We have talked recently about the concept of self segregation and it has left me wondering- is this concept something that is acknowledged by minority groups? Or is it seen as more of an excuse white people use to justify segregation? This concept goes hand in hand with the idea of comfort zones talked about in the UVA article. Since reading the article and talking about it in class, I have been observing a lot of areas on campus to figure out if they are comfort zones or areas people self segregate themselves to in order to not feel out of place or like minorities. However, I am constantly left wondering who's fault it is for such places... Is it racism and lack of diversity pushing minority students away or are they consciously choosing to congregate in specific areas?
The answer I have found to make the most sense is, well, both. Recently, SLU has been the location for multiple racial incidents, and I know several of my minority friends have mentioned feeling unsafe after them. While a select few performed these acts that no doubt the majority disagree with, how should minority students know that? Perhaps it has prevented minority students from branching out into areas they do not feel comfortable in because they feel out of place or different. Maybe it is both sides fault, with the majority being to blame for ignoring there is an issue. And despite some deep American desire to be an individual, very few people actually enjoy being an outsider.
As a response to this racial hate, quite a few groups have been getting together to be proactive and show support for the SLU community and reject the racial claims. A lot of these members are white and have been demanding SLU acknowledge the issues and do something about them. I admire these groups and completely support them... and as a white student think it is a great way to try to get rid of the hate and bring everyone together. But the question that lingers in my mind continues to be is it enough? Will minority students appreciate the gesture but continue to self segregate? Do minority students consciously self segregate themselves or is this concept offensive? Im having a hard time putting all the pieces together.
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I agree that there are a lot of obvious "comfort zones" on SLU's campus. They can be seen in terms of both majority and minority dwellings. I think both groups are responsible for the self segregation. There is no one at fault for this. Fault blames people when what really should be looked at is why and how people were socialized to feel this so call "comfort" with some people and not with others. I think a lot of it some from development as a child. Some individuals are lucky enough to experience diversified atmospheres, while others are not. Perhaps it is the unknowing or reading into one story that causes tension in both minority and majority groups to adapt to others. We are used to certain types of people because we are brought up that way.
ReplyDeleteHowever, I think that as we grow and mature (especially at college level) we should be able to adapt our surroundings, throw away presupposed ideas about people, and focus on what really matters... who the person is not what they look like. This is part of the activism from white students. These students are speaking out because they do not want minority groups to feel unsafe of unable to fell a part of SLU as simply students.
It is by no means wrong to self segregate. This is actively choosing who your friend are and who you believe is most like you. However, if people always choose to segregate themselves they will never actually find that people of other races or ethnicities are in fact just like them.
I don't think it is self-segregating because self-segregation denotes a choice to be isolated from others. I don't think these students consciously choose to isolate themselves, they just want to join people whom they think they will be more comfortable with. Their action is more of a reaction.
ReplyDeleteCertainly, one can argue that they can walk out of their comfort zones and try to interaction with other groups a little more, but, on the flip side of that, one can counter that anyone of us of another race can try to interaction with them in their comfort zones by stepping out of ours. Most of us wouldn't do that because it is uncomfortable for us and so it is just as uncomfortable for them to step out of their comfort zones.
The only reason why some of us don't realize that we are typically living as much in our comfort zones as these racial groups are living in theirs is because of the fact that these groups are socially marked.
In the end, I don't think any individual is to blame for the "status quot" I guess. It's created by the complexity of society and would take a great social movement to change.
I think it is important to realize that issues of race have only recently become important and prevalent to the students on SLU campus. The issue of segregation existed before the racial incidents occurred. Most of the segregation on campus occurs because of the actual ease, familiarity, and comfort that students feel around those that are of the same race. I am not sure that students racially segregate out of fear.
ReplyDeleteI do realize that many SLU students have always promoted the integration of students and diversity. However, I think that most SLU students were mostly unaware of racialized comfort zones. It was not until race issues were brought up that students really began to notice the segregation and attempt to change it. Therefore, I think that the best way to promote diversity and integration is to ensure that the issue of race should be constantly present and relevant. As current students have illustrated, the raised issue has set forth a series of actions that have encouraged integration and greater diversity. Only when we are aware can we make a change.