Few issues are more controversial at the University than that its racial climate.Looking merely at the last year, we see steps towards reconciliation, and we see leaps backward. We have observed the successful growth of Sustained Dialogue, a small group-discussion-oriented program, but at the same time have witnessed race-relations forums explode into anger, and controversial Cavalier Daily editorials spark widespread protest. Immediately prior to Christmas break, a highly controversial and seemingly aggressive edition of the Virginia Advocate was released, and after a year of what at times seemed like constant battle, many minority students doubtlessly returned to their homes this winter feeling frustrated and misunderstood.
To many of us, this problem can seem hard to understand at first glance. Why does it have to be so complicated? There are many levels of response to this question, but the true bottom line consists of two main points: mutual misunderstanding, and sadly, in some cases, indifference on the side of the white students. Both of these problems need to be addressed now, by everyone. This is a crucial issue. Regardless of whether or not one is far-sighted enough to see why, hostility between races hurts society and everyone in it, even the so-called privileged class.
First of all, it is important to tackle the issue of white indifference. There are two kinds of indifference: natural and contrived. Few things are more appalling than the first kind, but sadly it certainly does exist. I actually had someone say to me once, "Oh, I understand why blacks are at a disadvantage in society, I just don't care." It was after I recovered from the shock of hearing this -- one of the most horrendous statements I have ever heard in my life -- that I began to understand just why racial reconciliation advocates seem to feel as if they have to be so aggressive at times. If this is the type of person they are talking to, they have no choice but to be forceful -- and arguably, they have every right to be. However, what needs to be realized is that not all white people are this selfish. There are many who genuinely desire to see a world in which race plays no role, but they have been alienated and chased away from trying to help the situation by hostility and accusations that, in their goodwill, they don't necessarily deserve.
Which brings us to the problem of mutual misunderstanding. It seems that many blacks don't understand how whites can't "just see" the problem, and many whites genuinely -- because of their life experience -- don't understand where the problem exactly lies, or even if there really is a problem at all. Many whites would -- and do -- say that slavery is over, Jim Crow is long gone, there is no longer any problem. The infrastructure that supported racism is gone, so the problem is gone. I used to say this myself. I was wrong.
A good friend of mine recently clarified something for me. When I didn't understand why white students dressing up as Venus and Serena Williams for Halloween was offensive, while a black student dressing as Anna Kournikova was not, he painted a picture for me. Imagine two children: one goes through his entire childhood accepted and loved by his classmates, another is consistently mocked, rejected, and alienated by his peers. Senior year of high school, the second child begins to make some friends. Imagine now that the two go off to college and both suffer some sort of mockery or ostracism at the hands of other students. Who is going to be more deeply hurt by these actions? The boy who had his whole life to build self-confidence, or the one who gained tentative acceptance only a short period ago? The answer is obvious.
Analogously, understanding and thus improving race relations at the University of Virginia is 100 percent contingent on an understanding of our school's historical racism. Few U-Guides tours will tell you that slave quarters used to stand behind Old Cabell Hall, or that, because they were not allowed on Grounds, every afternoon students would walk down the Lawn, meet their slaves, and give them their chores for the day. Furthermore, few students know that in 1832, the University itself became the only public institution ever to purchase a slave. Also disturbingly, I have pictures saved on my computer right now of a 1917 University-sponsored Minstrel Show, staged on the steps of -- you guessed it, the Rotunda. Hardly the historical legacy we would like to leave, but ignoring it isn't helping anyone -- in fact, its hurting everyone.
Luckily, we at the University have a great opportunity to set off on the right track. This coming Tuesday, Feb. 4, a presentation will be held in Gilmer 130, discussing these details and many more about the evolution of the racial climate at the University. Third-year engineering students Ermias Abebe and Justin Steele will address the current state of race relations at the University by looking at the school's racial history, touching on everything from its relation to slavery to Martin Luther King Jr.'s visit in 1963.
This information is fascinating and is of utmost importance. For anyone who desires to be better informed, or who has ever cared about race relations on Grounds but has been frustrated by it, and most importantly for anyone who thinks there is no problem, make a concerted effort to go to this presentation. I know, I know, you didn't have any slaves, this isn't your responsibility. Fine. Maybe it isn't your direct responsibility, but its time we all looked past our own personal interests and voluntarily took up some moral responsibility. If enough people attend and listen, this could signify the dawning of a new era on the University campus. The shackles of overt discrimination shaken off, our generation has the incredible opportunity to move toward true racial understanding and unity. Let's not let that chance slip away.
(Laura Parcells' column appears Fridays in The Cavalier Daily. She can be reached at lparcells@ cavalierdaily.com.)
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