Jill Adams

Rhetoric I

Larry E. Pearce

March 12, 2003

Stand Tall

            With such a diverse culture in the United States, it is impossible to achieve unity.  While in my hometown of York, Pennsylvania, I was sheltered from the fact that that perfect harmony did not exist for every person.  Once I came to college, I viewed the world in a different way.  Being surrounded by people in western Pennsylvania, I have been exposed to racism beyond my control.  While dating an African American man, a minority at Mount Aloysius College, I was able to witness that line of discrimination.  Once I read the story, Campus Racism 101, by Nikki Giovanni, I knew exactly what to focus on for this paper.

            In her story, she used her position as a teacher and as a writer at Virginia Tech University to present her views on black segregation.  Not as a spokesperson for all blacks but as an example of her how she personally handles her oppression.  Inside the walls at Mount Aloysius College, there have been many racists notes and discriminations against our nine African American students.  Although we, as a campus, has attempted to ask our campus life to control their feelings and not post such hateful messages, no changes have occurred.  My ex-boyfriend allowed me in and told me how he personally had to take down his message board on his dorm room door due to hateful comments written on them.  Personally, I feel this is ridiculous.  Even I, as a white majority, received such treatment for the simple fact of dating him.  The comments turned personal and really did hurt.  I only endured that for a few months and I cannot imagine dealing with such spite day in and day out.

            These people are being chosen and picked out just because of their color.  It is amazing that people can possess such extreme amounts of hate just because of their skin color.  Just because somebody is different than you, does not mean they are horrible or wrong.  Looking around at those racist people make me hurt inside.  I honestly feel bad for them that they are letting that hate burn inside of them for no reason.  Color is only skin deep, but a person is something you need to take time to discover.  There is no excuse for ignorance.