it would actually be more efficient, and less law school property would actually belong to students of color. the students of colors orgs were given a certain amount of money, and it seemed reasonable to invest in one space. yet, it's somehow more objectionable because of the perception of minority solidarity that would be created if that happens.
finally, this post was by no means a wholesale indictment of white males. there are many white students that are in favor of a students of color space (my fabulous roommate is one of them), and there are in fact a handful of students of color that are opposed to it. i'm well aware that we're not dealing with monoliths here. the people i speak of in this post are a specific subset of students that hold some particular views. that subset is certainly not all white or all male. my opinions are about people with a certain ideology -- not necessarily a certain skin color or gender. they are based on my own interactions and empirical evidence, they're not absolute or sweeping, and they're still open to amendment.
p.s. andrew, you're still one of my favorite people ever. :)
Nas,
Thanks for the thoughtful response to my comment. It sounds like you're involved in a lot of constructive activities meant to bridge the "ignorance divide," so I think we are very much on the same page.
Understanding the purpose of your blog as a place to vent puts your post in an important context that I wasn't aware of. I guess the nasty side effect of doing your venting in such a public manner is that readers (like me) aren't always privy to "the rest of the story." I appreciate you taking the time to fill me in.
Keep up the great work and stay optimistic. From the sound of things, I'm confident you'll do both.
P.S. I'm saddened that Artemis implicitly likened me to others "who wished to dismiss our great civil rights leaders," and that I was somehow advocating that we should "humor" ignorance. Just to clarify, it was not my intent to create either of those impressions.
dear one,
knowledge, indeed, can be among the greatest of all veils...
however, it was a photo-finish, neck in neck with fixation on one's law-school ranking... which, indeed, falls within the greatest pitfall in spiritual advancement, "the kingdom of names"... and two of your last 4 posts have made mention of this, rather than Me... and I prefer to be made mention of beyond all others, even NYU... while I've got your attention, I'd like to mention that I really enjoy that cell-phone commerial where "the man" is sticking it to himself, begrudgingly, and would like to suggest that you try to "get" your fellow students somehow with a similar connivance... in the mean time, know that I love you, even as I love all...
-the real Man
(beaming moral support your way)
Posted by: Stephen A. Fuqua at January 30, 2006 11:09 PMDon't worry Naseem, Odin is just a Norse god. No big deal. Besides, it appears he has been banished to Texas now. I'm sure that severely decreases his power. :)
Posted by: greg at January 31, 2006 11:36 PMWhat I love about you isn't just that you always say what needs to be said, it's that you say it the way it should be said. Boldly. I'm sure in law school you'll learn all the reasons not to do that, so I'll just enjoy it while it lasts and be glad that some of it is getting recorded online.
Posted by: Aaron at February 1, 2006 03:28 PMAaron whoever you are you are awesome!
Posted by: artemis at February 10, 2006 01:29 AMI came across your blog through following some other threads. I read your entry and then saw your photo album. What is interesting is the VERY thing you accuse others of is what you seem to be struggling with in your own life. There are hardly ANY photos of you and black people or other minorities. It's merely you and other Iranian folk or half Iranians. What does that say about you as a person, with all the self righteousness that you preach parading as religion on this blog. I'm a black man and I've had interesting experiences with Iranians. Iranians gravitate towards us, because they think it makes them cool. They want to feel accepted and in a sense be a sign of danger to the white upper class as well because it shows by reason of association some sort of minority solidarity. But you know what? It's all a bunch of b.s. by Iranians. Iranians ARE NOT black so STOP trying to be and acting like you know hip hop and are cool. It would be another step when Iranians start marrying black people en masse. This is the only cure for what seems to be the superfialness of Iranians--the fake noses, and plastic surgery and endless intellectual arguments all meant to gain proximity with black culture. A culture of which they have no awareness or appreciation. Not any more than white people.
Posted by: Shawn at February 27, 2006 11:56 PM