RACISM + EDUCATION
Racism Is All In Your Head
The gaslighting I endured threw me off my game
Gaslighting refers to the “subtle psychological abuse,” that often occurs in romantic relationships. However, gaslighting is not exclusive to intimate partnerships. White people often use this tactic to convince Black people that the racism they experience is not really happening. They rather the Black person think they are going “crazy,” rather than admit the harm caused and take some responsibility.
My recent experiences with this dynamic made me wonder how many Black students and students of color receive this treatment and how this gaslighting impacts students’ ability to explore topics they find meaningful. I’m not sure how many, but I know I am not alone in feeling this way.
My professor did some mental jujitsu on me early this summer. First, he asked what bias was, pretending not to know the term. Then, he insisted racial bias could be a “figment of somone’s imagination.” Furthermore, my professor claimed that researchers who studied discrimination and bias used an “artful attempt to explain human behavior.” Calling someone’s scientific interests akin to art is insulting. Furthermore, it implies that those seeking to study racial bias don’t care about facts, as if their hard work is just for mise en place.
