Dear POC, It’s Not Your Fault

somber proud latina woman looking at the camera

Being a person of color you’re doomed to experience microaggressions, it’s almost like a rite of passage for us. Almost to say, “I’ve made it mom! The white girl in my class just asked me where my family is “from, from!”. Funny enough, I did not experience a true microaggression until I moved away to go to college on the east coast. Microaggressions can come in many different forms, and they happen so quickly it …

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Microaggressions: What To Do?

There are many things that individuals may or may not notice right away. Sometimes we don’t realize what just happened within our surroundings, or the train of thought hits us later on. Microaggressions are one of these things. There is a sense of hesitation and anxiety that can overcome us when we witness microaggressions in front of us. Should I say or do something about it? Should I jump to intervene in the situation? What …

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Black History in the U.S. is More Than a Month

African American schoolboy holding book and answering questions asked by teacher during Black History Month lesson in classroom

It would be a lie to say that my pre-college education did not expose me to the history of slavery, segregation, and racism in the United States. It would also be a lie to say that I was told the whole truth about it. I was fortunate enough to go to a school system that, I believe, prepared me for college about as well as I could hope. I can read, for one thing, and …

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In the Face of Fear

Fear is an emotion that affects how we as humans shape our lives, influencing decisions, and interactions that we have. While it is a tricky emotion, it has the ultimate power of not only negatively affecting but can give someone the push that they need. That being said, I want to explore how fear relates to racism and how people have race talks. In Dr. Sue’s chapter, “The Characteristics and Dynamics of Race Talk,” there …

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Driving through Albany and Troy, NY

painting and photographs of black women farming

“Is there a lot of crime in this area?” This was a question that my family member asked while we were driving in the car through Troy and Albany, New York. When we were driving through these cities, I noticed that the buildings seemed to be more run-down and that there was a lot of poverty in the area; a direct effect of redlining. When my relative asked this question, I instantly thought back to …

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Maybe Ignorance isn’t so Blissful

A month ago, I would have been so utterly offended if someone tried to claim that I am racist, but now I read numerous articles each week explaining why every white person feeds the racism in our society and cannot help but agree. In no way am I proud to contribute to systematic injustices (especially those targeted at individuals due to their racial identity), yet I will humbly admit that my own ignorance encourages segregation …

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Execution & Innocence

portrait of Marcellus Williams

The 8th amendment of our Constitution clearly states “Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishment inflicted” upon convicted criminals. However, lethal injection remains a longstanding practice in the United States and is subject to constant debate over its ethics. Throughout American history various states have grappled with the interpretation of the death penalty and ongoing debates about its moral implications. December 7th, 1982 a convicted felon, Charles …

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The Current Hispanic Crisis

Within the history of the United States, the notion that White people are the superior race and that minority groups are perceived as less has not changed much as all throughout the years. Hispanics are the largest minority group in the United States, yet the narrative about this group is not positively portrayed within our society. I believe that the perception of Hispanic communities has gotten worse specifically with the upcoming 2024 presidential election just …

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Hey Google, Why Are You Biased?

cover of book Algorithms of Oppression

When using the search engine of Google as your primary method of acquiring informational resources, you would hope that the generated sources would hold an abundance of factual and unbiased information. Good arguments are founded on premises that are in fact true, and the logic that follows that groundwork must be valid and sensible. Think back to the basic spelling tests and mathematical problems taught by your elementary school teachers. Did you ever doubt that …

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So, You Want to be Racist for Halloween?

man in sombrero

Last halloween some friends and I decided to get dressed up and walk around the neighborhoods surrounding our college that are home to a plethora of students here at Muhlenberg. Walking around and seeing people dressed up was all in all fun, until from the corner of my eye I saw what looked to be a sombrero. For people who do not know, sombrero’s are a significant part of Mexican culture and a huge part …

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Representation from Disney is a “Threat’ to White People?

Why is it that white people seem to be so threatened by the idea of representation and equity? White people seem to believe that they are entitled to being represented through the media, even in spaces where Black individuals are requesting more POC (people of color) characters and stories. For example, Disney has recently been under some backlash from audiences about choices for their theme parks and movies. Simply because of people attempting to keep …

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Stepping off the Moving Walkway!

Imagine you are at the airport, standing still on a moving sidewalk, you feel the breeze in your hair as you get closer to where you intend to go. This is the overall nature of the well-known moving walkway analogy. This famous analogy comes from Dr. Tatum as she understands it by comparing it to an “ongoing cycle of racism is like a moving walkway at the airport.” Overall this concept sets an understanding and …

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