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Fearless Friday: Laila Mufty, Laila M. Mufty
Fearless Friday: Laila Mufty, Laila M. Mufty
SURGE
In today’s Fearless Friday, Surge would like to honor the work of Laila Mufty ‘18. Laila is a sophomore from the Bay Area in California and is majoring in Environmental Studies. Currently, she is one of the CPS Program Coordinators with Big Brothers Big Sisters and is the Immersion Project Leader for the New Orleans trip in May focused on the rebuilding of the Gulf Coast. In addition to her work with CPS, Laila participates in multiple cultural organizations on campus and has volunteered with El Centro, Painted Turtle Farm and Casa de la Cultura. Laila has also written and …
Fearless Friday: Jeffrey White, Jeffrey M. White
Fearless Friday: Jeffrey White, Jeffrey M. White
SURGE
In today’s edition of Fearless Friday, Surge is thrilled to honor the work of the incomparable Jeffrey White ’17. Jeffrey is a junior from Baltimore, Maryland, who is majoring in Religious Studies and minoring in Music. As an incredibly active member of the campus community, he is involved in leadership roles in many facets of campus life. He works as a Resident Assistant (RA), serves as the Program Organizer for the Office of Intercultural Advancement, the Live Music Chair of the Campus Activities Board (CAB), and devotes time to being a Peer Learning Assistant for Anthropology 103 as well. [ …
On White Guilt., Emma R. Okell
On White Guilt., Emma R. Okell
SURGE
I didn’t always realize what white guilt was, only that it existed. It’s not as cut-and-dry as it seems. It actually took me years to understand it, which is why I was not surprised when at the Town Hall Meeting back in January, one person asked a question about how to be an ally. Specifically, I found myself reflecting on her concerns regarding “white guilt” (44:01 – 45:25). I wanted to respond, but from the audience it felt out of place, and as it is, my response took two months of putting my thoughts together. [excerpt]
Whose Story? His-Story., Meghan E. O'Donnell
Whose Story? His-Story., Meghan E. O'Donnell
SURGE
The essay instructions finally landed in front of me. I passed the extra sheets on and quickly glanced over the page, hoping that the prompt would be inspiring. There were two open-ended options from which to choose: military and social/political aspects of the war. My eyes first fell upon the social option and I pondered using this opportunity to shed light on the experiences of women during the war. I’d done this before – used assignments to explore history’s untold stories – and found it interesting. Then, in a fit of frustration that erupted out of nowhere, I thought to …
Bandidos Mexicano, Diego A. Rocha
Bandidos Mexicano, Diego A. Rocha
SURGE
Twin day sounded like an innocent enough theme for Homecoming spirit week at a high school. It was just people wearing matching clothes, taking some pictures, and laughing a bit.
But that day, six girls walked to class in bright ponchos, giant sombreros, and stick-on mustaches, wielding fake green cards to boot. They were followed by a seventh with “Border Patrol” scrawled in black marker on a sign taped to her back. [excerpt]
Beyond Beyoncé’S Halftime Show, Rebecca S. Duffy
Beyond Beyoncé’S Halftime Show, Rebecca S. Duffy
SURGE
In the weeks following the Super Bowl there has been quite an uproar regarding the halftime show featuring Beyoncé, Coldplay and Bruno Mars. All over Twitter, Facebook, blogs, news outlets, and in political commentary we were faced with the argument, “It’s wrong that Beyoncé used the Super Bowl to advance her own political agenda.” But to all those angry/hurt/confused about Beyoncé and her “right” to interrupt the Super Bowl with commentary on race relations, consider this: Is football, or any form of entertainment for that matter really independent of political, economic and racial issues? Is the NFL immune to the …
Q&A: The N-Word, Anonymous
Q&A: The N-Word, Anonymous
SURGE
Question: What is the best way to approach someone who uses blatantly disrespectful language such as the n word and argues that if it is said in the presence of only white people it is not offensive? [excerpt]
A Meal For The Man On The Redline, Stephen Lin
A Meal For The Man On The Redline, Stephen Lin
SURGE
These words will bite,
Acid bubbling
At the pit of your bowels
Vowels volatile won’t
Be easy to swallow. [excerpt]
When You Can't Quite Place Me, Ali Lauro
When You Can't Quite Place Me, Ali Lauro
SURGE
I’m relatively used to being asked the question “what are you?”
It’s a strange question because it can mean so many different things. I’m a human? I identify as a female. I’m a college student. I’m an American. But I never say those things, because what they’re really asking is this: what race are you? [excerpt]
Respiration: Breathing Between The Stacks, Jerome D. Clarke
Respiration: Breathing Between The Stacks, Jerome D. Clarke
SURGE
How rare are we, who brandish Black and Male identity, in Academia?
In the past two weeks, I have been reminded of my Black maleness in a multitude of ways. I sat alone, subordinate in number, in a dialogue about Internalized Oppression at Diaspora House. Strong women of color discuss this issue while I work to stay respectful and non-oppressive in this space. I sat alone, subordinate in number, in each of my classes, where I am often the only one of my race and class. My race-gender circumstance is a matter of fact to me. How does this Black …
Wanted More From Moore, Rashida Aluko-Roberts
Wanted More From Moore, Rashida Aluko-Roberts
SURGE
I was very excited when I first picked up Wes Moore’s book The Other Wes Moore. After hearing that it was chosen as the common reading text for the incoming class, and also being given the opportunity to co-facilitate a discussion based on the book, I was even more excited.
