Safe sPACES IN aCTION
California State University, Los Angeles Sign, CC0 Public Domain, Wikipedia.
At California State University in Los Angles (pictured above), black students have faced a lot of the issues that were discussed in the review of literature: spotlighting, racist remarks, and microaggressions from their classmates and peers. To solve this issue the Black Student Union submitted a list of demands to the school administration during the 2015-2016 school year. One of their demands was to “establish African-American-priority housing in response to demands from black students seeking refuge from what they consider insensitive remarks and “microaggressions” from their white classmates.” This fall they finally delivered on their list of demands; they established the “Halisi Scholars Black Living-Learning Community” housing. Similarly to the Black Student Alliance House at Emory, this house will serve as “a safe space for [black students] to congregate, connect, and learn from each other.” This housing is a cheaper housing option for black students at California State University L.A., and also serves as a safe space for them.
The housing provides a space for both students and faculty to connect and discuss issues of concern in the black community. The housing also provides opportunities for academic and civic engagement for the students, and opportunities for all students on campus to participate in programs focused on cultural awareness. The housing is not exclusive to black students, anyone who “respect(s) differences and diversity and seek out the positives in them”, is willing to “be an up-stander for change”, and “be open to new ideas and experiences” is open to live in the house. |
There is a lot of other themed housing on CSULA’s campus, but this is the only housing themed by race. Many other schools are beginning to provide themed housing options for black students, such as University of Connecticut, UC Davis, and Berkeley. University of Connecticut even offers a program where 39 black males live together on campus. However, some are fearful that creating housing and spaces like this promote a racial divide. Niger Innis, the national spokesperson for the Congress of Racial Equality said “if they [black students] want to go to an institution that is racially diverse and integrated, then racial diversity and integration is part of it. To have a university-sanctioned segregation or separation is, to me, a bit troubling.” I would argue that it’s not troubling for black students to want space to themselves. As stated in the review of literature, having these spaces is beneficial to black students who are facing issues in and out of the classroom. The students at CSULA had a list of grievances and demands, so they obviously needed this space. There is also a long waiting list for students to live here, so this housing option is popular and much needed. This story is a great example of how black students can work in collaboration with each other and the administration to make a better learning and social environment.
Watch the video below to learn more! http://www.foxnews.com/us/2016/09/06/calif-university-latest-to-establish-black-only-housing.html |