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RACIAL JUSTICE IN AMERICA

Students discuss their various perspectives on Racial Justice in America.

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OVERVIEW

From violent colonization of indigenous lands to slavery that influenced the country's rapidly growing economy, systemic racism is part of how America came to be today. Despite the fact that generations of social movements protest against the country's violent structures, America has yet to overcome its racist past fully.

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INTERVIEWEE 1

Introduction

  • Female

  • Sophomore in college

  • 20 years old

  • Currently Attending Seattle Pacific University

  • Medical Field (Neurosurgeon)

Interviewee 1 is a Muslim woman who is half Somali and half African-American. Because she is biracial, she has struggled her entire life to fit in with the family on both sides of her parents. She is confronted with intersectionality seeing as her race, gender, and religion all have an impact on her life.

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HOW DO YOU DEFINE RACIAL JUSTICE?

Interviewee 1 Response

Everyone, regardless of race or ethnicity, is treated fairly. Everyone is given the same opportunity and the same amount of assistance. Everyone is treated as a human being, with the goal of uniting the human race rather than dividing it. The widespread fair treatment of people of all races results in equal opportunities and outcomes for all.

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HOW HAVE YOU WORKED TO ADVANCE RACIAL JUSTICE?

Interviewee 1 Response

During her freshman year at Seattle Pacific University, she faced racial discrimination. Rather than remaining silent, she found ways to contribute to the movement for racial justice. Interviewee 1 spoke up with everyone, from the housing director to the dean. She attempted to contact a large number of people, including the school newspaper. For months, she had held Zoom meetings with higher-ups in the hopes of obtaining more Justice. “  Even though it fell on deaf ears, I feel like that was a good move to getting Justice, if not forever, then at least for ourselves,” says Interviewee 1.
Although her efforts may not produce a result, the information must reach someone. She mentions that even if there are no results, everything is saved on file, allowing staff and students to notice later that "history is repeating itself," says Interviewee 1. If new employees, for example, start working at that facility and review the records of what has been going on, it may spark a change.

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WHAT CHALLENGES HAVE YOU FACED WHILE TRYING TO ADVANCE RACIAL JUSTICE?

Interviewee 1 Response

Interviewee 1 felt that she was being passed around to various staff members. "They send you to 20,000 different people, and you're saying the same thing over and over, and it's mentally exhausting," Interviewee 1 states. She claims that staff members do not truly understand her viewpoints. They would only give the impression that they are doing something about her concerns, but nothing is being done to help fix or eliminate the problem. When she speaks about racial justice issues, Interviewee 1 claims that she is not taken seriously. She also faces being associated with drugs after reporting that someone attempted to break into her dorm. Rather than seeking to make her feel safe, the first question she was asked by security was whether she knew anyone who did drugs and might have attempted to break into her dorm.
Interviewee 1 mentions that she wasn't heard, that her mental health was negatively impacted, and that her physical safety was jeopardized." I feel like the hardest part is feeling like you're doing stuff and you have nothing to show for," says Interviewee 1.
Many believe that racism is no longer an issue, so it is more difficult to believe when it is brought up, posing additional challenges.

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WHAT IMPACTS HAVE YOUR ACTIONS MADE?

Interviewee 1 Response

"In the meantime, the only impact it has is for me," says Interviewee 1. She wishes she could fight on a larger scale, but all she can do is take each day as it comes. Interviewee 1 believes that the most impact her actions can have is for people to take her more seriously when she speaks about her issues. Protests, sit-ins, and marches are currently taking place on a larger scale, but they are falling on deaf ears. "Until people are ready to listen, what impact can you really make? If you are not ready to listen, what more can I do?" says Interviewee 1. She mentions that there aren't many socially acceptable ways to get people to listen. "We're making opportunities for ourselves, but when you are ready to listen, I am willing to talk, but if you are not ready to listen, then why put myself through all this strain?" Interviewee 1 explains.

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INTERVIEWEE 2

Introduction

  • Female

  • Sophomore in college

  • 19 years old

  • Currently Attending Saint Cloud State University

  • Medical Field (Cardiovascular Technologist)

Interviewee 2 is a Somali Muslim woman. As a Somali, she is confronted with cultural issues from various tribes within Somalia. Interviewee 2 also encounters challenges with intersectionality seeing as her race, gender, and religion all have an impact on her life.

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HOW DO YOU DEFINE RACIAL JUSTICE?

Interviewee 2 Response

Interviewee 2 defines racial justice as the polar opposite of what minorities are currently experiencing. “When we are not treaty equally with the majority of the people, which is basically white people,” says Interviewee 2. She also mentions that there would be no discrimination or racism if there were racial justice. Everyone would be treated equally, regardless of skin color.

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HOW HAVE YOU WORKED TO ADVANCE RACIAL JUSTICE?

Interviewee 2 Response

In 2020, Interviewee 2 took part in a number of protests in Fargo, North Dakota. When she wasn't at the protests, she used social media to let her voice be heard. Because social media is such a large platform, Interviewee 2 took advantage of it in the hopes of raising more awareness. "I was posting any posts about racial movements or just anything to make the community aware of what was going on," Interviewee 2 explains. Rather than remaining silent, she would continue to use social media in any way she could, whether on Snapchat, Instagram, Facebook, or another platform.

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WHAT CHALLENGES HAVE YOU FACED WHILE TRYING TO ADVANCE RACIAL JUSTICE?

Interviewee 2 Response

“ I think the biggest challenge is that we all want change, but it takes more than one person to do it,” Interviewee 2 states. She explains how some people only want to listen but do nothing else. People would almost pretend to care; she explains that once they leave your presence, they are no longer contributing to the cause.
Another difficulty mentioned by Interviewee 2 is that no matter what you tell some people, it will not matter or change their minds. “ There are people that have a specific mentality and are just very close-minded,” Interviewee 2 explains. Some people are closed-minded, and as a result, there is no other way to make them more self-aware of what is happening in the world. “ So we kind of feel excluded like talking to a wall,” Interviewee 2 states. 

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WHAT IMPACTS HAVE YOUR ACTIONS MADE?

Interviewee 2 Response

Interviewee 2 most significant impact is trying to reach as many people as possible about what is going on. "I think the biggest impact that it had is making people self-aware again," Interviewee 2 says. She mentions that her social media posts had an impact significantly. Interviewee 2 explains, more importantly, post on your page so your followers know what is happening around them.  She makes every effort to increase people's self-awareness. Sharing something about racial justice on social media may appear insignificant, but it can reach thousands of people. Interviewee 2 continues to use social media positively to make as many people as possible more self-aware in the hopes of working towards a change for the better.

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NO ONE DESERVES TO BE HATED, DISCRIMINATED AGAINST, PHYSICALLY ABUSED, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, NO ONE DESERVES TO DIE BECAUSE OF THEIR ETHNICITY, RELIGION OR SKIN COLOR.

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