College Racism and Micro-Aggressions
Students of color that occupy predominately white spaces constantly deal with micro-aggressions, and have to defend their culture and identity. I cannot count the number of times my white counterparts have addressed me using ghetto slang, attempted to pet my hair, and out right told me, “Jo, you’re really smart to be from Detroit and you’re not a typical Black girl.” Cultural appropriation is bigger than co-opting and pirating a culture; it perpetuates the idea that all people of color are monolithic, one-dimensional beings only capable of acting out racial stereotypes. Cultural appropriation creates caricatures of people of color and permits white students to “dress up”, appropriate, and misrepresent their non-white classmates. These along with other micro-aggressions inspired the art series, OUR MSU, which featured Michigan State University students of all race and ethnicities, defining themselves for themselves, and that in spite of their “otherness” they are STILL Spartans!
-OUR MSU was sponsored by the MSU Office of Cultural & Academic Transitions, OCAT 2012
-OUR MSU was sponsored by the MSU Office of Cultural & Academic Transitions, OCAT 2012
“We are Black professors.
We are daughters, sons, brothers, sisters, cousins, nieces, nephews, godchildren, grandfathers, grandmothers, fathers, and mothers.
We’re writing to tell you we see you and hear you.
We know the stories of dolls hanging by nooses, nigger written on dry erase boards and walls, stories of nigger said casually at parties by White students too drunk to know their own names but who know their place well enough to know nothing will happen if they call you out your name, stories of nigger said stone sober, stories of them calling you nigger using every other word except what they really mean to call you, stories of you having to explain your experience in classrooms—your language, your dress, your hair, your music, your skin—yourself...”
– Excerpt from, An Open Letter of Love to Black Students, MSU Professors
We are daughters, sons, brothers, sisters, cousins, nieces, nephews, godchildren, grandfathers, grandmothers, fathers, and mothers.
We’re writing to tell you we see you and hear you.
We know the stories of dolls hanging by nooses, nigger written on dry erase boards and walls, stories of nigger said casually at parties by White students too drunk to know their own names but who know their place well enough to know nothing will happen if they call you out your name, stories of nigger said stone sober, stories of them calling you nigger using every other word except what they really mean to call you, stories of you having to explain your experience in classrooms—your language, your dress, your hair, your music, your skin—yourself...”
– Excerpt from, An Open Letter of Love to Black Students, MSU Professors
Racial/Cultural Themed College Parties
"Compton Cookout" "February marks a very important month in American society. No, i'm not referring to Valentines day or Presidents day. I'm talking about Black History month. As a time to celebrate and in hopes of showing respect, the Regents community cordially invites you to its very first Compton Cookout. For guys: I expect all males to be rockin Jersey's, stuntin' up in ya White T (XXXL smallest size acceptable), anything FUBU, Ecko, Rockawear, High/low top Jordans or Dunks, Chains, Jorts, stunner shades, 59 50 hats, Tats, etc. For girls: For those of you who are unfamiliar with ghetto chicks-Ghetto chicks usually have gold teeth, start fights and drama, and wear cheap clothes - they consider Baby Phat to be high class and expensive couture. They also have short, nappy hair, and usually wear cheap weave, usually in bad colors, such as purple or bright red. They look and act similar to Shenaynay, and speak very loudly, while rolling their neck, and waving their finger in your face. Ghetto chicks have a very limited vocabulary, and attempt to make up for it, by forming new words, such as "constipulated", or simply cursing persistently, or using other types of vulgarities, and making noises, such as "hmmg!", or smacking their lips, and making other angry noises,grunts, and faces. The objective is for all you lovely ladies to look, act, and essentially take on these "respectable" qualities throughout the day.Several of the regents condos will be teaming up to house this monstrosity, so travel house to house and experience the various elements of life in the ghetto.We will be serving 40's, Kegs of Natty, dat Purple Drank- which consists of sugar, water, and the color purple, chicken, coolade, and of course Watermelon. So come one and come all, make ya self before we break ya self, keep strapped, get yo shine on, and join us for a day party to be remembered- or not. "
-Pi Kappa Alpha, University of California San Diego, 2010 More Theme Parties
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Student Response
Increased racial tensions across American college campuses sparked student activism from Black students and other students of color. Tired of the overt racism and micro-aggressions they face daily, Black students at the University of Michigan started Being Black at U of M or #BBUM. The trending top took Twitter and Facebook by storm, and thousands of Black students across the US shared their experiences at predominately white institutions with #BB and the initials of their university. Below are just a few of the thousands of Michigan State students that described what it feels like to be Black at MSU (#BBMSU)
With the recent events in Ferguson, Missouri, New York City and cities across the US, students of color feel even more marginalized and alienated in their predominately white spaces. Hundreds of innocent people of color each year, are the victims of police brutality and it's seldom that they receive justice. The failure of the American justice system in the recent murders of Michael Brown and Eric Garner has ignited a nation white protest. People of color and their allies are united in the fight against police brutality. Student activists have joined this movement and their opponents demonstrate the prevalence of white privilege. White privilege asserts the assumption the universality of the white experience making it difficult for white students to understand and empathize with the anger students of color feel towards the police. Because white privilege blinds white people to the inequity that is inherent in American society, it further polarizes people when race related situations occur. The video featured below was created by MSU Junior, Kabine Diane. It depicts the December 7, 2014 MSU Main Library Protest and features student activists that share their thoughts on race relations in the United States and MSU.