However, as I read the book, I found myself more frustrated than fulfilled. [excerpt]
Why Is That Even A Question?, Naima Scott
Why Is That Even A Question?, Naima Scott
SURGE
“Are you the only white Africana Studies Major?” I overheard another student ask a friend.
I reacted. “Why is that even a question?”
Overheard At Gettysburg, Rashida Aluko-Roberts, Zakiya A. Brown, Monae S. Evans
Overheard At Gettysburg, Rashida Aluko-Roberts, Zakiya A. Brown, Monae S. Evans
SURGE
Monday. In Old TKE. A student of color is called in the hallway to hear the “funniest thing ever.” (giggling) “Night night little nigglet.”
Tuesday. In an AFS class. “I’m pretty sure the majority of black students in my private school were there because of sports.”
Wednesday. In Musselman. Woman: “I can’t believe Trayvon Martin got shot because someone thought skittles was a weapon.” Man: “To be honest, he did look suspicious because he was black.” [excerpt]
Red Drops For A Rainbow, Zakiya A. Brown
Red Drops For A Rainbow, Zakiya A. Brown
SURGE
Splashes of pool water licked my ankles, scenting my coffee-colored toes with chlorine. Bareback guardians, robed in red, hovered high as flocks of fleshy tangible innocence skipped jubilantly across the pool deck and disappeared into a wet square pocket of sapphire. [excerpt of poem]
The Shortcomings Of A "Diverse" College Campus, Chelsea E. Broe
The Shortcomings Of A "Diverse" College Campus, Chelsea E. Broe
SURGE
“What is the diversity like at Gettysburg College?” As a tour guide, I get asked this question a lot. It’s a tricky question to answer: On one hand, I know that this is probably the family’s way of inquiring about race on campus without having to use such a taboo word, but on the other, my Diversity Peer Educator training chimes in and I want to challenge my questioner’s assumptions about what diversity even means. [excerpt]
Brooks Better Not Come Back, Helena E. Yang
Brooks Better Not Come Back, Helena E. Yang
SURGE
Every time a new season of the Bachelorette starts, I tell myself that I won’t watch this season—that I won’t give in to the trashiness and the petty drama which is the Bachelor. But I can’t help it. Season after season I’m hooked and 17 seasons later… here I am. [excerpt]
What Kind Of Asian Are You?, Uyen T. Le
What Kind Of Asian Are You?, Uyen T. Le
SURGE
You don’t know anything about me. You’ve never been to my country; you don’t know my native language; you may not even be able to locate Vietnam on a map.
And that’s ok. What matters isn’t that you already know about my country and my culture. What matters is your attitude toward learning about it. [excerpt]
Owning Up To The Age Old Excuse, Emily G. Hauck
Owning Up To The Age Old Excuse, Emily G. Hauck
SURGE
A few days ago, I was having a conversation with an older gentleman. He was friendly and very interested in my studies, but every now and then he would interject some racist slur or joke. He insistently referred to undocumented individuals as illegals because, according to him, “that’s exactly what they are.” He also made a few comments about Aryan dominance yet claimed that he wasn’t racist because he discriminates against all non-Aryans equally. The man clearly expected me to laugh along with him, especially with those last remarks, as if it were completely normal to utter them in an …
Until The Cops Come Knocking, Mauricio E. Novoa
Until The Cops Come Knocking, Mauricio E. Novoa
SURGE
“Fuck the police coming straight from the underground/ A young nigga got it bad ‘cause I’m brown/ And not the other color so police think/ They have the authority to kill a minority” – Ice Cube, “Fuck Tha Police”
At some point in our lives, we have all walked down a street for some minute errand, and a few of those times we may have crossed paths with men in uniform patrolling the streets. Some who cross them may not think anything of it, but for others, they feel their eyes follow every step they take and distaste is exchanged …
Fearless: Mauricio Novoa, Mauricio E. Novoa
Fearless: Mauricio Novoa, Mauricio E. Novoa
SURGE
This week, we acknowledge Mauricio Novoa ‘14 as a fearless advocate of social justice through his use of the power of words.
Mauricio, an English major with a writing concentration, keeps a personal blog called Greasy Frijoles where he has been posting original poems since January 2012. Aside from being a very talented writer, Mauricio writes in various styles and on a number of topics. Many of his pieces confront racism and classism head on. [excerpt]
The Race For Honors, Hannah M. Frantz
The Race For Honors, Hannah M. Frantz
SURGE
Over graduation weekend, it was pretty common to see people weighed down by massive numbers of honor cords hanging around their necks. This is a mark of respect at Gettysburg College, so students wear them proudly. I had the privilege to attend Spring Honors Day and watch many of my friends receive achievement awards. As we started winding down to the end of the ceremony, something hit me:
The recipients were overwhelmingly white. [excerpt]