Wisconsin-Style Racism
Because of my love for culture and people, I have worked with UW Stout's international student population for many years. Through a situation with one student, whom I will call Sarah, the way I saw my community changed forever. Sarah came to Wisconsin from Ghana in Africa.
Nigerian author, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, said, "Race doesn't really exist for you because it has never been a barrier. Black folks don't have that choice." This statement became true for me during the time I spent with Sarah.
On one of my first trips to the store with Sarah, something happened to me that had never happened before. Grocery shopping is one of the more common activities with international students. Not only do they need a ride, but navigating a huge store like Walmart can be very difficult for students from less developed countries. Conversations during the time together reveal awe and curiosity from these students.
Essayist James Baldwin once said, "Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced." Sarah and I were about to face something that desperately needs change.
On this day, as Sarah and I shopped, what I observed made me furious. My pulse started racing as I observed other customers in the aisle, those who had moved aside for me, rigidly blocking Sarah's path, making her wait as they continued to look at the options on the shelf. My hands shook and my mind swirled with a variety of potential responses ranging from violence to verbal shaming. Shock prevented me from any of these. I was stunned by behavior, suddenly ashamed of the community I call my own. It was subtle racism, but noticeable.
As a midwesterner, my experience with others is the typical "Midwest-Nice." My response was to ignore it rather than to unleash, and to continue talking to her in hopes that she wouldn't notice the difference between how they were treating her and me. Not all of the other shoppers treated Sarah this way, but it forever interrupted my idea that racism didn't exist in my world.
Since then, I have decided on a few appropriate possible reactions for future use, such as: "Excuse me, my friend here would like to get by," or "Oops, I think you didn't see my friend here." These connect me closely with my companion, while hopefully pointing out the rude discrimination.
An ugly side of humanity revealed itself to me that day. Sarah never said a word about it, behaving as if this were an everyday occurrence. Racism had never existed in my world, yet on this day, it stood right in front of me.
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