A white law student in the crowd asks:
Where is the traction point?? Is there legal action that can be taken?
What can we do right here and now?
[I love when people want to help and take concrete action. There needs
to be a greater connect with academic discourses and community action.
I hate when I learn about all of these injustices in classes, lectures,
and other venues and am left with nothing to fight it. It makes me
feel depressed and hopeless. When people have knowledge of the injustices,
but no possible solutions or actions, it seems like, ok that is horrible,
now what? What can I personally do about this problem?]
Fowler: Many people think, “It is not for me it is for them.” [Same thing my roommate Alisha mentioned in her interview about Project 500. She always tries to include me, emphasizing that everyone is welcome and you don’t have to be African American.]
It puts whites in the middle. Only non-whites need the extra opportunity is a dangerous trap also. The majority need to know that they have options to learn about other cultures an dialogue, you do not have to room with a high school friend.
Nicole: How do you think interaction is on this campus?
Fowler: I have to admit I did not go here. I am more familiar with the graduate students and the faculty. 30% of the faculty are minorities. It is great to have debates and converse. It would be sad without their perspective. We all say dumb things [This reminds me of the bulletin board up in the main lobby of my dorm, Pennsylvania Residence Hall. It says “NOTHING WAS EVER CHANGED WORRYING ABOUT OFFENDING SOMEONE” There are words strewn across the board such as, desegregation, Apartheid, religious freedom, same sex marriage, emancipation, HIV awareness, the Civil Rights Movement, the L.A. Riots, birth control, woman’s suffrafe, technological and scientific advancement, interracial marriage, and the American revolution. It also reminds me of a student at the agriculture talk who said she was so afraid of offending an African American that she would not talk to any. This also goes along with Nancy Cantor’s view that we have to do more than a light hug. Things need to be out in the open to have dialogue and bring change.]
Photo by Rene Bangert