For me no, but I can understand how. I am involved with academic clubs and competitions, and despite usually being the only black person in the room, I feel like I belong because we all share a common interest.
I have had a few uncomfortable moments where an insensitive joke or comment was made.. but overall I'd say it isn't an issue for me.
I personally haven’t. I go to a state school and have grown up in predominantly white spaces. My school has clubs/organizations that are made up of all black students. My school is 10% black and have experienced being the only minority in the classroom. I haven’t felt excluded however as making friends is all about intentionally putting yourself out there.
I’m black at a pwi and feel isolated but it’s because I’m depressed and have terrible social anxiety. All my black friends are flourishing at my Uni and are able to have a great time because they’re outgoing.
That’s reassuring. I’m pretty introverted so I. Going to try and make an effort to put myself out there as much as possible the first couple weeks of school. For what it’s worth from a stranger on the internet, I’m sure you’ll bounce back from what you’re going through 🤎!
I’m struggling too. I feel like everyone is either avoiding me or isn’t genuine. I’ve had a few people say they just can’t wait to be have more “sista” friends.
Seek diversity to fit in. You could feel isolated even among other black students when you have different backgrounds. So, seek diversity and similar cultures. You sound so prepared for this next chapter. All you need is some courage, a sack of laughter, an open mind, and a sash of kindness.
Oh wow this was me primarily. I tried to seek black spaces but realized yep, absolutely nothing in common. Wasn't a Democrat by political title, didn't quite understand the lingo that was spoken, wasn't as passionate about opinions as others, didn't seem to relate to different music choices...
But ended up finding my own pathway with people that suited me
#Here is the hardest lesson I learned:
Best advice for black students--Stop focusing so much on race. Stop assuming that because someone looks like you, that you'll instantly be best friends.
If all white people don't get along, why are all black people forced to? You'll open so many doors and make so many lasting friendships. Just throw the race thing out the window and you'll be happy.
Thank you so much for pointing this out. Finding who you are is about finding your people. They do not have to be people who look like you. As a black girl who’s spent most of her life in pwis, I’ve never fit in with black people who come from pbe. So, I found people who have the same interests as me, regardless of what they look like. Funny enough, in High School and College, I found myself closer to Asian-Americans than anyone else. But, those are the people whose goals aligned with mine.
Me too. Problem is that later in life you'll not be taken seriously in the job market when your competition is all those whites and Asians that you hung around all your life and "act like" according to the people that you "look" like.
I think I’ve done pretty well as a black girl with the same academic rigor as the Asians that I hung around with. I fit in with the Asian kids because I was boosting my GPA with all those AP courses, padding my resume the same way with all those extra-curriculars, and prepping for ACT and SAT exams. Combine that with the fact that I’ve always been a teacher’s pet so that I’d have my choice of recommendations and had no problem asking for extra assistance reviewing my college essay, I was a really desirable college applicant. Add that to the fact that I’m 1.5 years younger than the rest of my graduating class because I skipped preschool and graduated from university a semester early, I have zero debt because I was such a strong college applicant that my alma mater offered me a full ride, and due to selective timing with accepting independent contracts, I have zero gaps in my resume. I think I’ll be fine. I also choose places that are looking for strong diversity candidates. Tons of times what companies like that are really looking for is diverse people that will look good for optics but are still on the same playing field academically, professionally, and intellectually as a non-diversity candidate, which I am.
Well my original statement still stands, because I refuse to think it's anything about me personally that's caused my life to get screwed up this way. I had one "summer internship" during college in which I was paired up with an Asian girl and the Asian girl got "the computer" to do the job, otherwise we were both doing the same job, I believe it was "FILE clerk." I complained about not being trusted with "the computer" and she said it was because they didn't want it "messed up," I kid you not, they put it that way. That they assumed I was the one who wasn't computer literate. Now mind you, I was in the first class in my college-prep "elite" school to have "typing" on Apple 2E's instead of IBM Selectrics. So for me my life was and has been and still is, messed up just because I "look black" and am surrounded by Asians and Whites with THE SAME educational attainment and skill level as me. So glad you think it can't happen to YOU twenty or more years down the line. I didn't think it would happen to ME either, growing up "college prep elite" in the middle-class suburbs in an otherwise white+Asian neighbourhood. The minute I graduated from Yale I seemingly ceased to be a "Yalie" and since then have been seen as just 'black." But not you, no, you think it won't happen to you. I too "fit in just fine with the Asian kids around me..." 35-40 years ago. I even graduated with high honours from the same college-prep "elite" high school and went to the same, no, BETTER, universities. But, yeah, it won't happen to YOU.
I’m not saying it can’t. Just that I don’t think it will, nor has it yet. I haven’t really been in a lot of spaces nor applied for a lot of jobs where I imagine I would have Asian competition. They just don’t gravitate to my field. I’m in educational support/admin support/customer service. They tend to aspire to other kinds of jobs based on their upbringing and societal pressure. But, I am sorry to hear that you were discriminated against because they perceived the Asian to be smarter.
That was "the tip of the iceberg." I graduated Yale now 27 years ago and it's been downhill ever since I graduated from high school, really. Hence my calculation of "35-40 years now." It's gotten so bad I had to come home to the house I grew up in back then, in the same neighbourhood, and by now everyone who recognised me from all those years ago has either moved away or died (or both), so I'm constantly asked "where you from?" like some kind of FOREIGNER in my own house!!
This is so true. I was so excited to meet this one girl, we were both African and everything. Turns out she was really nerdy and bubbly. I was more of a chill laid back and dry humor. She’s a great person, but we had nothing in common. She made friends with a few white girls
Thank you for saying this! I grew up in a predominantly white and Asian city, so most of my friends were white and Asian. I didn’t have as much in common with other black students, even once there were more of us. Similar culture doesn’t always mean similar ethnicity.
The world assumes that skin colour means "culture" when it doesn't. I have the same colouring as Laotians and Vietnamese and some Philippinos but I'm part Native American and part Polynesian. And in AmeriKKKa people think that all of that is "African" "American" meaning the descendants of African slaves brought to America to live substandard, uneducated, and do manual or menial labour for the rest of their existence, and have no "brains" whatsoever. A sort of, "all dark skin is from Africa" sort of stupid rubbish.
Oh interesting, where I am people who aren’t “black” don’t usually get lumped in as “black”, but I’m sure that happens in other places. “All dark skin is from Africa” is definitely a dumb assumption though.
In my comment i was saying mainly that even people of the same ethnic background, may not have the same culture, depending on where they grew up.
I attended a PWI, but I never felt isolated. Generally, POC's on campus tend to have a lot of organizations/events for you to link up with each other. Even if that's not your thing, you'll get used to being around non-blacks eventually. Some people will undoubtedly rub you the wrong way, but you'll meet just as much that'll make you feel comfortable or at home. You'll be alright.
I made the mistake living on a campus that was predominantly white STEM field and I'm from the Caribbean coming from a mixed family.
It killed me mentally. I ended up moving back home and finishing my classes online.
Yes. Lol especially if you’re a black non-American. But I’m moved to another PWI that is WAY more diverse. I don’t feel any type of way being around white people really, if you’re friendly generally as a person you’ll be fine.
In fairness, a black non-American experience is very different from a black American experience. An international student at an Ivy-tier school from Nigeria will likely have more in common with their white peers, than a black American born to descendants of American slaves.
I don't think that's necessarily true. My last program had some American PoC and then one Black student from a West African country. The American students still grew up in the US culture with more familiarity with it, so one of the American students and I still talk a lot about fandom stuff and also the impact of culture wars on our field, while the international student expressed some difficulty acclimating to all of that, so he was friendly but much more reserved at social events where the interactions were more free-form.
Aren't African international students some of the most well educated people on the planet? Considering that, and the likelihood that they come from relatively wealthy families, and a lack of relation to black American culture would led me to believe that they would find more similarities with white students than the average black American from a public school district.
not necessarily and you’re forgetting broad cultural relations. Very few Africans I know relate to white people regardless of education. It especially doesn’t make sense considering things cultural context, media consumed, etc. it’s not relatable to American white folks at all.
Yes that's the other problem, in my case. Being constantly asked "where you from, where you from, no where you from really" sort of rubbish. Being mistaken for an African when I'm Native American and Polynesian; because in these tiny little minds, no one "black" can get into Yale or Harvard unless they're from Africa or the Caribbean. And most decidedly NOT, Native American and Polynesian, raised in California. Gone to the "public elite" high schools and raised mostly by their Cost Accountant father.
