This letter is in response to Benjamin Moe’s letter published in the newspaper

Novemeber 11, 2011:

Okay can someone please explain to me what is going on? It’s 2011 and we are still dealing with racism. We are still being ignorant. We are still misunderstanding. We are still hiding behind our masks of shame and fear. When will all of this come to an end? It baffles me that even today in my generation there is still discrimination between minorities and Caucasians. When will we come to the realization that we are all the same, just different shades. We are all a part of the human race and we are no better than one another. I find it absolutely ridiculous that a letter was sent out of nothing but ignorance and complete inadequacy.

There were several things stated in the letter that were all based on assumptions and misconceptions, rather than on accurate facts. There was no flier that explained that there would be a “Black Panther Party”, it is an event that will be speaking about what the group has done and there were no pledges dressed in all black. The pledged I believe he was referring to, are wearing blue. Even though violence occurred during the Black Panther Party it was all for the good, they were trying to allow people to understand who they were as black people, they weren’t just hoodlums that wanted to kill. They were actually very educated black men who used their knowledge to get the government to help them.  Instead of assuming why not ask or just do research that will allow you to understand why there are organizations such as, Black Student Union, Latin American Student Union and Asian Student Union were formed. These organizations were established because these were once groups of people that have been oppressed. These organizations were not formed to divide people into sub-groups, but they were formed to educate people about their history and why they exist. They aren’t limited to one group of people, anyone is able to join the organizations on campus, but, people choose to limit themselves.

Instead of complaining about the lack of diversity, why not join an organization that you are not quite familiar with so you are able to learn about the history. A White student union? KKKrazy Karoke Nights? An all white fraternity or sorority? Are you serious? The majority of the United States of America is Caucasian compared to 13% of African Americans.  What would be your POSITIVE purpose of a white student union? What educational purpose would this organization serve? You can definitely propose this to student senate with logical reasons and what you intend on educating Utica College about other than KKKrazy Karoke Nights. I’m all for you deciding to have a Union of your own that isn’t only limited to Caucasians.

The KKK was actually a group of ignorant people that killed people that didn’t look like them, especially African Americans. This is nothing but insanity and I don’t know how one can be so ignorant in a time like this. It is excruciating that people are still afraid of picking up books and enlightening themselves so they are able to get a better understanding of life rather than listening to what others are saying. I also find it surprising that all of this is coming from someone who desires to serve our country. What does this reveal about our future leaders?

I am friends with many people that I do not share the same ethnicity or race with. I have befriend Asians were have hung out with them on various occasions, I have went to dinner with a Caucasian friend of mine Sarah and I even tried to help a Caucasian girl in my music class learn more about Utica College because she was a transfer student and when I told her if she wanted to hang out with my friends and I she gave me a blank stare and never mentioned anything to me at all, but she was able to ask me for all of the assignments due in class. Being the person that I am I continued to speak to her and help her with assignments. I am a person that is all about learning and exploring the different aspects of life. I was even in ROTC, when looking at me you would be surprised. I do not and when I say I do not, I DO NOT limit myself to one thing. It is evident that on Utica College there is a great range of diversity, but people are so afraid of approaching people that don’t look like them. Look into the mirror you may have the same skin color as someone else but you are not the same. You and I bleed the same blood. It may sound cliché but it’s the truth.

Racism has to come to an end at Utica College.  Just because it is not published in the tangerine does not mean that it does not occur on campus on a daily basis. I laud Ira Griffith for announcing what has happened to him, because as of today many of us don’t speak up. I am abstract so don’t judge me before I define who I am, I am not just another black statistic.

- Jamilia Cain, Class of 2012