Diary of a mad black Hopkins student

Diary of a mad black Hopkins student

By Brenton Pennicooke · The Johns Hopkins News-Letter · November 1, 2007

For the past three-plus years at this institution I've remained silent. I've dealt with racial tension that I've never before experienced. I experienced the stigma that accompanies being a minority student at a top-tier school and watched as my fellow Hopkins student said and did things that were not only offensive to me but were also a negative reflection on this University.

As undergraduates we come here for education, to be honed as the future great minds of this country. But this school forces many minority students to educate their peers, forces them to fight a battle that they should not have to fight - especially not in 2007.

With the student council passing a bill that supposedly aims to establish clearer policies to protect "all ideas, regardless of whether one agrees with them or not," I've learned that many students at Hopkins just don't get it. I'm not going to debate how strictly or loosely the First Amendment should be interpreted, but I will try to partially convey the black student's experience for all the Hopkins students who just don't see "what the big deal is."

Verbal attacks, heritage defamation, ridicule of backgrounds, stereotypes and incivility do not and will never create an academically rich environment. This is the black experience at Hopkins. Some of these acts are not intentional, but lack of intent does not make them excusable. Just like plagiarism, saying, "I didn't know," won't dismiss one's actions or their repercussions.

My Hopkins experience has been full of cultural insensitivity, ignorance and even blatant racism. I remember one time during my sophomore year waking up one morning, walking to the McCoy elevators and seeing "N----r" written in permanent marker.

That might be hard for many of you to believe. It was hard for me to believe. In fact I didn't even want to make a big ruckus out of the situation, so I just told the security guard downstairs to get a custodian to clean it off. That probably wasn't the most socially responsible action, but at the time I felt helpless. If I did bring it to the administration, what could they do? Would they even take it seriously? Would the campus see me as a rabble rouser?

I also remember one of my non-black acquaintances saying to me, "Brenton, I feel like you are going to rob me every time you and your seven black friends walk into Wolman [cafeteria]." Part of me thought maybe he was joking, but he didn't say it with a chuckle. And let's say he was joking: It is still an ignorant statement that is neither humorous nor excusable. What makes him think it's acceptable to say such a comment? Such a defamatory comment is hardly conducive to building an inclusive environment.

During my junior year, I recall being told, "Brenton, you're not really black; everybody knows that real black people don't go to Hopkins ... Morgan State and Coppin maybe, but Hopkins? No." This is a ridiculously offensive statement. I remember yelling at the person, telling him that such comments were not acceptable. His reply, "C'mon man, it's just a joke. Do you honestly think I believe that?" Actually, I don't think you believe it. I know you believe it. This pseudo, under-the-radar, equivocal racism is what characterizes many (but not all) black students' experiences at Hopkins.

So I'll pose this question. If this objectionable environment exists before a decree of free speech without ramifications, what would Hopkins be like if that StuCo bill is passed? Will it become a Mecca of open thought and debate? Or a campus of further racial tension, ignorance and exclusivity?

Regardless of what the future holds for Homewood, we are all at fault for the present. Shame on us for allowing stereotyping and ignorance to infest our campus. Shame on us for thinking it's acceptable to make any Hopkins student feel unwelcome and disrespected. Shame on us for not fighting for a civil, culturally integrated campus. And shame on us for using the First Amendment to defend such inhumanity and indecency.

Before you decide to disagree and snub my opinion, understand what you're rejecting. You are rejecting an environment where students, regardless of their ethnicity, socioeconomic status or religion, can study freely without feeling uncomfortable. You're rejecting the true preface of the First Amendment - the promotion of independent thought, freedom of religion and expression of dissent towards one's government, not the promotion of ignorance and opprobrious comments. Lastly you are rejecting the idea that every student deserves a college experience that is filled with positive memories, not with recollections of intolerance.