This stifling environment is too often common in collegiate classrooms.
I, personally, have experienced and endured intellectually stagnant environments such as these many times throughout my educational career. Too often I found myself reluctant and hesitant to speak up and out about topics pertaining to gender and especially race. Not to mention the many many times I have been called upon to speak on behalf of the entire Black race, male and female. Now, this is not a new phenomenon in my life nor in the lives of other Black college students at a predominately White institution (PWI). As a product of PWI formal education, I have almost always been the only, or one of a few Black students in the classroom.
As the years have passed on and the school grades ascended, the environment only magnified. I thought and truly believed that the situation would change (for the better) upon entering college. I believed that students would be more informed…or would have at least been around more than a handful of Black students in an intellectual setting before. But, unfortunately, I find that the problem still exists, at least here on Creighton’s campus. Not just in the classroom setting and not just in “issue” classes (i.e. sociology, psychology, politics, Theology even). This weight is bore all the time.
Call it the “Zoo Phenomenon” if you will. *Sarcastically* Am I just so intriguing? A real life Black female who 1) is not a single mother 2) was raised in a 2-parent household and 3) is attending Creighton on a merit (not athletic….not need-based) scholarship. Wow. We do exist. Now, I do not want to diminish the accomplishments of my peers who may be coming from the aforementioned background. However, being a Black student at Creighton does not allow for assumptions. The “Zoo Phenomenon” is the idea that a person is intrigued by a sole characteristic (physical or other) of another. Like the liger at the zoo. And based on that intrigue, the person asks questions, conducts discussion, etc with the “other”. Notice that this exchange is based on intrigue and not interest. The “Zoo Phenomenon” exposes people’s intrigue rather than genuine interest in another person’s character.
In writing this, it is imperative that my message is clear. I do not wish to stop people from asking questions that they have had and have just been to afraid, frankly, to ask. It is college after all. This is the time to expand. I am wishing, however, that you never feel reduced to silence because of ignorance. If you want to talk about issues that you are passionate about that may not be the mainstream, talk about them.
If you want to talk about sex and gender, talk about them.
If you want to talk about race, talk about it.
If you want to talk about LGBTQI issues, talk about them.
If you want to talk about farming and environmental issues, talk about them, too!
(In the right place and time, of course).
For if you don’t talk about it…WHO WILL? You have something to offer. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.
Kindly,
Elizabeth Lassiter
Junior, Sociology- Criminal Policy Track
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