No one wants to be labeled a racist

I grew up in an all-white school system.

There were a few minority students, but they added very little to my school’s cultural diversity. Apart from the color of their skin, these individuals were not very different from me. So, it seemed all I had to do in order to not be racist was avoid singling people out based on how they look.

This was pretty simple. Why would I ever dislike someone just because his or her skin was a different color than mine?

Based on this childish view, I felt I would never have to think much about race because I was not a racist.

Enter my college freshman year.

IU is not the most diverse school in the country, but the difference from my high school was immediately clear to me. I noticed large groups of minority students hanging out together. I discovered all sorts of culture centers across campus. And, I found there are even entire living communities, fraternities, etc. that are home to distinct minority groups.

Altogether, my realization was that many of these students do not like to ignore their racial diversity, choosing instead to embrace it. Furthermore, the differences are not just physical — they are cultural and behavioral. These connections within races seem to help people identify with each other and promote their sticking together.

My views on race had now become much more complicated. Choosing to be colorblind would mean choosing to ignore an important part of a person’s identity.

I have never had a problem getting along with someone simply because he was of a different race than me. However, I find that when people try to openly talk about real racial differences or assign certain cultural identities to other groups of people, it only causes trouble. Such actions are quickly labeled racism, or, more accurately, racial stereotyping.

This creates a situation in which I am simply not supposed to discuss the things that make people different. I understand that race is a sensitive thing; centuries of oppression and racism can’t be forgotten. But isn’t a high level of comfort with recognizing differences a central requirement for cooperation and respect?
My education in regards to race has been mostly focused on the histories of different people and how we are all very similar. Even when I have learned about the differences, nothing has been said about how to address these differences without evoking racial tension.

IU puts a lot of effort into “diversity.” Most of the work seems centered on creating a sense of diversity on campus and providing a comfortable environment for all kinds of people. However, I have not encountered any situations that were focused on how to respectfully recognize one another’s differences.

I realize that the issues associated with race are more complex than I have suggested here, but any efforts by the University’s diversity-focused faculty and staff addressing my concerns would be energy well spent.

Having to avoid certain topics of discussion because they are about sensitive issues will never allow for progress toward a desirable state of informed and respectful diversity.
 

E-mail: tylatkin@indiana.edu