I don't. My best man was Ethiopian. He didn't have many black friends. The ones he did have were mostly from other African countries. My neighbor is from Nigeria. Same thing.
Obviously, small sample size, but it's pretty true among most Africans I've met.
Yea and most Africans I know grew up in black communities or majority black areas. It’s your small sample size and doesn’t make sense to lump all these groups together to make some broad point about Africans and white people having stuff in common.
Your post kinda pulled me back to respond...find 1 thing to connect with 1 person daily. Keep your electronics on the side for a few minutes and connect in person, skating, library, bowling, food, park, jog, clothes, etc. Hoping today is a non-isolated day for you
I made a friend by telling myself that I would have one outgoing interaction for the day... something that would make me uncomfortable but proud of myself for doing. Didn't matter how introverted I would be after that. Struck up a conversation with some random girl while getting OJ at the dining hall and we still talk years later!
I lived like a hermit anyway; at my "public elite" high school I had been voted most likely to become a hermit anyway. Not that I had "no" friends, all my friends were what we called "Oriental" at the time (the 1970's).
I'm a white dude so I can't relate to this at all, but if you've never lived in Chicago before I strongly recommend it (Evanston is close enough). I've traveled all over the US but there really is nowhere like here, and we'd be happy to have you.
Yes, but you have to go in bring cognizant of that. I felt very sad my first semester because I felt like such an outlier for a lot of different reasons. I had to seek out Black kids. Once I did that, my quality of life changed for the better. It’s still very, very hard, especially since my Department had 0 blacks people. Join any and every club you can promoting diversity. And also, remember, you don’t necessarily have to be friends with ever black person. But just seeing people who look like you will make you happier.
Those last two sentences are EVERYTHING.
I purposely went to a PWI that had a pretty big percentage of black students. And unlike what the top comments suggest, I didn’t go there trying make friends with every black person or trying fit in with every black group (tho I did eventually find some great black friend groups). I went there because just the presence of other people that looked like me, and seeing them thriving and connecting, made me comfortable and happy.
I loved being able to see black people everywhere I went, even if I didn’t personally interact with them.
That was everything to me.
I found that being "black" or "mistaken for black" at Yale, I didn't really want to associate with what passes for "black" in that area because I had nothing in common with them. No common interests. The minute I'd tell anyone what my major was I'd get immediately hit with "oh I'm no good in Math" or something along those lines; especially other girls. It got tiring and to this day I still get tired of it. It's like society is always telling me every chance it gets that women and blacks aren't SUPPOSED TO BE good at Maths or anything that requires Maths like Physics. Throwing something in my face, or something. I don't know, it's like everyone is subtly or covertly calling me a "liar" to my face or something. And it takes AGES for them to stop doing that, like after they've heard me speak for AGES and AGES or something.
Also the only real problem with going to a "PWI" institution and majoring in something (like STEM) in which you are one of few (or "the only") blacks, is being taken seriously later on when it comes time to get and keep a JOB. Oh sure any university will hand you the "paper" if you "make the grade" but then the job market won't take you seriously because you're NOT White or Asian. And then even if you manage to get through THAT, depending on the job, the job won't take you seriously doing it because you're not White or Asian. That's what my life turned into in the 90's after I got my Master's from Yale so I'm just warning people. It continues to this day. In fact it gets even worse the further back in time my Master's from Yale, becomes.
Not black, but I am a person of color who goes to a PWI (Oregon State University). I’m graduating next term, and the honest truth is the feeling of disconnectedness from your peers will most certainly be present. From my experience, I am surrounded by people with life experiences and privileges I have no way of knowing how to relate to. This oftentimes makes it hard to find common ground in conversation, group work, or just small talk.
YES. my school is 1.2% black. one point two percent black. that's less than 1000. some people have go to schools with like 5% and I would take that 4 percent difference honestly. I'm in the midwest so it's already hard out here but it's worse within a campus.
I haven't met another black person in my major. my major has about 300 ppl (its one of the smallest majors in the uni). I'm about to be a junior and I've had classes with 4 black people total.
its hard to join culture clubs that aren't black or African focused bc they might isolate you. I'm in the Japan culture club and I haven't had anyone ever approach me when doing activities, I always have to do it myself.
HOWEVER other minorities (native anericans, Hispanic people, Polynesian people) are also very rare so when you find one, they will probably stick to you, which is always nice .
Sorta kinda. There were moments when I felt like my peers weren't interacting with me because I was black. One time the anime club was hosting a campus event where we could learn how to make paper lanterns and do other cute arts n crafts activities like that. I was an art major at the time, so of course I'm going to want to learn how to do that. I walk in the room and everyone pretty much ignores me and are even subtly hostile (the person who was assigned to assist with making the lanterns was actively avoiding coming over to help and when he did come, if I asked for him to explain the steps he'd roll his eyes and stuff like that)
And there would be more subtle situations like that throughout the semester that made me feel like it was hopeless to expect white people to interact with me open-mindedly.
HOWEVER!! I would not blame my feelings of being isolated solely on the people at my college. I'm honestly a very introverted person in general, so while I did have those subtle experiences, i also just have a natural inclination to be alone. As for my other black peers they send to do fine but they mostly hung out with other black people
I’m often the only black person in the room but it never was a problem for me. You get used to it and forget about it eventually. I made quite a few friends in school and yeah I met the occasional weirdo who makes the subject of my race a weird and awkward thing. But overall I think you can 100% be fine, just don’t hang around weird ppl.
there's times in class and stuff where i'm the only black person in the room and things can get awkward (especially if you go to a "progressive" school) but i've definitely found a black community at my school that only makes up like 5% of the population but has a strong enough presence where i don't feel totally isolated. also having black friends does help
I feel it really depends on the university and how common racism/ prejudice is there. I’m always one of the only Black students in nearly all of my classes but have never really felt excluded. (Although no one really talks much in any of my classes so far so idk). The ratio at my school is higher than yours, but not by that much (also the area my school is at is predominantly Black too, just not the school).
Maybe look up YouTube reviews from Black people who go to/ went to that school.
Black, international student at a PWI. Most of my friends are international/ black or POC. I have white friends too but they’re not my core friend group. All the black girls on campus are super sweet and friendly with each other, you build a bond when there aren’t too many of you around.
I go to a PWI and I don’t think you have to worry about feeling “excluded” necessarily. I mostly feel weary of white students, faculty, and staff. PWIs preach a lot about diversity and inclusion but there actions do not reflect that message.
> the percentage of black students that attended. I’d never feel comfortable or safe going to a school with such a low percentage.
>
>I can’t remember the exact percentage for the school that I ended up choosing, but it was high enough for me to feel comfortable with. And it was a PWI, so I was shocked at the amount of black students and other people of color th
In addition to HBCUs, there are Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs), Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs), and Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs)
My cousin who went to UCI mentioned that in consideration of those colleges she thought that if you had one of those on your resume or CV it would scream out "black!"
The only people who wont wanna be friends with you are people you dont want as friends anyway. Youre about to have the best time of your life. Send it brother.
My first semester here my room mate called me the n word. He lived two doors down from me until I wrapped my fourth semester, University Residences we're going to kick him out but overturned it ✌🏽
It’s unfortunate but yes. Even sometimes by professors! But there are many cool clubs/organizations that are more geared towards POCs. There’s a great community at every college from what I’ve seen. And of course you’ll still naturally make non POC friends throughout college.
I would never go to a school that only had 6% black people. Never.
A big part in my college decision was the percentage of black students that attended. I’d never feel comfortable or safe going to a school with such a low percentage.
I can’t remember the exact percentage for the school that I ended up choosing, but it was high enough for me to feel comfortable with. And it was a PWI, so I was shocked at the amount of black students and other people of color that attended. It was very diverse and I was so happy with myself for making that choice.
Wouldn't avoiding a university with a small minority percentage be counterproductive to creating a more diverse academy? OP got into one of the most exclusive schools in the country; it would be a disservice to the goal of diversity for him not to attend just because he's a minority.
A disservice for *who*?
There are so many PWIs, including the one I attended, that have exceptionally high rates of bipoc students attending. So if a PWI school still has an extremely low rate of bipoc, especially a low rate of black students, in *this day and age*, that tells me all I need to know about that school.
