From the minute we walk into our first grade classrooms and notice posters of multi-cultural children playing and learning how to read, write and share, the concept of tolerance becomes ingrained in our developing brains. Our superiors teach us that skin color does not matter because we are all equal in mind. As we mature and grow to understand there is more to life than nap time, juice boxes and the ABC's, we discover that racial inequality does exist and we should stand up against it. At the same time, we must protect ourselves and worry about our own safety before helping others and intervening in a situation in which our own civil liberties are at risk. These two concepts - speaking out against inequality and personal safety - have a strong potential to create conflict as they did for me last week.
As I waited for my friend in between Towers and Statesider to go to lunch, I witnessed a white, male student verbally harassing a homeless black man. Because three of my four classes concern race, tolerance and equality, I have become sensitive toward the way we interact with each other. My initial fight for your rights"" response was to get up and tell this student to leave the homeless man alone, but the thought of my own safety being compromised prevented me from doing so. I attempted to find a nearby policeman or security guard, but was out of luck and all I could do was watch. I was helpless. A few minutes later, the student went on his way and the homeless man was finally freed from harassment.
If the homeless man had stood up and told the student to back off, would the police have arrived then? Would they have accused the homeless man of harassing the student because of his socio-economic and racial status? At what point does race play a role in this situation? I have a hunch as to what the answers to these may be.
In this post-civil rights era, how is it acceptable for an event such as mine to go unnoticed by so many ""fight for your rights"" graduates? At the zenith of my frustration, sadness and disappointment in the human race, I charge you, educated reader, to get out of your chair or futon and defend what you have known to be right since you were five years old. These crimes are real and are happening on our very own State Street. Join an organization, promote awareness or attend a meeting because, as you have learned since your first day of school, you must fight for your rights.
Emily Gordon is an undecided freshman. Please send responses to opinion@dailycardinal.com
