HIAD 7444 Debate

Learning in the Shadow of Race and Class

Debated by: Brittney Jackson and Katie Cochran
Pro:
The story Learning in the Shadow of Race and Class by Bell Hooks tells the story of a
young, black, rural, first generation lower class female as she is experiencing college at a young
age at a predominately white institution. She feels no sense of safety as her room is trashed by
other students, she feels no inclusion as she is repeatedly unincluded, and she is repeatedly
reminded that she is not like the others in her classes or residence hall. There are many stories
like this, not only from Bell Hooks generation, but also from the current day. Instances like these
happen at colleges and universities all around us, and that is why I strongly believe that all higher
education institutions should offer multicultural assistance to all lower income minority students.
I believe that actions such as affirmative action and equal opportunity, local initiatives such as
the Tennessee Promise, Living learning residence complexes, and the assurance the universities
and college are in place NOT to create more barriers, but instead they are in place in order to
break down the racial and class barriers through research and the desire to live in a society of
harmony.
It was Sonya Sotomayor who claimed that she was the perfect affirmative action baby
and out of her case, we now have a Supreme Court justice (DeVogue, 2014) Affirmative action
ensures that all students understand diversity and that diverse situations dont halt education
experiences. After all, after years of oppression, why shouldnt doors be opened for minorities?
When diversity is obtained on a college campus and students understand the diversity around
them that is when true learning and growth will occur. It is vital that all universities provide
opportunities for diverse settings if we are to learn and correct the mistakes that were once made.
Research completed at California State University, Sacramento found that if affirmative action
were removed from higher education institutions, minority representations will be decreased by
10 percent at four-year institutions (Howell).
It is also vital that while we implement affirmative action policies to introduce diverse
students into university settings that we also allow them equal opportunities once in the
university. This includes open access to all programs and events, programs and events that cater
to all cultural backgrounds, and last but not least: that at each of these programs and in every
classroom and every faculty office, that ALL students feel a safe, inclusive, and student-oriented
campus. Equal opportunity isnt just a quote that was thought of to make society feel good, but
its a pattern of learning and how to live that introduces equal opportunity to all portions of
society, and what better place to start than the highest level of learning institutions? After all, if
there is no equal opportunity at our universities and colleges, then where will it be?
My final point is focusing on efforts of colleges and universities that have been made in
order to introduce inclusive atmospheres is the use of living learning complexes and
multicultural affairs offices. Universities putting their money and efforts into portions of their
campus that increase diverse productivity are small steps to creating a positive bigger picture. As
universities embrace policies such as affirmative action, equal opportunity, and offices
designated to increasing diverse atmosphere, we will only then begin to create a society of
inclusion that includes peace and harmony among all cultures. Research has maintained the
positive outlook on living and learning communities, as research led by Zhao and Kuh,
researchers of higher education communities, have found that participating in a learning
community is positively linked to engagement as well as student self-reported outcomes and
overall satisfaction with college (Zhao & Kuh).

Id like to close with a moment to consider a point I made in the beginning of this
argument. If Sonya Sotomayor had been counted off as just another Puerto Rican living in the
South Bronx that would turn into a gangster, where would our country be? We wouldnt have a
supreme court justice, someone that fights for the rights of all people, and someone that truly
used her societal aids to improve herself and the community around us. I implore you all to
consider the positive effects that have come from affirmative action and to understand that
without these policies, our country wouldnt be in the place that it is now, and race relations
would be much worse off. It is time to not have one portion of society that is dominant to the
other, but instead its time to have a society of equality. I urge all universities and university
staffs to work towards having an open door policy, and then and only then will minds continue to
be opened.
Con:
Consider this quote written by author Dinesh DSouza in his book titled Illiberal
Education:
Each fall some 13 million students, 2.5 million of them minorities, enroll in American
colleges. Most of these students are living away from home for the first time. Yet their
apprehension is mixed with excitement and anticipation. At the university, they hope to
shape themselves as whole human beings, both intellectually and morally. Brimming with
idealism, they wish to prepare themselves for full and independent lives in the workplace,
at home, and as citizens who are shared rulers of the democratic society. In short, what
they seek is a liberal education. (p. 229)
But by the time these studentswhite and students of colorgraduate, are they truly
receiving the all-around development that is necessary to be successful in todays environments?
In the story Learning in the Shadow of Race and Class written by Bell Hooks, readers
witness the negative effects of affirmative action, the lack of institutions wanting to instill
intellectual diversitydiversity that seeks to enrich academic discourse, widen perspective, and
seek to engage students on their inquiry, as well as, race and class that is continuing to create
segregation among students. So, I pose the question that asks how far have weve really come
from Brown vs. Board of Education (1954, 1955)?
If American universities, particularly predominately white institutions, continue to foster
programs and initiatives for minority/lower income students, we will notice that these
opportunities are in fact keeping the racial and social economical barrier alive. We will begin
to notice that the progress made before our times still has a ways to go.
Issues such as affirmative action have been allowing reverse racism to exist. In cases such
as the admissions policy at the University California Berkley, one can clearly see how students
are being affected by this action by examining the situation of Yat-Pang Au who was highly
qualified to attend the university, but was rejected due to being insufficiently prepared for an
Asian. Berkley along with other college universities are not accidentally rejecting these
qualified students. However, they are intentionally treating applicants differently solely based off
their ethnic group.