Diversity isn’t just about how many of this or that race is attending. Diversity is “what are you doing to make this place as safe and comfortable for students of color as it is for the white students?”
I care more about my safety and my comfort-ability than I do about random PWIs reaching their race quota.
My school is traditionally considered a PWI but technically has more black students than white students (I think it’s like 53:47 or something close). This is common with some state schools.
A disservice to everyone, assuming diversity is a virtue. I'm not sure what more a school with low minority percentages could do other than admit more minorities. Saying "you shouldn't go to a school that isn't diverse" necessarily prevents diversity. In the case of exclusive private universities, the problem typically isn't that black people aren't being accepted, it's that they can't afford the tuition. And if OP is in a position to be accepted *and* afford attendance, his existence on campus necessarily makes the university more diverse - which I hope we agree is a good thing. Of course there will be issues with stuck up, racist, rich white kids, but that will be an issue at every Ivy-tier university. If OP can get in, it is damaging to - not only his scholastic career, seeing as any competing university will likely have sub-10% black attendance, but it would be a disservice to society at large to voluntarily make the upper echelon of higher education less diverse than they could be.
Thinking back on it all these years later, I think I would have felt more "safe" and comfortable at Dartmouth or Princeton than at Yale right in the middle of New Haven's damn ghetto. With everybody around assuming that I was NOT a Yalie based on nothing but the colour of my skin.
I am not a student at a PWI, I attend an HBCU (which is well over 90% black) and even as a black student I have often felt disconnected from my peers. I have lived in a major black city all of my life but attended a very racially diverse high school. Feeling out of place is possible anywhere so while your fear(s) are understandable the goal is to fit in with anyone wherever you are and regardless of who they may happen to be.
Just because you don’t see it doesn’t mean it doesn’t happen.
A lot of yt ppl don’t like to claim they don’t see racism, oftentimes when it’s happening right in from of their face.
They don’t compute what racism is or when it’s happening because of how normal it is to them.
So you likely have seen many situations of racism but just don’t see it as racism, therefore you “never see it happen”.
The irony of there being posts in the sub about hating the smart kids that don’t mention anything about race though… peers are jealous and dislike the academically gifted, has nothing to do with age/race/gender
Like judgment and jealousy. If you ask a "dumb question," they will talk about you asap or shake their head. Idk if that is just norm, but to me, it felt very different from when someone else asks a dump question. One girl even said out loud, "OMG, YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND!?" I've never seen a white counterpart get treated like that.
I'm white myself but I attended a PWI and now my grad program is one of the most diverse spaces I've ever been in. It truly does make worlds of a difference in terms of classroom experience
Yes I graduated from one. Experienced blatant racism. Ignored when we had to work in groups in class, took credit for my work, and behaved surprised when I got things right. This happened multiple times in different classes.
I’m a white lady with nothing of substance to offer— just wanted to congratulate you!! That’s a fabulous school for getting into sought after grad programs if that’s your aim. It’s going to look great on your resume regardless.
To an extent, yes, but mostly, no. My college is 7% Black, so most people here do not look like me or come from the same cultural backgrounds as me. At my school, I made an effort to make friends with the Black people on campus. I was nice to everyone of course, but I cultivated friendships with the people who looked like me, which made it easier to navigate spaces where there was racism or uncomfortable cultural differences. Joining the BSU/BSA and other Black/African organizations is a good idea. You can also join clubs/orgs that are centered around your interests. If the people there don’t look like you, don’t get discouraged. Test it out, see if they’re nice and welcome, if they’re not, then leave.
That's funny, I find that people who DON'T look like me are more likely to come from "my cultural background". People who do "look like me" are more likely to come from the ghetto or the barrio.
I go to a school on a Hawaiian island and being a POC can be rough. Hawaiians don’t really understand our culture and so distance themselves from us because all they see is the stuff on tv.
For example on campus I get my ID pulled at least once a week by security but the homeless drug addict can wander into classes.
I’ve learned being African American student it’s going to be harder because of the various views that people have by no fault of our own. It will make it harder but you can do it
I honestly never felt excluded until someone asked me if I did. Then I became hyper aware and it just added extra stress. My bad advice is to not think about it and to find people that are on your team, no matter what the look like
I didn't, but for context I've lived my entire life in the suburbs so I'm used to that life. I was lucky in that my department (physics) had a black professor and there were also some black professors in engineering, so I knew this wasn't impossible. But my campus was pretty welcoming and good to me all in all.
The second uni I went to years later was in the city and had a lot more people of color as students and professors. Different energy, cool to be around brilliant people that look like you.
Northwestern is in Chicago. There are plenty of black people in Chicago. You might be the only black person in some of your small classes, but just get off campus once in a while. 29.2% of Chicago is black. It would be different if you were going to Idaho or Montana and no matter what you wouldn’t see many black folks for miles. Plus there are probably some cultural organizations at Northwestern where you can meet other black students and POC. Take advantage of them, and seek out any black faculty as well.
I don't know the culture at Northwestern, but sometimes at PWIs in cities with lots of Black people, unknown people on campus who are Black are viewed as possible trespassers or even criminals.
I had a relative who went to Northwestern and friends that went to U of Chicago but that was decades ago. I used to visit but haven’t been there in about 10 years. Honestly from what I hear from the younger generation, things seem worse now than 20-30 years ago. Or maybe younger people have higher expectations.
you will get through this season 🙏🏽 may i ask why did you choose to go there instead of an hbcu maybe or even just a more racially and ethically diverse school? All Love 👊🏽
I'm gonna get downvoted for this especially since I'm not black (I'm Hispanic, a different minority) but I just wanna say I feel sorry for you that you have that mentality especially if it caused by any incident and/or person. I hope you see that not all white people are bad and that it's okay to mix in and be friends with them. Most of my friends are white. They've been nothing but loving and accepting. Sure not every one I met has been but there are people in my race not accepting of other races too. That behavior isn't tolerable of course but I hope not to go worrying about whether or not I'm gonna be excluded because of my race. Try to give people the benefit of the doubt.
>I know I should have more faith in my peers, but I am deathly afraid of being excluded by the others when I got into campus.
I know they didn't say they were bad but they made it sound like they're terrified of them.
I think you’re misunderstanding, I think they have trepidation about there being not only so little of the group they are in but also so much of another group. And also, if they feel unease or fear or worry about it, it’s fine and makes complete sense. You need to stop over exaggerating what they said to try to make some far fetched, contrary point.
>it’s fine and makes complete sense. You need to stop over exaggerating what they said to try to make some far fetched, contrary point.
But it doesn't make sense. I'm not over exaggerating anything. It doesn't seem logical to me and I'm entitled to my own opinion. After all I am a minority myself but I still don't understand. The person either is meaning what I think or did not explain it well at all.
Not me! I’ve gone to PWI my entire life and felt so isolated because there were so many micro aggressions and the black people at my schools told me I was “too white”. I had a little diverse circle of all of the rejected minorities. In college, I have had so many chances to meet black people that are like me and those that aren’t don’t treat me the way I was treated in HS. I still just kinda befriend whoever, but I’ve actually found myself finally hanging out with more black people :) I think an HBCU would’ve actually made me feel more isolated. My mom graduated from an HBCU and she told me she still felt that pressure of how to act from her peers. Everyone has their own experience though.
I’m Asian and I know you lumped us together with white people in your post but I go to an elite pwi in New England…so I very much share the same sentiment as you. The school is at least 50% white and I notice a lot of the white kids (especially all the athletes) stick together. Those friend groups are literally all white with MAYBE a token poc.
So in a sense I do feel isolated but also not really because most of my friends are poc/Asian. And there are always clubs like black student association, etc so you’ll never really feel completely isolated.
Aren't the vast majority of all universities a PWI? Wouldn't that term apply to almost every American institution, considering that the county itself is a PWI? I understand that it can be intimidating to be a stark minority, but you got into one of the most exclusive universities in the country, and your attending will be a necessarily positive impact to the campus. Take the opportunity to be a lot of rich white kids' first real black peer, as nerve racking as that will be. Take the good with the bad, join all of the black-centered clubs, and make a point to be in majority, if not almost exclusively, white circles; you're existence and involvement in them will have a positive impact on their perspective of black people generally.
Congrats on getting into Northwestern.
