Posted by admin on Nov 23, 2009 in
Uncategorized In a western society, on a college campus, one can easily stand out by wearing traditional clothing. Muslim burqas, Jewish headwear, and African traditional attire can surely attract a double-take in certain settings. They make powerful statements and carry a sense of pride for the wearer’s culture. Many people also love to see traditional outfits because they provide a glimpse of the beauty spread across our world. However, there are situations in which wearing traditional clothing may not always benefit the wearer. Often, people discriminate against those who wear traditional clothing, regardless of the culture.
The U.S. Equal Employment Commission describes this type of discrimination as: “Harassing or otherwise discriminating because of physical, cultural, or linguistic characteristics, such as accent or dress associated with a particular religion, ethnicity, or country of origin.” Many times people label those who wear traditional clothing and harass or discriminate against them. These actions are wrong, and in most cases illegal. If you are ever discriminated against, especially in the workplace, please contact your local agency to have them pursue proper legal course of action.
As with all things, wearing traditional clothing in a public setting has a two-sided effect. It demonstrates pride for your culture, and allows you to more strongly represent your roots. On the other side, it can encourage discrimination and unpleasant behavior. Ultimately, the choice is yours to make. Do the drawbacks outweigh the advantages for your current situation? Does it really matter to you? The issue of clothing is trivial at best, and if there are any problems between you and others, take time to ponder the situation. You will most likely find that the issue lies not with the dress, but with the culture it represents.
Tags: african fashion, african fashion on campus, issue of clothin on campus, tradition clothing discrimination
Posted by admin on Nov 16, 2009 in
Uncategorized In the documentary “Bronx Princess,” a young college student, Rockyatu Otoo, narrates the story of her transition from high school to college. In a video on the documentary’s website (www.bronxprincess.com), Otoo admits to her surprise of going to school and meeting very few people who looked like her. Unfortunately, many African students tend to have a similar experience and share the same difficulties as Otoo.
Being one of few Africans in any given setting can be quite intimidating. In a sense, whenever one or few persons form a minority before a majority, they play a role of representing their group, whether or not they desire to. In the famous article “White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack,” Peggy McIntosh succinctly corroborates this when she says: “I am never asked to speak for all the people of my racial group.” In essence, this intimidation and representation of one’s own race is only experienced by the minority.
The achievement gap found between blacks and whites, especially in the United States, tends to exacerbate the situation. According to a feature by Inside Higher Ed (Click here for article), “Barely two in five Black and Hispanic freshmen earn their bachelor’s degree six years after enrolling in college compared to 60 percent of whites.” This achievement gap often causes others to place a low estimate on black students, which adds to the complexity of college.
In the documentary “Bronx Princess,” Otoo grew accustomed to the new environment by junior year through her involvement in various organizations, which helped to build a considerable network of people. This did not only consist of those with whom she shared the same background, but also others of a different heritage who could relate to her experience and shared common interests.
Are you or someone you know feeling intimidated in college or any other unfamiliar setting? Remember that it helps to reach out to others. Our differences are mostly superficial and deep inside we are all the same created in God’s image. What is your experience?
Tags: african students, black and white achievement gap, bronx princess, peggy mcintosh, rockyatu otoo
Posted by admin on Nov 11, 2009 in
Uncategorized Our current age has shown much growth in the realm of equality, but one of the unfortunate exceptions is the existence of the “glass ceiling.” This invisible but powerful obstacle is one of the most persistent monuments to the former days of sexism and misogyny. If you are unfamiliar with the term, it is defined by the Business Dictionary as “Invisible but real barrier through which the next stage or level of advancement can be seen, but cannot be reached by a section of qualified and deserving employees.” When this term is used, it most often refers to a denial of upward progress due to gender. According to the United States Federal Glass Ceiling Commission, 95% to 97% of the senior managers at Fortune 100 companies are white males, even though 57% of the workforce is female, ethnic minorities, or both. The disparity is very apparent in the corporate world, but does this same gap exist on our college campuses?
In an article in the Chronicle of Higher Education (click here), Robert Drago examines the existence of the academic “glass ceiling.” In this piece, he refers to a 2005 incident at Harvard University, where the institution’s president stated that “relatively few young women were prepared to make the ‘near total commitments to their work’ required of successful academics.” And that “men may hold a biological advantage in the pursuit of science and engineering careers.” The fact that a president of one of the world’s leading universities can say that is strong evidence in favor of a “glass ceiling” even in higher education. This is also proven by the fact that the vast majority of female professors are given contingent positions, which provide less pay, fewer benefits, and less job security. This means that more men are given prestigious tenure positions, giving them an advantage to obtain leadership positions such as presidencies. In the world of higher education, it is still very much a “man’s world.”
These facts are very sobering, but there is a silver lining. The first step to solving a problem is to realize it. Therefore, if we work our hardest, and continue to demonstrate skill, it is my belief that the ‘glass ceiling’ will be shattered both in the corporate world and on campus. The power of education and discipline will surely overpower all discrimination and unfairness.
Tags: academic glass ceiling, class ceiling, glass ceiling in college, robert drago
Posted by admin on Nov 2, 2009 in
Uncategorized Young adulthood, in my opinion, is the best time of anyone’s life. That great feeling of independence, a new life of your own and all of the energy and prime of youth at your disposal makes it exciting! This period, however, is often darkened by persistent pressure from parents, relatives and others to get married, advance in school or establish a profession. The pressure, usually in the form of the statements: “You really need to settle down,” or “Now that you’re almost done with college, what are you going to do next?” tend to heavily weigh down on recipients emotionally.
It is overwhelming when expectations of others are placed upon your shoulders. Many of us seek to please our parents, often to repay them for their sacrifice, and in other cases, out of fear. The desire to please one’s parents is not wrong in itself. In fact it is biblical as Exodus 20:12 states: “Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you” (NIV). But seeking to please your parents should not be at the expense of fulfilling your purpose.
The bottom line is that each person has a calling to fulfill. We will never have true happiness until we carry out that calling, regardless of our income. God has a timeline for each person, and no two people have the same destiny for their lives. When we live our lives to fulfill our purpose, and not our parents’, we reach a place of peace and find great happiness in our lives.
Tags: challenges in young adulthood, fulfill your purpose, fulfilling your purpose, young adulthood