the thirty-three

there’s a difference between diversity and inclusion.  diversity is purely quantitative and centers around numbers — it describes how many people of x race are represented at a particular institution.  inclusion takes diversity a step further and focuses on marginalized people’s experiences in spaces that have historically been hostile to their presence.  while many universities focus their efforts on creating a diverse student body, few give any attention to ensuring a safe space is created for those students of color who gain entry.

calling themselves “the 33,” ucla’s black law students have created a video describing their experiences as a very small percentage of the student population.  they describe a toxic environment with words like lonely, hostile and unwelcoming and several noted feeling a burden to represent their entire community.  i completely related to the sister who described the pressure to “constantly police” herself, ensuring she’s saying and doing things that are socially acceptable in majority white environments.

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

Follow:
Politics & Fashion Newsletter