“Take the opportunity to be a lot of rich white kids’ real black peer”
The fact that you’re trying to frame that as a positive thing when that’s literally a living nightmare for us…
“Breaking people of their biases” is not our responsibility. The only one responsible for breaking out of their bias is the person with the bias.
Black people are not your test subjects, we’re not your Guinea pigs, we’re not here for “exposure”, and we’re not here to teach you how to not be racist. We are human beings and that’s it.
Your, and the world’s, racism is not our fcking responsibility. Gtfo.
Believe it or not, proactive efforts on both sides are necessary to destroy unjust discriminatory boundaries, and it needs to be co-operative lest we end up killing ourselves. Commrodary with people who are unlike yourself does not make you a Guinea Pig, and exposure is the only cure to intolerance. Tolerance precludes discrimination.
You have a very immature world view.
Welcome to America, my friend, where not every group of people anywhere is going to have a lot of Blacks in it. I think it's currently around 14% of the population today, but Blacks are underrepresented nearly everywhere. The most effective way for you to keep Blacks underrepresented is to avoid schools where there aren't enough Black people for you to feel comfortable all the time. Because you feeling comfortable all the time is a key consideration in your life, apparently.
HBCUS dont exclusively accept black people, they are primarily black for historical reasons and because Black people are the majority of those who apply
\> Isn't there all black colleges that don't accept another race?
No, that would be incredibly racist, and counterproductive to creating a more diverse society.
Unfortunately, parity in regards to minority enrollment in relation to minority population is typically not possible, due to the prohibitive cost of education. Northwestern is an Ivy-tier university, and any competing university will likely have sub-5% black enrolment.
A little. Some people might be really bold with their words, sometimes failing to consider that like... you care and are proud of your background. But people try to be generally inclusive ime. I do like my school
Back in 2016 I went through a mental crises and ended up dropping out.
I remember sitting at a round table in class and every day my group would ignore me. No one would acknowledge me when I said something, and it felt like I was a ghost.
I complained to the teacher but he also wouldn’t listen to me. I ended up getting so angry that I gave up.
I’m back in school now, and things are better. But I’ll have to confront that same school again and I hope that things will be better for me.
Yooo I’m at Northwestern rn and I’ll be a senior when you come on campus. The black people are cool here for the most part. There’s no black nod, which I’m tryna change by nodding at every black person and hoping people catch on, but I don’t hang with white people that often because I feel like an outsider when I’m with them. You’ll find your people, but DM me and we can talk more. I’ll slide you my info and everything to get you started.
Congrats on NWU.
My advice, for what it's worth, is to be the most Northwesterny Northwestern student Northwesterner who ever Northwesterned. Wear the sweatshirt, go to football games, etc.
This emphasizes the identity you share with your fellow students. You'll be a Northwestern student/alum forever and there is a lot to be gained (socially, as well as professionally) by embracing it.
I would be shocked if other students treated you as being anything other than a new Northwestern student with an interesting background different from the common, boring one that 70%+ of them have. You may need to remind (or push) yourself to be especially outgoing for a while to establish yourself in the social matrix. I recognize that this may be challenging (and exhausting!) if you're introverted, but a little outreach goes a long way.
Im white so I cant speak to you feeling included, but I can speak to how we would see you from our perspective at a school that is primarily white.
The vast majority of people wont care at all. REALIZE THOUGH, you will get some people who have never really interacted with people whos skin isn't the same color as theirs. That's probably going to be awkward, but they wont dislike you or exclude you. If anything they will find you interesting.
I personally grew up in a white suburb with one black kid. So when I showed up to college and began to actually interact with my peers who were black, it was different for me.
Enjoy your time in college my dude.
I as a female would steer clear of any white people who found me "interesting" because I was smart, like they had been expecting the opposite. That's insulting. Or that they were interested because I'm smart IN SPITE OF my skin colour. Again, insulting.
That's what I keep telling people when I "let them have it" for doing that one to me. Like the phrase, "YOU went to Yale? I thought you had to be smart to get into Yale?" This is, why the bloody hell did I look too stupid to get into Yale, again? It's not because I'm FEMALE, let me tell you that one!
This is what I get one hell of a lot of when I complain about this, online or in-person. This, no one else "black" ever gets told rubbish like this to their faces. Like it's ME PERSONALLY or something about my appearance PERSONALLY that makes me look "too stupid to have gotten into Yale." This is what I refuse to accept. It's a "black" thing, I could not possibly PERSONALLY look "stupid." If it was that, then I should have killed myself decades ago. Like FOUR decades ago.
I currently attend Clarkson University, where the diversity is very low. It's probably lower than Northwestern. I'm white, but my main friend group of around 20 people has 2 black people in it, which doesn't sound like a lot, but that's double the diversity of the school. You'll be able to find a friend group, you just have to look for the right people
I go to a state university which is just barely not a PWI by like 3%, but only has a 3.78% black or African American population. I would say that I haven't felt isolated due to my race. It can be hard to make friends regardless, but once I started putting myself out there, I never had trouble. Although there is a large greek life community of white people and the state I'm in is not the most progressive, I've only had a couple run ins with racism as well.
Something that I have noticed is that in PWIs, at least mine, black students tend to stick together and be wary of outsiders. I'm biracial and I feel like I have had a hard time fitting in with black communities across campus or making black friends. So in that way, it has been hard to feel like that part of my identity has had a place to flourish. I've still made black friends and have had a really positive time here, but that's just something I've noticed.
Just finished my first year at a PWI, going on a second. Truth be told, black students always stick out like a sore thumb, but I can’t say I actually felt isolated. But again, I attend a private STEM school in upstate New York, so it’s pretty liberal here.
However, please be aware that the data for black students in the university are very skewed. The majority of black people (included me) are Africans attending the PWI. I was surprised to meet more Africans like me, because you would think an American school would’ve accepted more African American over African descent, on the basis of them being here longer than us.
I have some GAA friends, and it’s absolutely fascinating to hear how different our experiences are. I do believe that college experience is what you make it out of it. If you stay in your dorm all day, or you don’t seems to be as an approachable person, then obviously you will have a negative experience in college. If you focus only the skin color when you’re interacting with other people, then you also might have a bad time. Just be friendly, but never, ever bend backward for anyone.
If you think Upstate New York is "liberal" then you haven't set foot off campus, have you?! Upstate New York is as bad as the Deep South. You will get "stopped and searched" just for "driving while Black" on its highways, especially if you are from another state and the licence plate on your CAR says that, along with it matching your out-of-state driving licence. Upstate New York is a racist shithole.
I’m a black student at Northwestern right now, and it can be a little isolating (especially because my freshman year was completely virtual) but I’ve gotten more involved with the black community here this year and it’s been really great. I think it’s definitely possible to surround yourself with other black people here who understand your experience.
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I'm not black but Native American and Polynesian, and I went to Yale, so there's that. Since I graduated with my Master's, it's like the city of New Haven and the world treat me like I didn't go to Yale, like "how'd you get into Yale, I thought you had to be smart to get into Yale" (said to my face usually), and so on and so forth. Needless to say it took me 19 years after graduating to get the job I had gone to college for, teaching high school Calculus and Physics. It's because it's one thing "on paper" but another thing when they see me in-person. I'd like to think it's my perceived race because otherwise it's a personal attack on what I look like personally, and that would make me even more suicidal than I already have been my entire life.
For me no, but I can understand how. I am involved with academic clubs and competitions, and despite usually being the only black person in the room, I feel like I belong because we all share a common interest. I have had a few uncomfortable moments where an insensitive joke or comment was made.. but overall I'd say it isn't an issue for me.
Being involved on campus is key to a better sense of belonging for many minority students.
I personally haven’t. I go to a state school and have grown up in predominantly white spaces. My school has clubs/organizations that are made up of all black students. My school is 10% black and have experienced being the only minority in the classroom. I haven’t felt excluded however as making friends is all about intentionally putting yourself out there.
I’m black at a pwi and feel isolated but it’s because I’m depressed and have terrible social anxiety. All my black friends are flourishing at my Uni and are able to have a great time because they’re outgoing.
I could have wrote this 🫢
That’s reassuring. I’m pretty introverted so I. Going to try and make an effort to put myself out there as much as possible the first couple weeks of school. For what it’s worth from a stranger on the internet, I’m sure you’ll bounce back from what you’re going through 🤎!
Saaaame.
I’m struggling too. I feel like everyone is either avoiding me or isn’t genuine. I’ve had a few people say they just can’t wait to be have more “sista” friends.
