Comfort levels plummet after racist encounter

By Maida Marar and Santigie Fofana-Dura

Jan. 13 was my friend's birthday. As a group of us gathered in celebration for a young man turning 21 in this "great" nation, my friend and I reflected on our lives and began to discuss existence, and how our experience has served us in this country of "equality and freedom."

He and I, both ethnic minorites, discussed the discomfort we feel everyday walking amongst many whom all resemble a likeness dissimliar our own. I am grateful that I do not embody the image of a typical American girl, for I am only an "American" due to the fact I have lived in this country long enough to earn this title. I am pleased that I am distinguised, for I have an identity of my own and don't blend in with the crowd. My obvious brown features attract a lot of negative vibes, glares and discrimintory actions.

That same night a group of us decided to walk home and on our trek we were the victims of a racist encounter. As a car full of Santa Clara students pulled out of the Safeway parking lot, they stoppped and yelled these profane, racist and hurtful words: "I hate Mexicans!"

I knew right away that this barb was targeted at me. I stopped walking and turned to my friends in awe of what had just happened. The car sped off so my friends and I continued to walk home. We turned onto my strteet and were in plain sight of my house when the same vehicle drove past us a second time. Once again we were targeted by abusive language from the men. By this time we were all furious.

I put my hand on my stomach because it felt as though I had just been punched. Although I have experience this feeling before, this time it was different. I was onmy street, on my front lawn, at my school, my home. This is where I live and this is my neighborhood. This is Santa Clara in the year 2003, a prestigious, Jesuit educational institution where ignorance seems to still be going strong.

Ninety-five percent of the minority students with whom I have spoken say that they do experience racism in varying degrees at Santa Clara. Three out of 10 non-minority students I talked to agree that racism does exist on our campus.

Oladele Sobomehin, a current student, said, "I feel as though I have been judged by members of our campus through stereotypes of African-American males."

A Caucasian female who wishes to remain anonymous said, I have witnessed, firsthand, acts of racism on our campus. I myself have never experienced racism here, but have seen others being harassed due to their ethnicity."

A male Latino students, Gustavo Caraveo, said, "To say that racism does not exist amongst the students of Santa Clara would be a lie. In my three years as a student here I have been fortunate enough to have never had to deal with racism. However, I do know of a handful of friends and acquaintances of my same ethnicity that have not been as fortunate."

Racism is unacceptable. An individual should never be judged or harassed for a trait over which he or she has absolutely no physical control. Each ethnicity should be respected and valued for what it is, a part of humanity, as well as appreciated for the contributions each has made for making this country a diverse environment.

We are blessed to have the advantage to live amongst various cultures. Every race deserves freedom and the inalienable right to pursue happiness while participating in institutions of equality. Our freedom guarantees us the ability to intellectualize faith and form causal effect relationships because we are human beings living and working together in this country of "opportunity," "openness," and freedom.