By: Lucy Sedlis

Lucy Sedlis — Sun, 05 May 2019 21:03:04 +0000

As Maia mentioned in her comment, I think it is interesting how you were able to develop a counter space without knowing that the term in the first place. This goes to show how one can subconsciously develop a safer space within a community without fully acknowledging it. What do you think would happen if Muhlenberg held talks or made the concept of a finding and creating a “counter space” more public to the community? Would people go out of their way to find these spaces? Would this be beneficial or detrimental to those who have already found a counter space on which they can rely on?

By: Maia Brint

Maia Brint — Wed, 10 Apr 2019 17:31:56 +0000

Bree, I found it interesting how you spoke about the creation of counterspaces for yourself while not even knowing that the term counterspaces existed. It was just natural to you. You mentioned how other white students might feel about these counterspaces which is something that struck me. I remember in class one day someone brought up how on Muhlenberg College tours, students might point to the multicultural house and claim that it is a place to do free laundry, as well as a place for affinity groups to meet. For me, this struck me as white students viewing students of color’s counterspaces as insignificant and depleted of value. I believe that many white students on this campus do not recognize or understand the need and the importance of these counterspaces. This goes back to ideas brought up in the book “why are all the black kids sitting together in the cafeteria?” The misunderstanding of the need to come together as a marginalized group with a shared identity and shared experiences. This misconception that black students might be self-segregated as a statement, rather than the need to bind together as a collective and embrace each others narratives. So many white students on our campus must have deeply misguided conceptions of counterspaces. Similarly, you mentioned how you have “created a smaller community, a smaller circle of people, that can relate to my humanity on an even more intricate level.” Another example of finding that comfort and solace in likeminded individuals that could potentially be misinterpreted by white students. It is disheartening to know that so many students remain uneducated about things like this but I am happy that you brought it up in this post.

Comments on: black and queer, and here – even if they don’t always see us

By: Lucy Sedlis

By: Maia Brint