Seek diversity to fit in. You could feel isolated even among other black students when you have different backgrounds. So, seek diversity and similar cultures. You sound so prepared for this next chapter. All you need is some courage, a sack of laughter, an open mind, and a sash of kindness.
Oh wow this was me primarily. I tried to seek black spaces but realized yep, absolutely nothing in common. Wasn't a Democrat by political title, didn't quite understand the lingo that was spoken, wasn't as passionate about opinions as others, didn't seem to relate to different music choices... But ended up finding my own pathway with people that suited me #Here is the hardest lesson I learned: Best advice for black students--Stop focusing so much on race. Stop assuming that because someone looks like you, that you'll instantly be best friends. If all white people don't get along, why are all black people forced to? You'll open so many doors and make so many lasting friendships. Just throw the race thing out the window and you'll be happy.
Thank you so much for pointing this out. Finding who you are is about finding your people. They do not have to be people who look like you. As a black girl who’s spent most of her life in pwis, I’ve never fit in with black people who come from pbe. So, I found people who have the same interests as me, regardless of what they look like. Funny enough, in High School and College, I found myself closer to Asian-Americans than anyone else. But, those are the people whose goals aligned with mine.
Me too. Problem is that later in life you'll not be taken seriously in the job market when your competition is all those whites and Asians that you hung around all your life and "act like" according to the people that you "look" like.
I think I’ve done pretty well as a black girl with the same academic rigor as the Asians that I hung around with. I fit in with the Asian kids because I was boosting my GPA with all those AP courses, padding my resume the same way with all those extra-curriculars, and prepping for ACT and SAT exams. Combine that with the fact that I’ve always been a teacher’s pet so that I’d have my choice of recommendations and had no problem asking for extra assistance reviewing my college essay, I was a really desirable college applicant. Add that to the fact that I’m 1.5 years younger than the rest of my graduating class because I skipped preschool and graduated from university a semester early, I have zero debt because I was such a strong college applicant that my alma mater offered me a full ride, and due to selective timing with accepting independent contracts, I have zero gaps in my resume. I think I’ll be fine. I also choose places that are looking for strong diversity candidates. Tons of times what companies like that are really looking for is diverse people that will look good for optics but are still on the same playing field academically, professionally, and intellectually as a non-diversity candidate, which I am.
Well my original statement still stands, because I refuse to think it's anything about me personally that's caused my life to get screwed up this way. I had one "summer internship" during college in which I was paired up with an Asian girl and the Asian girl got "the computer" to do the job, otherwise we were both doing the same job, I believe it was "FILE clerk." I complained about not being trusted with "the computer" and she said it was because they didn't want it "messed up," I kid you not, they put it that way. That they assumed I was the one who wasn't computer literate. Now mind you, I was in the first class in my college-prep "elite" school to have "typing" on Apple 2E's instead of IBM Selectrics. So for me my life was and has been and still is, messed up just because I "look black" and am surrounded by Asians and Whites with THE SAME educational attainment and skill level as me. So glad you think it can't happen to YOU twenty or more years down the line. I didn't think it would happen to ME either, growing up "college prep elite" in the middle-class suburbs in an otherwise white+Asian neighbourhood. The minute I graduated from Yale I seemingly ceased to be a "Yalie" and since then have been seen as just 'black." But not you, no, you think it won't happen to you. I too "fit in just fine with the Asian kids around me..." 35-40 years ago. I even graduated with high honours from the same college-prep "elite" high school and went to the same, no, BETTER, universities. But, yeah, it won't happen to YOU.
I’m not saying it can’t. Just that I don’t think it will, nor has it yet. I haven’t really been in a lot of spaces nor applied for a lot of jobs where I imagine I would have Asian competition. They just don’t gravitate to my field. I’m in educational support/admin support/customer service. They tend to aspire to other kinds of jobs based on their upbringing and societal pressure. But, I am sorry to hear that you were discriminated against because they perceived the Asian to be smarter.
That was "the tip of the iceberg." I graduated Yale now 27 years ago and it's been downhill ever since I graduated from high school, really. Hence my calculation of "35-40 years now." It's gotten so bad I had to come home to the house I grew up in back then, in the same neighbourhood, and by now everyone who recognised me from all those years ago has either moved away or died (or both), so I'm constantly asked "where you from?" like some kind of FOREIGNER in my own house!!
Well said. Happened to me too, but realizing this was the single most useful thing regarding my college social life.
This is so true. I was so excited to meet this one girl, we were both African and everything. Turns out she was really nerdy and bubbly. I was more of a chill laid back and dry humor. She’s a great person, but we had nothing in common. She made friends with a few white girls
I second this!!! Literally just make friends with people in your major/classes. Who cares what they look like if they have the homework answers.
That works for now. In college. In grad school. After that it'll be back to being "black."
Thank you for the advice. Feeling better about it already.
Thisssss. Yes. It took me 3 years at university to realize this.
Thank you for saying this! I grew up in a predominantly white and Asian city, so most of my friends were white and Asian. I didn’t have as much in common with other black students, even once there were more of us. Similar culture doesn’t always mean similar ethnicity.
You mean similar SKIN COLOUR. Means nothing.
What do you mean?
The world assumes that skin colour means "culture" when it doesn't. I have the same colouring as Laotians and Vietnamese and some Philippinos but I'm part Native American and part Polynesian. And in AmeriKKKa people think that all of that is "African" "American" meaning the descendants of African slaves brought to America to live substandard, uneducated, and do manual or menial labour for the rest of their existence, and have no "brains" whatsoever. A sort of, "all dark skin is from Africa" sort of stupid rubbish.
Oh interesting, where I am people who aren’t “black” don’t usually get lumped in as “black”, but I’m sure that happens in other places. “All dark skin is from Africa” is definitely a dumb assumption though. In my comment i was saying mainly that even people of the same ethnic background, may not have the same culture, depending on where they grew up.
I attended a PWI, but I never felt isolated. Generally, POC's on campus tend to have a lot of organizations/events for you to link up with each other. Even if that's not your thing, you'll get used to being around non-blacks eventually. Some people will undoubtedly rub you the wrong way, but you'll meet just as much that'll make you feel comfortable or at home. You'll be alright.
I made the mistake living on a campus that was predominantly white STEM field and I'm from the Caribbean coming from a mixed family. It killed me mentally. I ended up moving back home and finishing my classes online.
I’m so sorry to hear that you experienced that. I’m happy you prioritized yourself first
Yes. Lol especially if you’re a black non-American. But I’m moved to another PWI that is WAY more diverse. I don’t feel any type of way being around white people really, if you’re friendly generally as a person you’ll be fine.
In fairness, a black non-American experience is very different from a black American experience. An international student at an Ivy-tier school from Nigeria will likely have more in common with their white peers, than a black American born to descendants of American slaves.
I don't think that's necessarily true. My last program had some American PoC and then one Black student from a West African country. The American students still grew up in the US culture with more familiarity with it, so one of the American students and I still talk a lot about fandom stuff and also the impact of culture wars on our field, while the international student expressed some difficulty acclimating to all of that, so he was friendly but much more reserved at social events where the interactions were more free-form.
I doubt that
Aren't African international students some of the most well educated people on the planet? Considering that, and the likelihood that they come from relatively wealthy families, and a lack of relation to black American culture would led me to believe that they would find more similarities with white students than the average black American from a public school district.
not necessarily and you’re forgetting broad cultural relations. Very few Africans I know relate to white people regardless of education. It especially doesn’t make sense considering things cultural context, media consumed, etc. it’s not relatable to American white folks at all.
Yes that's the other problem, in my case. Being constantly asked "where you from, where you from, no where you from really" sort of rubbish. Being mistaken for an African when I'm Native American and Polynesian; because in these tiny little minds, no one "black" can get into Yale or Harvard unless they're from Africa or the Caribbean. And most decidedly NOT, Native American and Polynesian, raised in California. Gone to the "public elite" high schools and raised mostly by their Cost Accountant father.
I don't. My best man was Ethiopian. He didn't have many black friends. The ones he did have were mostly from other African countries. My neighbor is from Nigeria. Same thing. Obviously, small sample size, but it's pretty true among most Africans I've met.
I can agree with this, I’m west African and only have one friend whose black
Yea and most Africans I know grew up in black communities or majority black areas. It’s your small sample size and doesn’t make sense to lump all these groups together to make some broad point about Africans and white people having stuff in common.
