Black people - what's it like...

Student Lounge College Life
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How does being black - or as you yanks say, "African American" - affect your academic and social life at prestigious schools, and within their respective surrounding environments? Is there anything specific I should be prepared for?

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<p>I go to an elite private LAC in the LA area and I'd have to say that being in college has not changed my beliefs that racism is still a problem. The racism and ignorance may be very subtle, but it still exists and still hurts. Whether it's certain students and even professors confusing me with other black students, being randomly asked to show my ID by an RA while walking OUTSIDE a dorm because "he didn't recognize me," or certain random comments and happenings at parties while everyone is far from sober. Don't get me wrong, my college experience thus far has been overwhelmingly positive but the comment made about the American university being one of the most liberal places on Earth made me laugh. American college life is certainly more open than SOME places, but that doesn't mean there aren't serious improvements to be made. Don't believe me? Try to join a frat as a minority. Heck, go to one of their parties.</p>

<p><a href="http://www.laweekly.com/news/news/partying-out-of-bounds/785/%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.laweekly.com/news/news/partying-out-of-bounds/785/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

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<p>After reading that article i only have one thing to say. . . </p>

<p>What the hell happened to free speech?</p>

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<p>If that's your first and only reaction, you should be ashamed.</p>

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<p>nauru-</p>

<p>I lived in Batimore City and the DC area, and from my experiences, places where there is much diversity, there is also much racial tension. For example, I used to stay just a few miles from JHU and everytime I would meet a student or someone affiliated with the university, the transparent faces of these people made it apparent to me that they didnt care who I was, but because of my skin color they found me to be the embodiment of all of the negative things that are associated with B-more. However, when I visited schools in Ohio and rural Virginia, I met many very genuine white folks who could care less about the color of my skin. </p>

<p>Georgetown, unlike JHU, is very seperated from most of the black population of DC and is situated in arguably the best part of the city. I hang out at the school often (my best friend goes there). Even though the area is kind of homogenous, I've had a very positive feel for the area, and to me, the enviroment is conducive to success for any minority.</p>

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<a href="http://www.thewbalchannel.com/news/10194299/detail.html%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.thewbalchannel.com/news/10194299/detail.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>Go to this link to see how great the racial relations at Johns Hopkins are.

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<p>This type of attitude is the exact reason why many JHU students are rarely seen outside of the campus, unless its the inner harbor or something of that sort.</p>

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<p>Wutangfinancial- Thanks(sadly) for pointing out Boston racial problems- you don't hear about them becasue people rarley venture outside "their area". f and when that happens, you will see how far behind we all are in the northeast. It is just so east to point to other areas and think it is "their problem." If you ask me, many areas in the south are more progressive because they HAVE to be, everyone is watching. Good. Lets start watching Boston, Albany, Philly, ect.</p>

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So I guess I'll be referred to as an "African-American" when I'm there, even though I am neither African nor American. Peculiar....

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<p>"African American" is just the politically correct way to say it. I dont know anybody personally who says that, we all just say 'black'. Like "that black guy over there."</p>

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<p>I'm not black, and I'm still in HS, but I go to a HS considered one of the more "liberal" in NYC that's also overwhelmingly white and Asian.</p>

<p>Race relations in the north are horrible, probably just as bad (worse? probably not, but I haven't been in the south much) especially in college/yuppie etc. circles. I hear "Uh, well, I'm not racist or anything, BUT...<em>insert extremely racist comment here</em>" People look at you weirdly if you try to bring up race at all. They'll gab on about "our colorblind society," "of course I don't have any problem with <em>those people</em>" and on and on... It's weird, and depressing: somehow trying really hard to avoid sounding racist passes for not being racist here.</p>

<p>I haven't personally seen blatant acts of racism, anyone being called a n*****, etc. From the attitudes I hear, though, I wouldn't be surprised if it does happen quite often and I'm just not there to see it. </p>

<p>In terms of Canada, and especially Toronto, vs. the US in general, race tensions are definitely much higher here. I have a lot of family in Toronto, so I go there fairly often, and I'm always struck by how much more...laid-back, I guess...relations are there. People don't <em>have</em> to try so hard to sound non-racist, or substitute "African-(Canadian?)" for black, because there seems to be less latent racism. Even in rural areas of Canada I've been to, and smaller cities that are overwhelmingly white, race doesn't seem to be as much of an issue in Canada. Also, I've seen far more rabid racism here, norht and south, than in Canada.</p>

