Race at Rhodes

I was sitting in the library with some friends when I received a text from someone that said, “Y’all my little just texted me and said someone told her a big black guy in a white hat has stolen laptops in the library?? So keep an eye on each other’s stuff.” My point is not whether or not this comment is offensive, but rather the implications that it will have. This brief text message made me think about the bigger picture here at Rhodes. I have multiple black friends at Rhodes who have told me about their experiences with campus safety and other members of the Rhodes community questioning whether or not they indeed go to Rhodes and are allowed to be on campus. In one case my friend did not have his Lynx Card on him and the campus safety officer insisted on looking up his R#.

I am sure that you have all heard the phrase “white-girl wave” used around campus. The phrase implies that any middle- to upper-class white female is able to get through campus safety simply by smiling and waving as they drive through the gates whether have a parking sticker on their car or not. I have found this to be true on multiple occasions. In contrast, I also know black male students who have been stopped driving onto campus in a car with a parking sticker. This range of experiences on our college campus is unacceptable. What is it that makes “black” or “white” the defining characteristic of a person? Although our college is not all white, it makes me wonder how the campus security at a historically black college would treat me if I were to drive on campus. Does this form of profiling work both ways?

I was sitting in the library with some friends when I received a text from someone that said, “Y’all my little just texted me and said someone told her a big black guy in a white hat has stolen laptops in the library?? So keep an eye on each other’s stuff.” My point is not whether or not this comment is offensive, but rather the implications that it will have. This brief text message made me think about the bigger picture here at Rhodes. I have multiple black friends at Rhodes who have told me about their experiences with campus safety and other members of the Rhodes community questioning whether or not they indeed go to Rhodes and are allowed to be on campus. In one case my friend did not have his Lynx Card on him and the campus safety officer insisted on looking up his R#.

I am sure that you have all heard the phrase “white-girl wave” used around campus. The phrase implies that any middle- to upper-class white female is able to get through campus safety simply by smiling and waving as they drive through the gates whether have a parking sticker on their car or not. I have found this to be true on multiple occasions. In contrast, I also know black male students who have been stopped driving onto campus in a car with a parking sticker. This range of experiences on our college campus is unacceptable. What is it that makes “black” or “white” the defining characteristic of a person? Although our college is not all white, it makes me wonder how the campus security at a historically black college would treat me if I were to drive on campus. Does this form of profiling work both ways?

When I say that I go to Rhodes, most people’s first assumption is that I come from a wealthy background and have had everything handed to be in life. However, when some of my friends who are not white say they go to Rhodes, they are treated as if is a gift that they were fortunate enough to attend such a prestigious school. I know plenty of people of all races who are at Rhodes partially because their parents are extremely wealthy and have been able to provide great opportunities for them because of it. I also know plenty of people (of all races) who come from rough backgrounds and have worked hard to face adversity and attend Rhodes.

When I say that I go to Rhodes, most people’s first assumption is that I come from a wealthy background and have had everything handed to be in life. However, when some of my friends who are not white say they go to Rhodes, they are treated as if is a gift that they were fortunate enough to attend such a prestigious school. I know plenty of people of all races who are at Rhodes partially because their parents are extremely wealthy and have been able to provide great opportunities for them because of it. I also know plenty of people (of all races) who come from rough backgrounds and have worked hard to face adversity and attend Rhodes.