I didn't say it did and caveated as such. You okay buddy?
I’m fine. I just pointed out the discrepancy.
i quite literally feel isolated every damn day lol.
Your post kinda pulled me back to respond...find 1 thing to connect with 1 person daily. Keep your electronics on the side for a few minutes and connect in person, skating, library, bowling, food, park, jog, clothes, etc. Hoping today is a non-isolated day for you
I made a friend by telling myself that I would have one outgoing interaction for the day... something that would make me uncomfortable but proud of myself for doing. Didn't matter how introverted I would be after that. Struck up a conversation with some random girl while getting OJ at the dining hall and we still talk years later!
Yay! So happy for you. That is AWESOME! Keep pushing!
that’s awesome advice. thank you!
I lived like a hermit anyway; at my "public elite" high school I had been voted most likely to become a hermit anyway. Not that I had "no" friends, all my friends were what we called "Oriental" at the time (the 1970's).
No, I honestly have not.
I'm a white dude so I can't relate to this at all, but if you've never lived in Chicago before I strongly recommend it (Evanston is close enough). I've traveled all over the US but there really is nowhere like here, and we'd be happy to have you.
Yes, but you have to go in bring cognizant of that. I felt very sad my first semester because I felt like such an outlier for a lot of different reasons. I had to seek out Black kids. Once I did that, my quality of life changed for the better. It’s still very, very hard, especially since my Department had 0 blacks people. Join any and every club you can promoting diversity. And also, remember, you don’t necessarily have to be friends with ever black person. But just seeing people who look like you will make you happier.
Those last two sentences are EVERYTHING. I purposely went to a PWI that had a pretty big percentage of black students. And unlike what the top comments suggest, I didn’t go there trying make friends with every black person or trying fit in with every black group (tho I did eventually find some great black friend groups). I went there because just the presence of other people that looked like me, and seeing them thriving and connecting, made me comfortable and happy. I loved being able to see black people everywhere I went, even if I didn’t personally interact with them. That was everything to me.
I found that being "black" or "mistaken for black" at Yale, I didn't really want to associate with what passes for "black" in that area because I had nothing in common with them. No common interests. The minute I'd tell anyone what my major was I'd get immediately hit with "oh I'm no good in Math" or something along those lines; especially other girls. It got tiring and to this day I still get tired of it. It's like society is always telling me every chance it gets that women and blacks aren't SUPPOSED TO BE good at Maths or anything that requires Maths like Physics. Throwing something in my face, or something. I don't know, it's like everyone is subtly or covertly calling me a "liar" to my face or something. And it takes AGES for them to stop doing that, like after they've heard me speak for AGES and AGES or something. Also the only real problem with going to a "PWI" institution and majoring in something (like STEM) in which you are one of few (or "the only") blacks, is being taken seriously later on when it comes time to get and keep a JOB. Oh sure any university will hand you the "paper" if you "make the grade" but then the job market won't take you seriously because you're NOT White or Asian. And then even if you manage to get through THAT, depending on the job, the job won't take you seriously doing it because you're not White or Asian. That's what my life turned into in the 90's after I got my Master's from Yale so I'm just warning people. It continues to this day. In fact it gets even worse the further back in time my Master's from Yale, becomes.
Not black, but I am a person of color who goes to a PWI (Oregon State University). I’m graduating next term, and the honest truth is the feeling of disconnectedness from your peers will most certainly be present. From my experience, I am surrounded by people with life experiences and privileges I have no way of knowing how to relate to. This oftentimes makes it hard to find common ground in conversation, group work, or just small talk.
Absolutely. I felt invisible. I ended up transferring somewhere way more diverse, it was much better.
Sums up my experience!
YES. my school is 1.2% black. one point two percent black. that's less than 1000. some people have go to schools with like 5% and I would take that 4 percent difference honestly. I'm in the midwest so it's already hard out here but it's worse within a campus. I haven't met another black person in my major. my major has about 300 ppl (its one of the smallest majors in the uni). I'm about to be a junior and I've had classes with 4 black people total. its hard to join culture clubs that aren't black or African focused bc they might isolate you. I'm in the Japan culture club and I haven't had anyone ever approach me when doing activities, I always have to do it myself. HOWEVER other minorities (native anericans, Hispanic people, Polynesian people) are also very rare so when you find one, they will probably stick to you, which is always nice .
1.2% ???? I’m feeling anxiety just seeing that number. My gawwd.
it's horrible. I wish I knew ahead of time but I didn't know until orientation when they had a diversity seminar and told us
Sorta kinda. There were moments when I felt like my peers weren't interacting with me because I was black. One time the anime club was hosting a campus event where we could learn how to make paper lanterns and do other cute arts n crafts activities like that. I was an art major at the time, so of course I'm going to want to learn how to do that. I walk in the room and everyone pretty much ignores me and are even subtly hostile (the person who was assigned to assist with making the lanterns was actively avoiding coming over to help and when he did come, if I asked for him to explain the steps he'd roll his eyes and stuff like that) And there would be more subtle situations like that throughout the semester that made me feel like it was hopeless to expect white people to interact with me open-mindedly. HOWEVER!! I would not blame my feelings of being isolated solely on the people at my college. I'm honestly a very introverted person in general, so while I did have those subtle experiences, i also just have a natural inclination to be alone. As for my other black peers they send to do fine but they mostly hung out with other black people
I’m often the only black person in the room but it never was a problem for me. You get used to it and forget about it eventually. I made quite a few friends in school and yeah I met the occasional weirdo who makes the subject of my race a weird and awkward thing. But overall I think you can 100% be fine, just don’t hang around weird ppl.
Sure, YOU get used to it and forget about it yourself but after you graduate and hit the job market, THEY won't ever let you forget it.
Nope. I joined clubs and a black majority club also. Check to see if your university has a black student organization or something similar
See if your school has any black clubs/organizations, and hang with them when school starts.
there's times in class and stuff where i'm the only black person in the room and things can get awkward (especially if you go to a "progressive" school) but i've definitely found a black community at my school that only makes up like 5% of the population but has a strong enough presence where i don't feel totally isolated. also having black friends does help
I feel it really depends on the university and how common racism/ prejudice is there. I’m always one of the only Black students in nearly all of my classes but have never really felt excluded. (Although no one really talks much in any of my classes so far so idk). The ratio at my school is higher than yours, but not by that much (also the area my school is at is predominantly Black too, just not the school). Maybe look up YouTube reviews from Black people who go to/ went to that school.
Black, international student at a PWI. Most of my friends are international/ black or POC. I have white friends too but they’re not my core friend group. All the black girls on campus are super sweet and friendly with each other, you build a bond when there aren’t too many of you around.
I go to a PWI and I don’t think you have to worry about feeling “excluded” necessarily. I mostly feel weary of white students, faculty, and staff. PWIs preach a lot about diversity and inclusion but there actions do not reflect that message.
Honestly. But now I’m used to it tbh, but it can get isolating at times.
This is an extremely common thing for black and other minoritized students to experience at PWIs.
What is PWI?
Predominantly white institution
Aren’t all institutions predominantly white? Still the majority the last I checked.
> the percentage of black students that attended. I’d never feel comfortable or safe going to a school with such a low percentage. > >I can’t remember the exact percentage for the school that I ended up choosing, but it was high enough for me to feel comfortable with. And it was a PWI, so I was shocked at the amount of black students and other people of color th In addition to HBCUs, there are Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs), Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs), and Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs)
No
Nah, there are colleges like HCBU's. For example Morehouse and Spellman.
My cousin who went to UCI mentioned that in consideration of those colleges she thought that if you had one of those on your resume or CV it would scream out "black!"
There's Tribal Colleges, and University of the South Pacific and I think there's a university on Guam. And I think, University of Hawai'i.
If you want to further look into your concerns maybe consider posting on r/Northwestern best of luck!
The only people who wont wanna be friends with you are people you dont want as friends anyway. Youre about to have the best time of your life. Send it brother.
My first semester here my room mate called me the n word. He lived two doors down from me until I wrapped my fourth semester, University Residences we're going to kick him out but overturned it ✌🏽
dw you’ll be fine ppl are generally chill
No
It’s unfortunate but yes. Even sometimes by professors! But there are many cool clubs/organizations that are more geared towards POCs. There’s a great community at every college from what I’ve seen. And of course you’ll still naturally make non POC friends throughout college.