HIAD 7444 Debate

Diversity is another issue that is falsely addressed on campuses. Universities do not

view diversity as ways that will engage and enhance others to learn more about another culture
or class, instead, they view diversity in numbers. Since this is the case, what is truly the benefit
of fostering a diverse campus? Just because students of color are admitted into universities does
not mean there is a diversity of opinion or perspective.
Lastly, race and class are continuing to create segregation among students and minority
programs are a way to keep the campus environment separate and unequal. Programs as such are
just another reminder that they are underrepresented and unequal to the dominate population.
Programs such as the TriO program and student success programs for lower income students are
just labels to keep them stamped by their peers. Such programs should be offered to everyone
and not exclude a portion of the campus community if a university is truly trying to foster an
inclusive environment for all students.
In conclusion, college is intended to be an inclusive environment open for ALL students
to intermingle within their community. I believe that ALL people are equal under the laws of the
United States of America and should be treated accordingly. Thus if universities continue this
trend, institutions will continue to prepare inadequate citizens to survive the diverse society that
we live in today.
Common Ground:
The beauty of disagreement is that it is safe to agree to disagree. In regard to the Bell
Hooks story, Learning in the Shadow of Race and Class, it is possible that if the
university she attended properly prepared its faculty with diversity training and equipped them
with a curriculum that provided opportunities for students to engage in meaningful discussions,
Bell would have had the opportunity to foster a different college experience.
Researchers Zeller and Mosier (1993) shed light on what is referred to as the W-Curve.
This curve maps out the process in which a first- year college student may experience. The
phases are as followed: (1) Honeymoon (2) Cultural Shock (3) Initial Adjustment (4) Mental
Isolation (5) Acceptance and Integration. If Bell would have been awarded an education where
she would be able to properly transition into her new environment, as well as have the
opportunity to experience the traditional student development as an incoming freshman, Bell
would have not been suffering behind the walls of race and class.
If we are to develop our learners and give them a world class education, it is imperative
that we allow those learners to, upon entrance of the university, be given not only time, but also
opportunity to immerse themselves in cultures opposite theirs. This is when learning begins and
consumes the environment of the campus. But as we have mentioned and implied, it is
imperative that we allow our students to fully complete each phase, ranging from the honeymoon
stage to the acceptance and integration stage. If we allow our students to participate in each level
according to their personal comfort level and we aid their growth as they perform each level,
then we believe that positive, strong change can occur on the microlevel and continue to increase
into other aspects of our lives and the rest of society.

As Sonia Sotomayor states in her book My Beloved World, policies created to aid the
integration of universities across the country are not intended to segregate or create scenarios of
racism; but instead they are here to aid the race that many were unaware was even being run.
As student affairs professionals, we agree that we must understand that all students will have
different backgrounds and come from opposite cultures, but when we implement open door
policies and we allow that attitude to spread into departments, classrooms, and programs, then
cases that Bell Hooks discusses will no longer be prone to happening. It is important that as
student affairs professionals, we dont FORCE students to engage in activities and we instead
give them the alley to explore all options and that in those options, they find themselves... and
other cultures around them; with open eyes and opened minds.

Zhao,C.,&Kuh,G.(n.d.).AddingValue:LearningCommunitiesandStudent
Engagement.ResearchinHigherEducation,137.RetrievedApril2,2015,from
http://www.nsse.indiana.edu/pdf/research_papers/Zhao_Kuh_Learning_Communit
ies.pdf
Howell,J.(n.d.).AssessingtheImpactofEliminatingAffirmativeActionin
HigherEducation.RetrievedApril1,2015,from
http://www.csus.edu/indiv/h/howellj/papers/Howell_JOLE_identifyinginfo.pdf
DeVogue,A.(2014,April22).JusticeSoniaSotomayor:AffirmativeAction
'OpenedDoorsinMyLife'April22,2014.RetrievedApril1,2015,from
http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2014/04/justicesoniasotomayoraffirmative
actionopeneddoorsinmylife/