A couple of weeks ago, two students from Ryerson University’s Journalism program were barred from attending an event organized by the ‘Racialized Students’ Collective’ because they are white. You can read the initial report here.
There was debate back and forth about the move, but one response in particular, caught my eye.
A Huffington Post article titled, ‘Ethnic Minorities Deserve Safe Spaces Without White People’.
I couldn’t help but be taken aback by the title. Were my eyes deceiving me? Was I really reading someone blatantly argue for segregation by race?
The author, Aeman Ansari, argues that ethnic minorities have a right to claim public spaces to “share stories about discrimination without judgement and intrusion,” that is, judgement and intrusion by white people. She goes on that many students at Ryerson have experienced racism and that these spaces act as a forum where the ethnic students are protected from stereotypes and marginalization. Furthermore, she states that this is crucial in order to resist oppression.
What oppression might that be? Do you mean like being prevented from attending public spaces due to your race?
The two white journalism students that were asked to leave said they felt embarrassed by the situation, calling it, counterproductive. Ansari then blames individuals upset with this policy as “proof that they were right to exclude those students.” The piece also says that the organizers and attendees were there to “help each other get through social barriers and injustices.” However, I’m at a loss to pinpoint what those barriers might be. It appears they were able to put on their event and even discriminate against an entire race of people without too much fanfare.
Ansari goes on to say that “The presence of any kind of privilege puts unnecessary pressure on the people of colour to defend any anger or frustrations they have, to fear the outcome of sharing their stories. The attendees are trying to move forward by supporting each other and they should not have to defend themselves, they should not fear the consequences of raising their voices.”
http://www.jewsnews.co.il/2015/05/31/minorities-now-want-safe-spaces-no-whites-allowed/
There was debate back and forth about the move, but one response in particular, caught my eye.
A Huffington Post article titled, ‘Ethnic Minorities Deserve Safe Spaces Without White People’.
I couldn’t help but be taken aback by the title. Were my eyes deceiving me? Was I really reading someone blatantly argue for segregation by race?
The author, Aeman Ansari, argues that ethnic minorities have a right to claim public spaces to “share stories about discrimination without judgement and intrusion,” that is, judgement and intrusion by white people. She goes on that many students at Ryerson have experienced racism and that these spaces act as a forum where the ethnic students are protected from stereotypes and marginalization. Furthermore, she states that this is crucial in order to resist oppression.
What oppression might that be? Do you mean like being prevented from attending public spaces due to your race?
The two white journalism students that were asked to leave said they felt embarrassed by the situation, calling it, counterproductive. Ansari then blames individuals upset with this policy as “proof that they were right to exclude those students.” The piece also says that the organizers and attendees were there to “help each other get through social barriers and injustices.” However, I’m at a loss to pinpoint what those barriers might be. It appears they were able to put on their event and even discriminate against an entire race of people without too much fanfare.
Ansari goes on to say that “The presence of any kind of privilege puts unnecessary pressure on the people of colour to defend any anger or frustrations they have, to fear the outcome of sharing their stories. The attendees are trying to move forward by supporting each other and they should not have to defend themselves, they should not fear the consequences of raising their voices.”
http://www.jewsnews.co.il/2015/05/31/minorities-now-want-safe-spaces-no-whites-allowed/
Again for all with a melanin deficit. Look at the Forbes 400 in the US and say that with a straight face.