On Friday, Jan. 22 in Sykes Student Union, Dr. Barbara J. Love inspired students to explore the bonds surrounding peers and their racial identities. Dr. Love encouraged students of West Chester University to consider the experiences of others while creating policies that encompass social justice and racial consciousness. Through these strategies, Dr. Love hopes to motivate our campus to become more connected and more supportive of every individual within West Chester’s community.
Dr. Love questioned audience members, asking them their thoughts on race and what their world without racism would be ideally. One audience member was a mother who said that, in her ideal world, she wanted parents to worry the same amount for their children as opposed to those worrying about their children being targeted based on the color of their skin. She also said she hoped to raise her son to be an ally for those oppressed and use his position of privilege to speak out for those left voiceless in today’s society.
Dr. Love agreed, saying that allies need to inform themselves about their privileges while forging relationships with others in order to better this campus and, eventually, the world.
It is the job of those privileged, Dr. Love shared, to heal from the “whiteness” that has socialized them so that their whiteness has become a barrier, separating them from other human beings. Additionally, she said it is the job of those with privilege to create spaces for others to safely speak on these issues without fear.
Dr. Love surmised that ending racism appears to be a daunting task, but she argued against that, saying, “Once upon a time, there was an idea to put men on the moon. People called [those with the idea] crazy, saying it was impossible, but those that believed worked on it for centuries, and now, men are on the moon. I’m sure if humans can do all of that, what do you think about humans ending racism? We are the ones to do it.”
Following this statement, Dr. Love provided a brief history of racism and revealed the purposes for which it was made. Dr. Love showed her audience how racism became a pervasive idea by connecting science with history and revealing the insidious greed behind the recognition of races, which she said fuels the harsh treatments still seen today.
Dr. Love spoke to the “global majority,” or those of a non-white, non-European background next. She used the term global majority because “it is a statement of fact.”
“People from Europe make up maybe ten percent of the entire population, but are called majority due to the issue of white supremacy,” said Dr. Love.
Dr. Love urged the global majority to heal and reclaim the power they have lost. She acknowledged the self-hate embedded within the global majority due to society catering to the needs of white individuals.
“I want you to notice where you’re left with negative ideas about yourself. I want you to have the chance to heal, to work on reclaiming every division,” said Dr. Love. “I want you to step outside of any sense of powerlessness that you hold about your capacity to change this campus and this world. I want you to work on anything that gets in the way, anything that makes you unable to do this.”
Arden Colleluori is a third-year student majoring in English writing and women’s and gender studies with a minor in Spanish. She can be reached at AC809169@wcupa.edu.