<p>Sorry, I'm not sure that was at all useful.</p>

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<p>"If that's your first and only reaction, you should be ashamed."</p>

<p>Why? I certainly don't agree with what those students are saying, but they have a constitutional right to say it. Their constitutional right far outweighs someone being offended.</p>

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<p>The USC admistration are enemies of free speech . . . that's all I have to say.</p>

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<p>American universities are one of the most liberal places, but it's not the good kind of liberalism. Liberal in their sense means being overly politically correct and dismissing all opinions that don't conform to the majority as "racist", even when it has nothing to do with race. You shouldn't just lump people from the south or any part of the world or races into a certain category, because that makes you as guilty of prejudice as those you are attacking. They aren't just monolithic groups. What I don't like is the self-righteous, save the world attitude of many radical liberals who think that they're so enlightened compared with the rest of the world.</p>

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<p>Actually don't outrule racism in UofToronto.</p>

<p>As a black student I have faced racism there in my first semester and so have several of my friends. Maybe not as exterme as some calling me the n word from a passing car. Yet the racism may not be as easy to see it there.
Try being in a class with no other black students but your friends from highschool.
I remeber once my friend was sitting with some new girls she meet and the actually asked her if she went to the local college( or as you Americans say Jounior College) when she reponsed " No, I go here" they told her that their surprised because she looked like a "ghetto black girl." I was shocked by this because first of all the GTA doesn't have a ghetto second of all why would a ghetto "black" person spend their day on campus.</p>

<p>I hate when people look surpised because I did really well on a test/assignment. Why can't I do well? I'm just as smart as everyone else.</p>

<p>Anyways as I end my rant I want to remind you that racism happens everywhere not only in the USA.</p>

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<p>I agree with everyone saying that the Northeast is just as bad if not worse than the South. I do live in one of those %100 white suburban areas as someone brought up earlier, and I have never had a black person in any of my classes or as a teacher. It's weird because reading this I didn't realize saying "African American" could in some ways be offensive (as sometimes black people are neither lol) but growing up that's what I've always said to be respectful. Even saying "black people" as I write makes me uncomfortable because I'm just not really used to it. My own grandparents are blatantly racist, and thinking about it so is the majority of my town. There is one black person in the grade below me and everyone just refers to him as "the young black kid" and his older brother in the grade above me as the "other older black kid." They're both really rowdy/loud/disruptive in school, just in a boys will be boys kind of way, but I've overheard teachers talking about how they feel uncomfortable disciplining them because they're worried they'll be thought of as racist. Like one of these people is my old Biology teacher who is a totally nice sweet woman, but it just shows how wierd people are about race relations in this area. (I'm in Mass by the way)</p>

<p>To the OP, I think of the schools you listed you should be fine, but racism is very real in some parts of the US, even though it's under the guise of political correctness. I'd just go to a school where black people are not strongly the minority and you shouldn't have to worry about it. I can't explain why some parts of the US are like this, because I know I personally have aboslutely no problems with people of other races, it's just that I think our community (myself included) is worried about appearing racist (given the lack of diversity) so people might be wierd until they get to know you.</p>

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<p>i've been to a few college towns here in the midwest (those of uiuc, illinois state, ball state, southern illinois) and in every one, a gang of young white guys, who definitely were students, shouted nigger or nigger b<em>*hes or some variation of that at me and my people out of a moving vehicle. or in an elevator they'd wait til we were stepping off and shout nigger as the doors closed. i've never experienced this in chicago. it's jarring at first but after a while it's just like *</em> that's lame as hell.</p>

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<p>Yeah, I get that feeling from UofT students sometimes as well. I just think a lot of people that go to university these days tend to come from well off homes and/or areas where they've had little to no contact with any other minority. However, at the grad level, I'd imagine it'd be a lot odifferent.</p>

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<p>Why? I certainly don't agree with what those students are saying, but they have a constitutional right to say it. Their constitutional right far outweighs someone being offended.</p>

<p>Yawn...</p>

<p>The colleges in question are both private and they guarantee what you might call "PC propoganda" in their Mission's Statement. Free speech is accepted (dare I say encouraged), but when it makes another student feel uncomfortable or offended, that "speech" deserves to be disciplined. Takes away, potentially, from one's ability to learn and grow. Are you aware of Brown v Board of Ed??? Or were you one of those people yelling "state's rights?"</p>

