There is much value placed on education in our society. A high emphasis is given to a person’s education when determining if that individual is qualified for a job. Think about how people treat us just because we’re in college. Our parents, neighbors, relatives, employers and friends all treat us differently than others because we are becoming educated. Many times on visits back home, when engaged in conversation with my family, my viewpoint is respected and valued because of their perception of what college is teaching me. Education, and college education in particular, allows people to become equipped with the proper knowledge and information when encountering a situation or issue.
I apply this stance on education to situations when people interact and coexist with one another. Education is an integral determinant when coming to a conclusion on how to treat or interact with people of other backgrounds or experiences. Popular education does not provide enough opportunities that would allow for information or respectable representation about non-dominant culture and groups.
If an individual is not prepared, in terms of lack of understanding or education, it can be devastating. They have limited their ability to productively and respectfully engage with those about whom they are uneducated.
This has a damaging impact on the individuals involved, the groups they are a part of, and society as a whole. When this occurs all parties involved lose out. Why, you may ask? Due to the fact that either of the individuals involved were uninformed about one another, it created a hostile environment where individuals cannot be respected or represented properly.
Let’s use this example to illustrate the point that I’m trying to make. Last week at UW-Whitewater a student organization committed a horrible atrocity due to their lack of information and understanding. A white student organization decided to hold a slave auction at their housing complex. The individuals who were being sold were white people painted in blackface. Such an action caused an astonishing negative emotion within myself because of the utter disrespect and negligence those white individuals displayed for the history of the African Diaspora and the experience of those people who were put through the Trans-Atlantic Holocaust.
Sure, a proud bigot may laugh and not think much of the situation, but I see peoples’ history, experiences, culture and humanity being hurt and damaged when an instance like this occurs — not to mention the usage of blackface! Is anyone educated on the pure racist motives behind the use of blackface? And to put a white person in blackface! What kind of cruel, harsh individual would want to inflict that type of hurtful and negative feeling on someone else? Maybe the white student organization wanted to do exactly that; if so, then that is a separate issue. Whether or not that was their intent, many situations like this occur. Oftentimes people commit such an action without knowing what type of impact it will have.
At that point, it is their lack of education that reflects the ignorance and incompetence that is displayed in their action and language. Who is at fault then? The educational institution that is supposed to prepare its students for all facets of the real world. Whomever the blame lies on, we need to take drastic measure to remedy these unfortunate shortcomings in our educational institutions.
Students have the most potential when it comes to pushing society to change for the better. Think about the civil rights era (which, in my opinion, is still not over) and the anti-war movement during Vietnam. During that time, students were able to voice their opinion and make critical changes in society. The same must be done now. Students must take a stand and either demand the institutions create more options or we create the initiative and see to it that it is carried out. Several student organizations have put years of hard work and dedication toward a vision. A shared vision for all to enjoy and reap the educational benefits of a more respectable and dignified representation of those not included in popular education. A vision that will create a warm welcoming environment, that allows for the opportunities to be serviced with information and education not offered anywhere else. These students want to share this vision with all of you, just like a Wisconsiner would share a cold beer while watching the Pack.