Isolation and Diminishment
Whether it’s due to overt racial bias or ignorance, students of color often experience feeling isolated, diminished, unseen. The isolation can lead to poor performance in schools, depression, and increased ignorance or even animosity among students.
“In February of 2020, the Model UN flew to DC for a conference. Out of 17 students, there were only 3 people of color — I was the only woman. It was a big deal for me, my family is undocumented. At the conference, I stood on the sidelines, thinking I didn’t have anyone to talk to. I felt a little uncomfortable, speaking Spanish on the phone with my mom. I’d look around and everyone would be looking at me differently. When I got back home, it was a good experience, but I was talking to my mom about feeling left out as the only Latina. Most other Latinx students don’t want to participate in MUN because it’s predominantly white. When I talk to my other classmates, they say they don’t want to overstep and so they stay away.”
“I didn’t grow up seeing a lot of people who look like me... it wasn’t until I was older that I realized what racism was, what microaggressions are. It was just so normalized. There’s also a culture of self-deprecation... trying to fit in, you kind of make fun of yourself... it’s not okay.”
“Any time we’re in a topic of slavery, I just already know people are... not even looking at me, but I just feel the presence because I’m usually the only Black guy in the classroom. And so any time we’re going through slavery or any books like Huckleberry Finn, that book, oh my goodness, it’s so uncomfortable. ”
“Self-segregation is a real thing. We do it to protect our culture, a sense of safety, people won’t be judging us. I was really glad when I got to my freshman year, it was a fresh start and I didn’t have to be known as the english language learner. I felt encouraged to join clubs and sports. I see self-segregation at my school, mostly Spanish speakers, and I try to reach out and make those people feel welcome and comfortable.”
“I have faced certain things with students, like, people pulling the corner of their eyes to be Asian or asking, “You’re Asian so do you eat dogs?” Or, “You’re Asian, you’re smart, can you help me with my homework?” ... These were my friends... these were, like, good kids. But, everyone was doing it. So, whenever I feel uncomfortable, I just feel like, maybe I’m just too sensitive so I just started playing along with it and eventually I just started tuning that stuff out and letting it slip, which is a shame...the teachers don’t notice [some of the insults] because a lot of it is playground talk, you know, the teachers can’t be there for everything. And, you’re not going to go to the teachers, or at least I didn’t, because you don’t want to be that one kid that he gets super offended at a joke that some kid says on the slide... you want to be cool.”