SIMPLY as students of this University, we all have a sense of composure, class and slight arrogance that lets people of the Charlottesville community know we’re students. We dress differently, act differently and have different interests from nearly any person outside our community. We have a unique identity that seems pretty recognizable to the public eye, but is it recognizable in black University students?
Let’s face it: Anyone who attends the University, whether they dressed this way before coming to the school, is influenced by the preppy atmosphere. This is seen in the clothes they wear, the way they walk, what car they decide to get after coming to college, the boat shoes that seem to go with every outfit, and the way that they carry themselves. Generally, the University culture has a way of slightly influencing students without completely changing their persona.
So, as black students, where do we fall in the mix? Of course, culturally, we have our own interests that we will tend to follow, but the University “sense of identity” gives us some amount of inspiration. In this respect, we may look differently than other blacks in public, maybe even other black students from other schools. We act differently because we have gotten so used to the University atmosphere. Still, how do we, as black students, handle racism within the Charlottesville community?
I am a person who likes to get things done as soon as possible, so every summer, I take classes in order to be ahead. Therefore, I spent my summer in Charlottesville, which was not so bad apart from all the expenses. So, I had to get a summer job. One day I decided to go job searching and felt that I was somewhat successful until I reached one store that I had always considered too bland for the prices they try to make you pay. Either way, I went inside to ask for an application, only to be stopped short by one of the cashiers inside who said: “You have to be 18.”
I thought that maybe she thought I looked young and reassured her that I am of age.
She replied with, “Well, you have to have retail experience. Do you have any?”
I told her of all the experience I’ve had in fashion marketing. waitressing and even my internship as a publicist, but she turned me down again.
I can understand that if I applied for a position I was not qualified for, I would not get the job, but I was not even given the chance. As soon as I walked in the door, I was denied an application.
These situations happen time and time again, like when simply being mistaken as workers when shopping around in Wal-Mart, or when the Greeks of the NPHC try to find venues for functions but are denied on the basis of being black. As black University students, what do we have to do to prove to the community that we are just as worthy? That we are just as good? We are expected to assimilate into the white culture, but at the end of the day, we’re still black.
As typical University students, we acknowledge our pride and dignity and make it a responsibility to do nothing but progress and excel. Otherwise, what was the point in putting all of our time and energy to be accepted and remain at the University?
So, how do we confront a situation of racism within the community, whether it’s direct or from someone’s simple ignorance? We fight for the truth. We cannot expect for someone to know our struggle when we don’t always recognize it ourselves, or when we don’t fully understand who we are.
Frustration gets us nowhere if we don’t know how to handle it, and even we can be ignorant of our own race. Unity only works if we know and understand what we’re uniting. Maybe we should educate ourselves so we’re all fighting for the same thing, so then we can educate others. The blind cannot lead the blind in this ongoing battle in search of identity. We can only fight racism if we know the truth about our race, and we fight by sharing the knowledge.
Brooke Howard is the political action chair of the Black Student Alliance. She can be reached at blh7b@virginia.edu.
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