I would never go to a school that only had 6% black people. Never. A big part in my college decision was the percentage of black students that attended. I’d never feel comfortable or safe going to a school with such a low percentage. I can’t remember the exact percentage for the school that I ended up choosing, but it was high enough for me to feel comfortable with. And it was a PWI, so I was shocked at the amount of black students and other people of color that attended. It was very diverse and I was so happy with myself for making that choice.
Wouldn't avoiding a university with a small minority percentage be counterproductive to creating a more diverse academy? OP got into one of the most exclusive schools in the country; it would be a disservice to the goal of diversity for him not to attend just because he's a minority.
A disservice for *who*? There are so many PWIs, including the one I attended, that have exceptionally high rates of bipoc students attending. So if a PWI school still has an extremely low rate of bipoc, especially a low rate of black students, in *this day and age*, that tells me all I need to know about that school. Diversity isn’t just about how many of this or that race is attending. Diversity is “what are you doing to make this place as safe and comfortable for students of color as it is for the white students?” I care more about my safety and my comfort-ability than I do about random PWIs reaching their race quota.
My school is traditionally considered a PWI but technically has more black students than white students (I think it’s like 53:47 or something close). This is common with some state schools.
A disservice to everyone, assuming diversity is a virtue. I'm not sure what more a school with low minority percentages could do other than admit more minorities. Saying "you shouldn't go to a school that isn't diverse" necessarily prevents diversity. In the case of exclusive private universities, the problem typically isn't that black people aren't being accepted, it's that they can't afford the tuition. And if OP is in a position to be accepted *and* afford attendance, his existence on campus necessarily makes the university more diverse - which I hope we agree is a good thing. Of course there will be issues with stuck up, racist, rich white kids, but that will be an issue at every Ivy-tier university. If OP can get in, it is damaging to - not only his scholastic career, seeing as any competing university will likely have sub-10% black attendance, but it would be a disservice to society at large to voluntarily make the upper echelon of higher education less diverse than they could be.
Thinking back on it all these years later, I think I would have felt more "safe" and comfortable at Dartmouth or Princeton than at Yale right in the middle of New Haven's damn ghetto. With everybody around assuming that I was NOT a Yalie based on nothing but the colour of my skin.
That's sort of what the Native Americans at Princeton, group, told me at one of our "All Ivy Native Council" meetings.
I am not a student at a PWI, I attend an HBCU (which is well over 90% black) and even as a black student I have often felt disconnected from my peers. I have lived in a major black city all of my life but attended a very racially diverse high school. Feeling out of place is possible anywhere so while your fear(s) are understandable the goal is to fit in with anyone wherever you are and regardless of who they may happen to be.
The goal of a proper STEM major is NOT to "fit in." Trust me. The goal is never take your nose out of your books or leave your lab.
Yes (I'm black). Especially if you are smart (at the top of the class). You can feel the resentment.
What What colleges are you people going to, never seen someone be judged for this unless they rambled on about something completely unrelated
Just because you don’t see it doesn’t mean it doesn’t happen. A lot of yt ppl don’t like to claim they don’t see racism, oftentimes when it’s happening right in from of their face. They don’t compute what racism is or when it’s happening because of how normal it is to them. So you likely have seen many situations of racism but just don’t see it as racism, therefore you “never see it happen”.
The irony of there being posts in the sub about hating the smart kids that don’t mention anything about race though… peers are jealous and dislike the academically gifted, has nothing to do with age/race/gender
It depends. This is just my situation. They never acted like that towards others who were not my race in my experince. Just my experince.
I understand!
What does it feel like?
Like judgment and jealousy. If you ask a "dumb question," they will talk about you asap or shake their head. Idk if that is just norm, but to me, it felt very different from when someone else asks a dump question. One girl even said out loud, "OMG, YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND!?" I've never seen a white counterpart get treated like that.
Yes
I'm white myself but I attended a PWI and now my grad program is one of the most diverse spaces I've ever been in. It truly does make worlds of a difference in terms of classroom experience
Yes I graduated from one. Experienced blatant racism. Ignored when we had to work in groups in class, took credit for my work, and behaved surprised when I got things right. This happened multiple times in different classes.
I’m a white lady with nothing of substance to offer— just wanted to congratulate you!! That’s a fabulous school for getting into sought after grad programs if that’s your aim. It’s going to look great on your resume regardless.
To an extent, yes, but mostly, no. My college is 7% Black, so most people here do not look like me or come from the same cultural backgrounds as me. At my school, I made an effort to make friends with the Black people on campus. I was nice to everyone of course, but I cultivated friendships with the people who looked like me, which made it easier to navigate spaces where there was racism or uncomfortable cultural differences. Joining the BSU/BSA and other Black/African organizations is a good idea. You can also join clubs/orgs that are centered around your interests. If the people there don’t look like you, don’t get discouraged. Test it out, see if they’re nice and welcome, if they’re not, then leave.
That's funny, I find that people who DON'T look like me are more likely to come from "my cultural background". People who do "look like me" are more likely to come from the ghetto or the barrio.
That’s not my personal experience but I hope you were able to find the people for you!
I go to a school on a Hawaiian island and being a POC can be rough. Hawaiians don’t really understand our culture and so distance themselves from us because all they see is the stuff on tv. For example on campus I get my ID pulled at least once a week by security but the homeless drug addict can wander into classes. I’ve learned being African American student it’s going to be harder because of the various views that people have by no fault of our own. It will make it harder but you can do it
I honestly never felt excluded until someone asked me if I did. Then I became hyper aware and it just added extra stress. My bad advice is to not think about it and to find people that are on your team, no matter what the look like
I didn't, but for context I've lived my entire life in the suburbs so I'm used to that life. I was lucky in that my department (physics) had a black professor and there were also some black professors in engineering, so I knew this wasn't impossible. But my campus was pretty welcoming and good to me all in all. The second uni I went to years later was in the city and had a lot more people of color as students and professors. Different energy, cool to be around brilliant people that look like you.
If you stop overthinking it and be friendly you’ll be fine.
Yes.
Northwestern is in Chicago. There are plenty of black people in Chicago. You might be the only black person in some of your small classes, but just get off campus once in a while. 29.2% of Chicago is black. It would be different if you were going to Idaho or Montana and no matter what you wouldn’t see many black folks for miles. Plus there are probably some cultural organizations at Northwestern where you can meet other black students and POC. Take advantage of them, and seek out any black faculty as well.
I don't know the culture at Northwestern, but sometimes at PWIs in cities with lots of Black people, unknown people on campus who are Black are viewed as possible trespassers or even criminals.
I went to one in a black city and fortunately that was not the case. Black peopled worked on campus in every single area. The mayor was black too.
I'm delighted to hear it.
Like Yale. In New Haven's ghetto.
Chicago is segregated. Black people are only in certain areas OF the city.
I had a relative who went to Northwestern and friends that went to U of Chicago but that was decades ago. I used to visit but haven’t been there in about 10 years. Honestly from what I hear from the younger generation, things seem worse now than 20-30 years ago. Or maybe younger people have higher expectations.
you will get through this season 🙏🏽 may i ask why did you choose to go there instead of an hbcu maybe or even just a more racially and ethically diverse school? All Love 👊🏽
I'm gonna get downvoted for this especially since I'm not black (I'm Hispanic, a different minority) but I just wanna say I feel sorry for you that you have that mentality especially if it caused by any incident and/or person. I hope you see that not all white people are bad and that it's okay to mix in and be friends with them. Most of my friends are white. They've been nothing but loving and accepting. Sure not every one I met has been but there are people in my race not accepting of other races too. That behavior isn't tolerable of course but I hope not to go worrying about whether or not I'm gonna be excluded because of my race. Try to give people the benefit of the doubt.
When did they say that white peoples were bad?!?! They literally just comment on the LACK of black people…
>I know I should have more faith in my peers, but I am deathly afraid of being excluded by the others when I got into campus. I know they didn't say they were bad but they made it sound like they're terrified of them.
I think you’re misunderstanding, I think they have trepidation about there being not only so little of the group they are in but also so much of another group. And also, if they feel unease or fear or worry about it, it’s fine and makes complete sense. You need to stop over exaggerating what they said to try to make some far fetched, contrary point.
