Letters to the Editor | Blame for racial tension at Vassar misplaced

I was pleased to read Tendai Musakwa’s column in the 4.20.07 issue of The Miscellany News that addressed the prevalence of racism at Vassar. It is frustrating to be a part of an institution that grandly espouses anti-racist rhetoric while remaining complicit in the everyday maintenance of a racist society, and was refreshing to read Musakwa’s personal reflections.

However, I was troubled by his assumption that students of color are primarily responsible for “racial tensions” at Vassar. I would argue that the presence of students of color in a place established with the sole purpose of reproducing and protecting white privilege creates “racial tension,” however, I vehemently disagree with his argument that it is minority students’ responsibility to ease white students’, the faculty’s, and administratration’s subsequent fear and anger at our presence here.

Musakwa argues that in order to combat racism, students of color “need to stop conforming to stereotypes...White students…need to do more to reach out to minorities and stop (perhaps subconsciously) stereotyping them.” Throughout the article, he identifies various ways in which white students overtly degrade and stereotype students of color; however, Musakwa somehow comes to the conclusion that racist stereotypes prevail at Vassar because minority students simply insist on being stereotypical. According to his argument, white students are responsible only insofar as they are not doing enough to “reach out” to students of color and save us from ourselves.

Despite Musakwa’s claim that at Vassar he is consistently reminded by white peers that his skin color is the most salient aspect of his identity, he continually places minority students as the racial aggressors. He describes the dynamic of his James Baldwin course as “my black classmates [being] seemingly pitted against the rest of the class.” He positions his black classmates as the instigators of racial animosity. However, has it occurred to Musakwa that the anger and resentment expressed by these black classmates is a reaction to white students covertly as well as openly attempting to erase and silence them?

It is neither my duty nor my desire to hold my tongue when a white student stereotypes or offends me so as to avoid fulfilling racist stereotypes and contributing to “racial tensions” at Vassar. The people referred to as “ALANA students” should not stop hanging out with each other so that white students feel less threatened. Vassar can be a hostile environment for underrepresented students. The small pockets of safety and understanding that these students find should not be disbanded so that the privileged majority does not feel encroached upon.

Students of color at Vassar are unfairly burdened with the task of combating racism. There are more than a few minority students who should be on the Vassar payroll for the amount of time they take away from their own education helping white students and faculty realize the various ways in which their actions perpetuate a racist society. White students need to take a more active role in challenging white privilege and the consequent racial subjugation that such privilege depends on.

Again, I applaud your effort to keep the issue of racism at Vassar on everyone’s mind.
—Kate Faust ’08