Racism on campus: “A different approach”

Were the actions of Fara’s flatmates inexcusable? Yes. Does she deserve justice for the actions that took place today? Yes. Does that mean that Warwick has a problem with racism? No.

I am a black woman, I am what Gurleen Grewal would call “double lacking”, for I must somehow feign my femininity as I dissimulate, or conceal my blackness in this Western world. The actions of today were by no means disgusting, the word ‘disgusting’ may even be putting it lightly.

However, I highly doubt that those who stood for Fara today are fully aware of the consequences of their actions. Racism is unavoidable. When we are at a place of higher education, one often feels that he must differentiate himself from another to make himself feel ‘better’.

I must somehow feign my femininity as I dissimulate, or conceal my blackness in this Western world

It is sad that even in this day and age; race, gender and religion are the ways in which people do this, but it is the world we live in. Having said that, not all white people are racist.

People are screaming ‘fight’, others want the world to know how offended they are by the actions of today, and yet so few of them have ever encountered ‘racism’. I am not saying that we should not take a stance against such behaviour.

But I am also asking the people who want to do this to think of what it is they’re doing, who it is they’re calling to question – Warwick. There is implicit racism in many institutions, but when one generally asks an ethnic minority of a word that would come to mind when Warwick is mentioned, it would not be ‘racist’.

I am also asking the people who want to do this to think of what it is they’re doing

The word that comes to mind for me personally is ‘home’.  It is a place where I have built friendships with people of different races and cultures, a place where I have come to know more about myself, and a place that has blessed me with friends I never thought I could have.

The actions of today however, no matter how brilliant, have created a monster of Warwick. While not explicitly, taking the anti-white stance does no one any favours. We live in a world that is dominantly white, and for the people who want to be ‘great’, those who are at the top will not necessarily look like you.

While not explicitly, taking the anti-white stance does no one any favours

We need to wake up, all of us, and while I am not saying that nothing should’ve been done about the matter today, I am saying that we should pick which battles we fight. There is more to life than race, and I say that as a person of colour.

We can continue to complain and tweet and shout for us all to rise but get nowhere, or we can work to the best of our abilities with what it is we have, and hope to make a difference when we have real power.

Warwick is our place of opportunity and many people, I believe, need to understand that the actions of today have meant that the reputation of such a platform has been tarnished.

The actions of today have meant that the reputation of such a platform has been tarnished

I personally love Warwick, and I do not know many people that can say that about their universities. The events of today are appalling, that must be noted, but I am truly saddened by the fact that many students, whether of colour or not, may be deterred from a place I genuinely consider as home.