Q&A
Jillian Melchior
Issue date: 2/5/09 Section: Beyond
A Hillsdale College student was the victim of an alleged racially motivated assault in the end of September. Since then, America elected its first black president, and talk of changes in race relations is everywhere. The student opened up to The Collegian about racism in Hillsdale and about how Obama's election and the experience this fall have affected his perspective. He did not go on the record because his alleged attacker will go to trial in March, and he will testify, so he did not want to jeopardize his safety.
Has Obama's election changed the way you feel about racism?
Not at all. I do think the world has actually gotten to a point where we can elect an African-American president. Fifty years ago, that would have been impossible. I have an older African American friend who said it would never happen. He cried when it did. He didn't think he'd ever see the day. It speaks to us as a people evolving to something better, but it's not going to kill racism, especially in politics. The day after the guy got elected, there was already a tabloid news fall-out because he was black.
Do you think it will make race issues better?
No. It's going to cause problems. It's one of those inevitable types of things. Every time you get something new, something better, you always get something to come along and make it bad. But [Obama's election] is a step in the right direction.
You were a victim of an alleged racially motivated assault last semester. What did it make you think about racism?
It hasn't changed at all the way I perceive racism. It's completely stupid. It has no place in the world, but it just seems to be one of those things that we can't get away from. You deal with racist people everywhere. But this was the first time I've ever been attacked by it. It would be hard for anyone to understand who doesn't have to deal with it. You can't really completely understand something you don't have to go through.
Did your assault change anything about the way you react to racism?
It helps you understand a lot more about what older generations think, but it's not making me be inclined to be racist against white people. I'm friends with a lot of white people. If I go into the world with a jaded view, I'm not going to be able to do much of anything. I just chalk it up as another experience.
Are you afraid of walking around Hillsdale now?
No. But it definitely made me reassess walking around Hillsdale without a weapon. I carry a knife and assess where I walk. But I'm not scared. The next night [after the assault] I went to my friend's house. These things happen. It's unfair, but they happen. You just are a little more aware.
So what's going on with the prosecution of your attacker?
He goes on trial March 5-6. I will testify.
How do you think we can fight racism?
When you see something so completely and utterly pointless- and people realize that it is completely and entirely ridiculous- we as a people have to decide it's completely stupid. But you can't change everyone.
Have you experienced racism since you moved to Hillsdale, other than the assault?
Some of the students are racist. But it most are good. When I first got here, everybody asked what sport I played. And there are general stereotypes, like, "Do you dance? Do you listen to rap?" And even walking down the street here, people stare. But I think with the majority of people here, it's just curiosity. I am not offended if people ask me these things unless it's malicious. And I can dance- but it's not because I'm black.
You grew up in a predominantly black neighborhood and went to a predominantly black school. Was it weird coming to a college that's so white?
I can count all the black people here on two hands! It just feels different, being one of the only black faces in a crowd of white people. In this place, I'm definitely a minority. But I had no problems getting to know people or making friends. It's definitely an easy environment.
What would be a sign of racism's disappearance?
Well, it's better when my friends and I can just tell racist jokes among friends and laugh, because we all know race is not a big deal, and everybody knows racism is ridiculous. That's definitely a step in the right direction.
hat do you make of claims by white people that black people are racist against them?
I know a lot of really racist black people, but they have a reason to be racist. They grew up with the threat of lynching, different drinking fountains, etcetera. And there are Latinos and Asians who are racist, too. There's racism on all sides.
Has Obama's election changed the way you feel about racism?
Not at all. I do think the world has actually gotten to a point where we can elect an African-American president. Fifty years ago, that would have been impossible. I have an older African American friend who said it would never happen. He cried when it did. He didn't think he'd ever see the day. It speaks to us as a people evolving to something better, but it's not going to kill racism, especially in politics. The day after the guy got elected, there was already a tabloid news fall-out because he was black.
Do you think it will make race issues better?
No. It's going to cause problems. It's one of those inevitable types of things. Every time you get something new, something better, you always get something to come along and make it bad. But [Obama's election] is a step in the right direction.
You were a victim of an alleged racially motivated assault last semester. What did it make you think about racism?
It hasn't changed at all the way I perceive racism. It's completely stupid. It has no place in the world, but it just seems to be one of those things that we can't get away from. You deal with racist people everywhere. But this was the first time I've ever been attacked by it. It would be hard for anyone to understand who doesn't have to deal with it. You can't really completely understand something you don't have to go through.
Did your assault change anything about the way you react to racism?
It helps you understand a lot more about what older generations think, but it's not making me be inclined to be racist against white people. I'm friends with a lot of white people. If I go into the world with a jaded view, I'm not going to be able to do much of anything. I just chalk it up as another experience.
Are you afraid of walking around Hillsdale now?
No. But it definitely made me reassess walking around Hillsdale without a weapon. I carry a knife and assess where I walk. But I'm not scared. The next night [after the assault] I went to my friend's house. These things happen. It's unfair, but they happen. You just are a little more aware.
So what's going on with the prosecution of your attacker?
He goes on trial March 5-6. I will testify.
How do you think we can fight racism?
When you see something so completely and utterly pointless- and people realize that it is completely and entirely ridiculous- we as a people have to decide it's completely stupid. But you can't change everyone.
Have you experienced racism since you moved to Hillsdale, other than the assault?
Some of the students are racist. But it most are good. When I first got here, everybody asked what sport I played. And there are general stereotypes, like, "Do you dance? Do you listen to rap?" And even walking down the street here, people stare. But I think with the majority of people here, it's just curiosity. I am not offended if people ask me these things unless it's malicious. And I can dance- but it's not because I'm black.
You grew up in a predominantly black neighborhood and went to a predominantly black school. Was it weird coming to a college that's so white?
I can count all the black people here on two hands! It just feels different, being one of the only black faces in a crowd of white people. In this place, I'm definitely a minority. But I had no problems getting to know people or making friends. It's definitely an easy environment.
What would be a sign of racism's disappearance?
Well, it's better when my friends and I can just tell racist jokes among friends and laugh, because we all know race is not a big deal, and everybody knows racism is ridiculous. That's definitely a step in the right direction.
hat do you make of claims by white people that black people are racist against them?
I know a lot of really racist black people, but they have a reason to be racist. They grew up with the threat of lynching, different drinking fountains, etcetera. And there are Latinos and Asians who are racist, too. There's racism on all sides.
Be the first to comment on this story