Selected Journal Responses

Original post:

The article, in my opinion associated the protesters and existence of multicultural spaces as a means of racial segregation, which is not the case. This reminds me of the youtube video we watched in class of the POC students asking the White students to leave their space because they had Trump stickers on their laptops. This type of resistance to the White culture comes from minority groups wanting to provide and preserve safe spaces, usually referred to as multicultural spaces. These spaces are created for students of color to utilize without facing issues that tend to arise with interactions with White students. The concept of "whiteness" is connected to this idea of racial hierarchy, to power, and privilege. Being White has been associated to elite status, where they don't have to take accountability for their privilege. I will dissect this concept further.

The POC students started to post eviction notices around campus that ends with a warning: If you fail to vacate immediately, community action will continue to escalate with the goal of eliminating any revenue generation. This is an act of resistance towards the "whiteness" on campus.

The article should have discussed more background info on prior incidents on campus that arose which led to the POC students resisting. It easy to criticize POC compared to those who are "White" because race has become a social constructed notion attributed to whats good and whats bad. If you are not White, then you were denied freedoms, denied respect, and are treated differently. Why do the POC students have to take accountability for their actions on the campus, meanwhile White students can assume this victim mentality because POC students are being "aggressive" and "radical." Different races are not held to the same standards. i don't find the students actions surprising because racial tensions are growing through out the years because of political strife, and policies. Also, many POC students grow up in certain communities, not in affluent White communities, so their experiences with race has always been challenging, and painful.

In the article, it says, "This isnt the first time college students have asked for racial segregation on campus." This gives a negative connotation towards the intentions of POC students. I don't think anyone wants to revert back to the practices prior to Civil Rights movements, of segregated schools, or slavery or segregated bathrooms etc... It also reminds me of Whites moving to inner cities, gentrifying them, forcing POC to move out by increasing rents, forcing them to sell their properties, inflation,...

This is currently occurring in NYC. Many neighborhoods are changing, racially. But, Whites are not saying oh its because they want to promote racial segregation. The news is not reporting on this issue. It is just accepted into society as a "natural" thing. However, when it comes to analyzing the actions of POC students on campus, we look at it through a negative light. Why can't POC students be allowed to have spaces solely for their community? I think we have to recognize race...…well-intentioned, moves the nation backwards rather than forwards. True progress comes from breaking down racial barriers, not erecting new ones.

In addition, this goal of the Berkeley protestors oversimplifies complex identities and individual lived experiences. The post acknowledges that racial categories such as white-passing and assumptions about privilege are not clear-cut and many students have mixed backgrounds or life experiences that dont fit neatly into racial boxes. Making spaces exclusively for POC versus white students ignores this nuance and diversity.

More importantly, perhaps, specifically segregated spaces anywhere in the country but most especially on college campuses can increase racial tensions and resentment rather than reducing them. When any group is explicitly excluded based on race, it naturally creates hostility and opposition - even from potential allies who support racial equity but object to discrimination. This makes productive dialogue and progress more difficult.

Admittedly, racism raises its ugly head at every turn in the United States but advocating for even more racially inspired segregation is not the optimal strategy for addressing it. The goal should be transforming campus cultures to be genuinely inclusive while maintaining clear principles of non-discrimination. This is more challenging than simply creating separate spaces, but ultimately more effective at creating positive change. The post raises valid concerns about gentrification, mass incarceration, and other systemic inequities that deserve attention and action. As noted above, though, the solution isnt to recreate separation by race, even if framed as a protecting community. Rather, students, policymakers and the general public must work to transform institutions and build authentic cross-racial solidarity…