Analyzing Race and Colorblindness in Academics - 1599 Words

The word diversity is indispensible in college pamphlets. Pictures of multicultural friendships permeate across each page in hopes of providing a mirrored image for prospective students. These pictures suggest a promised safe place for young adults of all backgrounds. However, in the instance of San Jose State University, one could argue their actions differ from the pictured proposal. Their main focus became avoiding liability rather than facilitating a safe environment for ethnic difference. This mentality typically reflects a view that claims acts of active racism and blatant bigotry should take the forefront of discussion while their comprising acts of passive racism are left behind. Campus conversations about race are being silenced†¦show more content†¦Dr. Beverly Tatum discusses this sociological phenomenon as dominate and subordinate groups. In the book â€Å"Why are all the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria?† Dr. Tatum cites author Jean Blake Miller who states that dominant social groups â€Å"set the parameters within which the subordinates operate† (23). The dominant group in this situation was comprised of the students who bullied the African American minor. This was evident in the altercation’s clear division of racial groups between the mainly White individuals and one out of two African Americans within the entire housing building. However, in this case, it is imperative to include Asians within the dominant group in an effort to understand the racial atmosphere at San Jose State and many other universities. According to San Jose State’s website statistics, 24% of students are White, 35% are Asian while only 3% are African American (â€Å"Distribution of All Faculty and Students by Gender and Ethnicity Fall 2013†). This number game and lack of representation ensures racial divisions are maintained through the inheritance and abundance of systemic racism. It is apparent that the cycle of perpetuation comes from the normalization of dehumanization and lack of self-evaluation. Individuals in these dominant racial groups often fail to acknowledge their status within them due to their personal discomfort. For example, in one police personalShow MoreRelated Universities Must Continue with the Race-sensitive Admissions Process3209 Words   |  13 PagesNewspaper headlines and public forums demand educational reform with growing frequency. Race-sensitive admissions policies are often at the center of these debates. For example, according to the Los Angeles Times on March 21, 2001, the Los Angeles Community College district trustees are scheduled to vote for a resolution to support the University of California’s move to reinstate affirmative action in its admissions policies. This reinstatement has visible student support as seen in the March 15