Privilege and Prejudice

Jackson (left) and Fishburne. Photo courtesy US Weekly.

"I look to a day when people will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character." -Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

             Earlier last week, media exploded with a video interview of Samuel L. Jackson correcting KLTA entertainment reporter Sam Rubin, who is white, for confusing Jackson for Laurence Fishburne, another prominent black actor.
             And frankly, Rubin deserved the chewing out he received because this is just another case of white privilege and prejudice.
             First, let me define the two terms. White privilege refers to the set of societal privileges that white people benefit from beyond those commonly experienced by people of color in the same societal circles. This includes unconscious or unintentional advantages that white people may not recognize they have. Prejudice is simply a preconceived notion by someone without sufficient knowledge of the subject.
             For example, because white culture is the dominant or preferred culture, white people are not bombarded with one set of images or forced to learn about others’ cultures and can oftentimes go their whole lives without different cultural contact. That is an unconscious and sometimes unintentional privilege.  Without that contact you build a set of preconceived notions and there you have it, prejudice.

             Three weeks into the spring semester and on multiple occasions, I have already witnessed or be a victim to the same exact scenario of white privilege.
             A couple weeks ago I was sitting in the journalism school waiting for my next meeting when images of Cedric the Entertainer, who is a well-known comedian in the black community, popped up on the TV screen.
             In a room full of white students, with the exception of me and one other, a white student mistakes Cedric the Entertainer for Bernie Mac, who is another well-know comedian in the black community. When I corrected her, she responded by saying that the two comedians look alike and that is why she was confused.
             To me, that’s like confusing Katy Perry and Britney Spears. They are two different people, with similar career paths.
             But does that student ever confuse those two people?
             Not to mention, Bernie Mac is deceased and Cedric the Entertainer is alive and well.
             When I called the student out on her mistake, she became defensive and that is when the other white students decided to defend the first student and agree that the two men look alike. One student even went as far as to say that all black people look alike.
             Or, there was the time when I had a meeting with a different white student, and I mentioned a friend who wears a turban. She asked me if my friend was the same person as another student who wears a turban.
             The other student has glasses and a beard whereas my friend does not.
             I said no they are not the same person, but she insisted that they look alike.
            Or how about this one, what else could it be other than white privilege and prejudice when some of my own white professors still confuse me for other black students and will repeatedly look me in the eyes and call me by another name.
             What these scenarios show me is that people look at me and only see color. I am not ashamed of my black skin so yes please embrace it, but I will not be devalued or lumped into a group.
             So this is what I have to say to those mistaken students and professors:
See us, not our color.

SMU helps prepare KIPP students for college

SMU student leaders for the KIPP progam. Photo courtesy Joe Carreón.

Every summer, SMU students volunteer their time to help prepare rising junior and senior high school students in the KIPP program prepare for college success. KIPP students participate in a five-week program where they live on the SMU campus, take two college-level courses with university faculty, earn college credit and live the life of a college kid. In addition, students experience volunteerism with community service projects on weekends.  By the end of the program, KIPP students are expected to know what it takes for a successful transition into college life.

Joe Carreón, who is the coordinator for student success in the office of the provost, said KIPP at SMU began in the summer of 2013.

“In 2013, SMU invited eight students to be KIPP at SMU participants. We hope to increase that number slightly. [This] summer, SMU will welcome its second KIPP at SMU cohort. SMU partnered with KIPP because both entities wanted to do more in addressing the college persistence challenges facing low-income families and first-generation college students,” Carreón said. 

The SMU admission team is currently reviewing applications and in March, KIPP at SMU should know if any of the seniors who participated in the program last summer are admitted. In May, Carreón said he will know which former participants are attending SMU.

KIPP, the Knowledge Is Power Program, is a national network of free, open-enrollment, college-preparatory public charter schools that prepares students in underserved communities for success in college and in life. There are currently 141 KIPP schools in 20 states and the District of Columbia serving 50,000 students. More than 86 percent of KIPP’s students are from low-income families and eligible for the federal free or reduced-price meals program, and 95 percent are African American or Latino. Nationally, more than 90 percent of KIPP middle school students have graduated high school and more than 80 percent of KIPP alumni have gone on to college.

Two SMU students are hired to serve as program directors and provide supervision and programming throughout the students’ stay. Incentives include; a $1,200 stipend, a single room in a residence hall and up to three credit hours of tuition for summer I or summer II. This year, the program runs from July 5 to August 5. Applications are due Feb. 20, 2014. Contact Joe Carreón for more information.