As we go through our day-to-day lives, there is a ton of things that just fly by us without us even giving them a second thought. Or maybe for whatever reason, people just choose to pretend like they don’t see these things. But there’s one in particular that I am sick of letting it just “fly by me,” and I think it’s time I say something about it… Why is it that it’s okay for a College or University to label itself an all black college, but if any school tried to label itself an all white college, it would be thought of as racist?
I’ve said it jokingly with my friends dozens of times, “Why can’t I go to an all white college? I mean, it’s not racist, black people do it every day. I just want to get in touch with my roots… ” Every time I get the same response… “No way bro, that’s totally racist.” Seriously, what the hell!? I thought we were all in it for equality, right? I guess not…
It’s no question that racism is not equality. And given, as a nation, The United States has put together a lot of effort to in the past to get rid of all segregation and racism from our belief system. But has it really reached the stage that we want it to, or is it just taking another form?
If you quickly browse the Internet on the topic, it’s not hard to find that there are over 80 Accredited Colleges and Universities in America that claim to be a “Historically Black” School. (“historically black” is a cheap disclaimer to their name, that’s totally just a cop-out.) And if you continue your search, you’ll find that there are zero Colleges or Universities that have anything to do with being a “White” school. (I think that other colleges that didn’t accept blacks in the 60’s should be labeled as a “historically white college.” I mean, that’s what they are, right? Both types of colleges gladly accept all races now, through legal mandates, but if it’s okay for one to label itself as a “race specific” university, then it should be okay for the other.) Now some would argue that there are plenty of historically white schools in this country, and that I am arguing towards a mute point… But they’re missing out on what I’m getting at. It’s the label I’m arguing, towards, not the fact. The majority of schools in America are historically white schools. But they’re not labeled as one. It’s a given, right? If it’s not historically black, then it’s historically white. No label needed. WRONG! That is not equality. Either the labels need to go, or they need to be accepted for any school. Period. America is has made so many great strides towards equality in the past! We can’t just let it stop now…
I believe that all people are created as equals, and that no one should be tied to a skin color or nationality. But in order to obtain this equality, it has to be enforced to all, not just those who have had problems with it in the past. Giving one race, religion, or category of people special rights, privileges, or advantages is a just as racist and unequal as denying them from them. I mean seriously, at the rate things are going in this country, white people are going to have to fight for freedom from racism just as African Americans did throughout the 1900’s.
Shouldn’t the common courtesy of being equal be shared to everyone?
But think about it… Can’t you just hear the controversy and uproar already, an all white, or even historically white college. I can see it now…John Stewart would tear that apart. It’s because, already, your mind tells you, “all white” equals racist. THIS ISN’T RIGHT! America has to get rid of these preset and assumed judgments that all white people are racist against blacks, that are being pushed upon the up and growing generations of our nation. I believe it’s setting us up for one hell of a bad future. Imagine, the revolts and protests for equality of the mid 1900’s turned on its head and back for round two in the mid 2000’s.
I just don’t want to sit around and watch it happen. So what am I proposing? That the racism and segregation in the country be stopped. REALLY STOPPED! I know that calling a school historically black, or any color for that matter, is not exactly a hot issue in the press today, but that doesn’t mean it should be ignored. To truly achieve the equality this country deserves, you can’t just sweep little issues under the rug and forget they every happened. That does nothing… It’s something that I believe has a simple solution, that would be far too difficult to achieve unless we were all really in it together.
I want to be equal! I want the same rights and privileges as everyone else! I want what’s right! And I want what’s fair!
- Anthony Falcone -
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