Facing Racism in College - Essay Example

Racism in College Colleges are vital s in any social setting because they contribute to social, economical and political development by educating students, who latter become leaders in important sectors. This means that colleges should be open to everybody in the society in order to achieve positive developments. In addition, it is a common knowledge that people in the society have to be united by working together in order to achieve common goals. Further, the essential structures used in governance need to be headed by educated people who can be able to champion effective policies that can contribute to economic and social growth. On this basis, people from different backgrounds posses the required capacity to occupy the leadership positions. This further leads us to the educational institutions that offer training to the different leaders found in the various institutions in a country. Therefore, it is inevitable for the college population to be diverse considering the fact that people take up studies with an ultimate aim of having quality life. As a result, social vices such as racism crop up in the diverse college population. This essay will address the issue of racism in college and further point out other aspects of college education that are important for students. To start with, different forms of racisms are portrayed in colleges depending on whether they are propagated by the administration or they are from personal level. Firstly, interpersonal racism is very common among college students and staff. Interpersonal racism can be described as a form of racism where a section of people “make assumptions about the abilities, motives, and intents of other groups based on race” (Strategicpractice.Org 15). This is a common phenomenon in many colleges considering the fact that a larger proportion of college population is constituted by young people who at times may be cheeky towards each other. Many college students are members of certain peer groups that are formed in order to carryout activities such as group discussions or extra curriculum activities. In most cases, the groups, which are formed by students on their own, are based on common backgrounds leading to closer relationships among the members. As a result, members of such groups gang up against other groups that are ‘inferior’ through prejudices and discriminatory behaviors. More often than not, the discriminatory behaviors involve cruel activities, either intentional or unintentional, to the other groups. Another form of racism found in colleges is the institutional racism. This type of racism is cultivated into structures of administration in colleges. Considering the fact that college administrations are managed by people, it is possible that colleges in particular region have an administration body constituted by many people from one race. In addition, it is a normal occurrence that college administrators prefer recruiting people from their own race rather than being diverse. In this case racism becomes institutionalized in the college administration and is characterized by cultural assumptions of the ‘superior’ race in the administrative unit. As a result, many activities carried out through by the college administration reflect racism in one way or another. For instance, college admissions have always brought about the controversy of racism when students from particular race are given priority over others. Whenever college admissions are characterized by racism, chances are that students will also emulate the culture demonstrated by the administrators. In this case, students from a particular race form the largest proportion of student population hence becoming the ‘superior’ race. Institutional racism can also be portrayed by the kind of products used in institutions. For instance “the U.K Organic Soil Association proposed stripping the organic labels from foreign produced certified organic foods” as a way of promoting consumption of local food products in the country (Yagelski 640). This demonstrates racism at institutional levels in a country. The last form of racism in colleges is the internalized racism. This form of racism comes up whenever there is a group that is politically, socially and economically dominant (Strategicpractice.Org 15). In this case, members of the disgraced group, who are continually meant to feel inferior through negative messages, internalize the messages with time. As a result, such people feel incapacitated in terms of their abilities and at the end are not able to achieve their full potential as college students. Yagelski demonstrates the type of negative messages that contribute to racism by referring other people to be “standing at the lower end of the world’s economic ladder” (647).College students experiencing internalized racism point out several incidences that are associated with racism directed to them. Firstly, the students encounter incidences of staring by other people from the ‘superior’ race. This is where the stigmatized group of student feels that other people stare at them suspiciously. Another incidence of racism that is internalized by the ‘inferior’ group is the one involving verbal expressions. This may be through direct insults or use stereotypes directed to a particular group. Additionally, racial discrimination through provision of poor service is also encountered in colleges. This takes place in areas such as in the library, where the attendants may prefer to serve one race effectively than others, and in cafeteria, where people from the ‘inferior race’ may be served with poor quality food. All these types of racism incidences can be internalized by students hence interfering with their positive attitudes towards achievement of certain objectives. On the other hand, there are other aspects of college education that are important for a successful student. To begin with, having a social life while in college is healthy for successful students. This is because socialization of students from different backgrounds facilitates transfer of knowledge. Many scholars have documented evidences that explain the importance of diversity in any setting. For instance, many business scholars have advised entrepreneurs to promote diversity while recruiting new employees in order to increase efficiency in production of goods and services as well as marketing. Therefore, it is important for college students to learn how to socialize in a diverse environment in preparation for their future work environment. Of more importance, socialization among college students, who come from diverse backgrounds, helps to reduce racism in the college and also nationally after completion of college education. Secondly, it is important for college students to be involved in extra curricula activities such as sports. This is because sports not only contribute to leisure but also make students to lead a healthy life. Currently, many healthcare practitioners advocate for preventive measures in management of diseases by many patients. In addition, it is a common knowledge that sporting activities help to keep body physiological processes active hence enabling people to have a healthy life. Further, being involved in sporting activities helps college students to utilize their free time effectively instead of being involved in carrying out social vices. This means that sporting activities can be used to reduce racism in colleges because students and other staffs become united in carrying out sporting activities. Moreover, some students discover their sporting talents when they participate in the extra curricula activities. Lastly, it is important for college students to participate in educational attachments while in college. Educational attachments equip students with necessary field experience in their specific programs. This way, students are able to learn more about what their career entails because industrial settings reflect world expectations. In addition, students are exposed to different professionals in their career line hence being able to build up network of contacts. Of more importance, educational attachments help to build up resume by explaining the valuable field experience. Therefore, it is important for college students to undertake educational attachments because they also increase their chances of getting job opportunities after school through the developed network of connection and improved resumes. In conclusion, although racism has been reduced greatly, it is still portrayed in college education through different forms. These forms include institutional, internalized and interpersonal racisms. However, it is important to point out that these forms of racisms can be dealt with by promoting other aspects of college education that are important to students as well as the staff. From the above discussion, it is evident that extra curricula activities such as sports are effective in reducing racism in colleges. In addition, it is important for college administrations to develop effective policies that lead to elimination of institutional racism. Statement of Opposition The essay of Racism in Colleges was written creatively by including all the relevant aspects of racisms that happen in colleges. However, the essay is too lengthy in covering the issue of racism compared to other aspects of college education important to students. In this case, there should be a balance in the presentation of information. Works Cited Strategicpractice.Org. Race, Power and Policy: Dismantling Structural Racism. n.d. Web. 15 May. 2014 < http://www.strategicpractice.org/system/files/race_power_policy_workbook.pdf >. Yagelski, R.P. Reading Our World: Conversations in Context. 2nd ed. New York: Albany, 2010. Print. Read More