erguson. “Black Lives Matter.” Police brutality. Ahmed Mohamed. And now, Mizzou.
This list is far from being a comprehensive compilation of recent events that have pushed racial issues to the forefront of news coverage, protests, social media posts and individual conversations. But it does serve to illustrate how systems of oppression and unequal opportunities are being brought to light.
For some of us, the recent events at the University of Missouri have been primary topics of conversation in classrooms, on social media or with peers. For others, we remain distant from the events; we don’t see how this could affect us, and it’s easier to ignore the protests, hunger strikes and sit-ins.
We like to consider Bradley a close-knit family, where everyone feels included. We might tell ourselves that these issues of racism can’t exist on this Hilltop, and nothing as extreme as smearing feces in the shape of a swastika could happen in our residence halls.
But this thinking is misguided.
Sure, we don’t have a Southeastern Conference football team whose decision not to play a game could yield the resignation of top-level administrators, including the university president.
But there can be tensions. There can be racial slurs, instances of oppression and slight disregards for people we say are “different from us,” no matter what our race is. Not only can there be these issues – there ARE these issues.
Racism doesn’t exist at Bradley?
Take a look around the next time you’re sitting in class or attending a campus event.
How are we sitting? Who are we talking to? Do we not naturally gravitate to those that look like us, those that share the same skin color and therefore, we assume, a similar background?
If we never interact with people we perceive as different from ourselves, we will never learn anything.
Often, we find those with privilege insisting we don’t have these issues. The reason we think racism doesn’t exist here is not because these issues aren’t present, but because they are so powerful in silencing. The silence is not indicative of an absence of these issues. It is actually the opposite.
But we must pause to consider the thoughts of those not speaking, no matter their race.
There’s an adage that says, “Silence speaks louder than words.” When we’re discussing these racial issues, we must be attentive to the silence.
Those who aren’t speaking may be keeping quiet due to indifference. Others may not be speaking because they feel silence has been forced upon them, as they are among the minority in the room.
We need to stop once in a while and listen to the people around us. Even if it isn’t something we want to hear, often times we need to.
As a university, Bradley has made strides to create a more inclusive environment, but our administrators, faculty and staff can only do so much.
We as students must reflect on the small habits and seemingly insignificant comments that perpetuate oppression. Further, if students don’t make any efforts to become more aware, they can become complicit in these oppressive systems.
