This
semester has seen numerous disturbing events at my alma mater, The University
of Missouri, in Columbia, Missouri – a town I ended up calling home for 14
years after graduation. Sadly, little
has surprised me. Even sadder, had these
events happened in any other medium-sized college town in this country, I would
not be any more or less surprised.
But there is
a difference or Mizzou would not be in the national news. Students got fed up. A graduate student started a hunger
strike. The football team joined
in. The faculty threatened a
walk-out. The roots of a movement
started. Predictably, opposing voices
yelled back. Everyone with an agenda
looks to be using the situation to make their point… Racism is a problem on
campuses nationwide. Racism is an issue
only raised by Black rabble rousers. Football is too important. Finally athletes find power in their
voices. Media is manipulative and
intrusive. Media has a right to cover all
stories in the ways they see fit protected by the First Amendment. Students should be encouraged to continue to
insist that they be heard. Students
should be quiet and get their education.
Listen to authority. Question
authority.
As
reasonable thinkers have taken up each of these views, each has made eloquent,
thoughtful points. But to me, I see some
basic truths.
-
Racism is still real. As a white man, it would be best for me to
listen to others’ experiences and do what I can to be empathetic and make a
better world for others.
-
White privilege is still real. It’s what allows me to opt out of this
conversation if I choose. It is what
allows some to be completely tone deaf when others raise issues of racism.
-
We are sports-obsessed and sports bring a lot of
money to many colleges and universities.
In modern America money speaks.
Want to work for change? Think about
where you spend your money. Play a part
in making others rich? – you have power.
Use it.
-
Being a victim of racism is not a single event –
it is cumulative. Many keep their
responses to themselves – until the dam breaks.
-
If you are white and male, use your voice to
speak up and make a difference.
-
Media is everywhere today. Do anything in public and expect coverage,
for better or worse.
-
Media could stand to be a little more
respectful. Everything is not a story.
-
Education and learning is messy and loud and
rarely neat. It is not a straight
trajectory. Bumps happen. Students must explore, experiment and make
mistakes. They are not employees.
-
Question everything.
-
It is amazing, empowering, life-changing when an
authority figure, a respected teacher or coach, particularly if white, can
stand with and for his or her minority students.
Finally, a
word about Columbia and Mizzou itself.
There is a long history of racism in CoMo and the University – from
slavery to lynching, from James Scott to Payton Head, from urban renewal to
school re-districting. On campus there
have been issues for generations – since Lloyd Gaines was admitted in 1950 and then
disappeared. But this is also the
University that gave me a chance to explore race and racism in my final history
seminar with the incomparable Sundiata Cha-Jua.
This is the same place that introduced me to the idea of privilege
through the work of my advisor, David Roediger.
This is the same town that introduced me to such incredible leaders as Beulah
Ralph, Clyde Ruffin, Tyree Byndom, Wanda Brown, Wynna Faye Elbert, Kylar Broadus and John
Kelly. This is the same community that
introduced me to allies like Jeff Brooks, Meghan Davidson, Nanette Ward and George Frissell. This is the same African-American community
that welcomed me as an ally. This is the
same University that provided me my first opportunities to speak outside of my
own school – to teach undergrads and graduate students about race and privilege
in the public school classroom.
There’s
fertile ground for positive change in Columbia and at the University of
Missouri. Now more than ever it needs
leadership and vision.
Once a
Tiger, always a Tiger (and a Kewpie).
M-I-Z!!!
