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RACISM
White Students Commit Hate Crimes. They Should Learn About Racism
Blocking discussions about racism fans the flames of prejudice
Imagine you are responsible for extinguishing a fire but cannot use water. And you will begin to see the irony of White students committing hate crimes in a society that often prevents them from learning about racism. Just as water is the most reliable resource one could use when homes and businesses are set ablaze, education is the best remedy to dampen the blaze of racial prejudice. Caroline M. Bailey, assistant professor and O’Neill Honors Program Director, suggested racism and discrimination within the chattel slavery system have manifested into modern-day anti-Black hate crimes. Despite this historical connection, anti-critical race theory laws that prohibit or limit lessons about race and racism overlook an effective strategy to douse the flames.
This month, a White student at Gettysburg College carved the n-word onto the chest of a Black student at a swim team gathering. He was the only racial minority present and, consequently, targeted because of his race. The Gettysburgian, a student-run paper that first broke the story, revealed that both students were initially removed from the team pending an investigation. Since then, the alleged assailant withdrew from their classes. In a statement, the victim’s parents, who characterized the incident as a hate crime, noted, “Our son did not choose to have a hateful racial slur scrawled across his chest, but he has chosen not to return the hate. He did not choose the color of his skin tone, but has chosen to embrace the strength and diversity it represents.” Sadly, this story is all too common in America.
Based on data collected from 2018 to 2022, the FBI concluded that hate crimes in schools have doubled, and Black students are the most common targets. And yet, in some states, teachers are prohibited from discussing race and racism in the classroom. So, we’re left with the painful irony that while Black students are the group most likely to become victims of hate crimes, their K-12 educational environment often silences constructive discourse about racism. So, neither those engaged in racist bullying nor those subjected to it are given a constructive path to navigate the…