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<p>You have all of your individual rights as long as they do not infringe upon another's rights. The US (and most Western governments now) are based on classical republican and natural rights philosophies. That means that individual rights are respected, but the good for the whole community is also important.</p>

<p>Also, freedom of expression & natural rights are limited by "time, place, and manner." The KKK can have a march, just not through an all-black neighborhood. Free speech works as long as it does not foreshadow a violent reaction (as the above situation might).</p>

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<p>First off, I'm a black male student that lives in NJ in a white suburbia (though there is alot of diversity coming this way with alot of spanish and a some blacks here now), and the racism is not that bad. Honestly, its more in the northeast that its more racist of the sorts (Mass., CT, etc). I feel the sweet spot is Around new york, NJ, Alot of Penn, I would assume delaware, and places like DC are pretty good. In the north northeast (mass, ct, etc), their racism is obvious and its HILARIOUS watching htem try to speak to me (black) politically correctly, and seeing through their facade is a blast.</p>

<p>Honestly, I'm friends with a wide variety of people, and guess what, we all stereotype and say racist **** to each other. And its hilarious to see the truly bothered people flare up, because its obvious that they themselves have deep seeded racism in their veins. Few examples:</p>

<p>I've got two white friends who are brother and sister, and they call me black guy all the time, thats my nickname. Hell, when he talks to his mom he calls me black guy, the first time she heard it she just laughed, as did I, thats a close friend of mine, obviously he's not racist, its the connotation behind the words not the content. We ALWAYS joke about stereotyping like racist cops nad how he'll always get away with stuff I don't in our town (its true and we laugh about it, lifes to damn short to sweat small **** like that). </p>

<p>Another one of my friends is white and acts more "black" as I guess alot of you guys would call it. He's not try hard though, it just seems like he's naturally more towards black mindset (he likes dipset, rap, plays basketball in teh parks after school, etc), and no one says ridiculous **** like he's trying to be a wigger. </p>

<p>Another one of my white friends me and him say things that could probably get you jumped 30 years ago, yet no one cares because its fun and a joke to us. One of my girls puts on a black girls voice and ***<em>s around saying "N</em>ggaaaa" and things of the sort when we make fun of them for being white, the point is its all a JOKE.</p>

<p>What you have to do is simply get here and laugh at the ignorance of stereotypes and racism, and be OBVIOUS about it. I can use racist terms and the like because educated kids know that racism is ridiculous, and seeing the older "subtly racist" generation try to stand up for MY rights when one of my white or spanish friends say something racist to me or vice versa is hilarious. I always found it interesting at my school how some teachers who would joke around and poke fun at stereotypes about race always seemed to be the LEAST racist and mostl iked, and how teachers that tried to be so "politically correct" and just seem to be least liked and people generally shy away from them.</p>

<p>To be honest, its quite easy to tell who's racist in America (we are the most obvious even though we think we're sneaky little devils), generally hte people who are constantly trying to be politcally correct are the MOST racist, even the way they talk to other races comes out quite easily.</p>

<p>My examples may seem extreme but they were for a point. In alot of places in Cali or Florida (I.E., Miami, orlando), where alot of people of different race come together, there's really no problem. A good trick is to look where alot of programs/media aimed at Young adults and teens come from. NYC, Miami, LA, those surrounding areas generally are appealing to alot of different people and crowds (blacks, whites, spanish), and I find those areas are generally where race isn't really cared about.</p>

<p>Oh and OP, don't think its just whites here, I almost hate being with my family in the south, because there's so many blacks down there that have that "Whites are bad they are out to get me, OMG my great great great grandmother was a slave I want justice" mindset, and that's so annoying. Those are the type of blacks that go out looking for racism and when they find it start *****ing about it, its aggravating, trust me you don't wanna go through it.</p>

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<p>"The colleges in question are both private and they guarantee what you might call "PC propoganda" in their Mission's Statement. Free speech is accepted (dare I say encouraged), but when it makes another student feel uncomfortable or offended, that "speech" deserves to be disciplined. Takes away, potentially, from one's ability to learn and grow. "</p>

<p>How exactly, would being offended take away from your learning experience. I've been offended on my campus by radical right wing christians forcing their beliefs on me and it has yet to take away from my learning.</p>

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<p>Of course they can. Who has told you otherwise?</p>