Shippensburg University hosted its Studying While Black And Brown event this past Tuesday. The event was led by Diane Jefferson and gave students the opportunity to come together to discuss the difficulties of living as a person of color on campus. As a first step, all attendees were given a sheet of paper to write down an act of racism they either experienced or observed.
Students were discouraged from writing their names on the paper or immediately sharing what they wrote. After this was completed, students were moved into a discussion circle. Students in the circle were encouraged to share their stories and difficulties they had experienced both on and off campus.
Many shared anecdotes that prompted shock, though not surprise, from the other attendees. Micro- and macro aggressions are unfortunate commonalities on campus, and many students were quick to discuss their experiences of being ostracized and alienated. The importance of acceptance, attention, and respect were frequent discussion points during the activity.
Many students were commended for maintaining composure in face of the treatment they receive. The seminar closed with a discussion about the importance of avoiding the “pressure cooker” effect, wherein a student of color takes on so much pressure from constant microaggressions that they feel as though they may explode from the force of it all. The most direct way discussed to combat this was to speak up and speak out rather than taking the passive route of remaining silent. Jefferson noted that this event was part of an ongoing series of discussions and seminars across campus.
For more information on events like these, visit MSA on Instagram @ship_msa.
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