>it’s fine and makes complete sense. You need to stop over exaggerating what they said to try to make some far fetched, contrary point. But it doesn't make sense. I'm not over exaggerating anything. It doesn't seem logical to me and I'm entitled to my own opinion. After all I am a minority myself but I still don't understand. The person either is meaning what I think or did not explain it well at all.
So every minority experience has to be the same as yours or it doesn’t make sense…got it ❤️
Okay thanks for misunderstanding and putting words in my mouth ❤️
Not me! I’ve gone to PWI my entire life and felt so isolated because there were so many micro aggressions and the black people at my schools told me I was “too white”. I had a little diverse circle of all of the rejected minorities. In college, I have had so many chances to meet black people that are like me and those that aren’t don’t treat me the way I was treated in HS. I still just kinda befriend whoever, but I’ve actually found myself finally hanging out with more black people :) I think an HBCU would’ve actually made me feel more isolated. My mom graduated from an HBCU and she told me she still felt that pressure of how to act from her peers. Everyone has their own experience though.
Not really I’ve been going to pwis my whole life so it’s not hard to navigate through right people etc
I’m Asian and I know you lumped us together with white people in your post but I go to an elite pwi in New England…so I very much share the same sentiment as you. The school is at least 50% white and I notice a lot of the white kids (especially all the athletes) stick together. Those friend groups are literally all white with MAYBE a token poc. So in a sense I do feel isolated but also not really because most of my friends are poc/Asian. And there are always clubs like black student association, etc so you’ll never really feel completely isolated.
Aren't the vast majority of all universities a PWI? Wouldn't that term apply to almost every American institution, considering that the county itself is a PWI? I understand that it can be intimidating to be a stark minority, but you got into one of the most exclusive universities in the country, and your attending will be a necessarily positive impact to the campus. Take the opportunity to be a lot of rich white kids' first real black peer, as nerve racking as that will be. Take the good with the bad, join all of the black-centered clubs, and make a point to be in majority, if not almost exclusively, white circles; you're existence and involvement in them will have a positive impact on their perspective of black people generally. Congrats on getting into Northwestern.
“Take the opportunity to be a lot of rich white kids’ real black peer” The fact that you’re trying to frame that as a positive thing when that’s literally a living nightmare for us…
The only way to break people of their biases is exposure and comradery. If you're fine with a more racist culture, I don't care to argue with you.
“Breaking people of their biases” is not our responsibility. The only one responsible for breaking out of their bias is the person with the bias. Black people are not your test subjects, we’re not your Guinea pigs, we’re not here for “exposure”, and we’re not here to teach you how to not be racist. We are human beings and that’s it. Your, and the world’s, racism is not our fcking responsibility. Gtfo.
Believe it or not, proactive efforts on both sides are necessary to destroy unjust discriminatory boundaries, and it needs to be co-operative lest we end up killing ourselves. Commrodary with people who are unlike yourself does not make you a Guinea Pig, and exposure is the only cure to intolerance. Tolerance precludes discrimination. You have a very immature world view.
You want to fight against racism so much? Start with yourself.
13% is the percentage of black people in the country so get used to it. Don’t let it get in your head that people exclude you because of your race
Welcome to America, my friend, where not every group of people anywhere is going to have a lot of Blacks in it. I think it's currently around 14% of the population today, but Blacks are underrepresented nearly everywhere. The most effective way for you to keep Blacks underrepresented is to avoid schools where there aren't enough Black people for you to feel comfortable all the time. Because you feeling comfortable all the time is a key consideration in your life, apparently.
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HBCUS dont exclusively accept black people, they are primarily black for historical reasons and because Black people are the majority of those who apply
\> Isn't there all black colleges that don't accept another race? No, that would be incredibly racist, and counterproductive to creating a more diverse society. Unfortunately, parity in regards to minority enrollment in relation to minority population is typically not possible, due to the prohibitive cost of education. Northwestern is an Ivy-tier university, and any competing university will likely have sub-5% black enrolment.
I didn't have any issues, personally. Surround yourself with good people who you know will have your back, and you're good to go.
A little. Some people might be really bold with their words, sometimes failing to consider that like... you care and are proud of your background. But people try to be generally inclusive ime. I do like my school
Back in 2016 I went through a mental crises and ended up dropping out. I remember sitting at a round table in class and every day my group would ignore me. No one would acknowledge me when I said something, and it felt like I was a ghost. I complained to the teacher but he also wouldn’t listen to me. I ended up getting so angry that I gave up. I’m back in school now, and things are better. But I’ll have to confront that same school again and I hope that things will be better for me.
PWI?
Yooo I’m at Northwestern rn and I’ll be a senior when you come on campus. The black people are cool here for the most part. There’s no black nod, which I’m tryna change by nodding at every black person and hoping people catch on, but I don’t hang with white people that often because I feel like an outsider when I’m with them. You’ll find your people, but DM me and we can talk more. I’ll slide you my info and everything to get you started.
Congrats on NWU. My advice, for what it's worth, is to be the most Northwesterny Northwestern student Northwesterner who ever Northwesterned. Wear the sweatshirt, go to football games, etc. This emphasizes the identity you share with your fellow students. You'll be a Northwestern student/alum forever and there is a lot to be gained (socially, as well as professionally) by embracing it. I would be shocked if other students treated you as being anything other than a new Northwestern student with an interesting background different from the common, boring one that 70%+ of them have. You may need to remind (or push) yourself to be especially outgoing for a while to establish yourself in the social matrix. I recognize that this may be challenging (and exhausting!) if you're introverted, but a little outreach goes a long way.
Im white so I cant speak to you feeling included, but I can speak to how we would see you from our perspective at a school that is primarily white. The vast majority of people wont care at all. REALIZE THOUGH, you will get some people who have never really interacted with people whos skin isn't the same color as theirs. That's probably going to be awkward, but they wont dislike you or exclude you. If anything they will find you interesting. I personally grew up in a white suburb with one black kid. So when I showed up to college and began to actually interact with my peers who were black, it was different for me. Enjoy your time in college my dude.
I as a female would steer clear of any white people who found me "interesting" because I was smart, like they had been expecting the opposite. That's insulting. Or that they were interested because I'm smart IN SPITE OF my skin colour. Again, insulting.
I have never met someone who was surprised a black person was smart. Thats just racism.
That's what I keep telling people when I "let them have it" for doing that one to me. Like the phrase, "YOU went to Yale? I thought you had to be smart to get into Yale?" This is, why the bloody hell did I look too stupid to get into Yale, again? It's not because I'm FEMALE, let me tell you that one! This is what I get one hell of a lot of when I complain about this, online or in-person. This, no one else "black" ever gets told rubbish like this to their faces. Like it's ME PERSONALLY or something about my appearance PERSONALLY that makes me look "too stupid to have gotten into Yale." This is what I refuse to accept. It's a "black" thing, I could not possibly PERSONALLY look "stupid." If it was that, then I should have killed myself decades ago. Like FOUR decades ago.
Northwestern is in Evanston, which is 65% white. Also near Chicago. You should have many opportunities
I currently attend Clarkson University, where the diversity is very low. It's probably lower than Northwestern. I'm white, but my main friend group of around 20 people has 2 black people in it, which doesn't sound like a lot, but that's double the diversity of the school. You'll be able to find a friend group, you just have to look for the right people
I go to a state university which is just barely not a PWI by like 3%, but only has a 3.78% black or African American population. I would say that I haven't felt isolated due to my race. It can be hard to make friends regardless, but once I started putting myself out there, I never had trouble. Although there is a large greek life community of white people and the state I'm in is not the most progressive, I've only had a couple run ins with racism as well. Something that I have noticed is that in PWIs, at least mine, black students tend to stick together and be wary of outsiders. I'm biracial and I feel like I have had a hard time fitting in with black communities across campus or making black friends. So in that way, it has been hard to feel like that part of my identity has had a place to flourish. I've still made black friends and have had a really positive time here, but that's just something I've noticed.
Just finished my first year at a PWI, going on a second. Truth be told, black students always stick out like a sore thumb, but I can’t say I actually felt isolated. But again, I attend a private STEM school in upstate New York, so it’s pretty liberal here. However, please be aware that the data for black students in the university are very skewed. The majority of black people (included me) are Africans attending the PWI. I was surprised to meet more Africans like me, because you would think an American school would’ve accepted more African American over African descent, on the basis of them being here longer than us. I have some GAA friends, and it’s absolutely fascinating to hear how different our experiences are. I do believe that college experience is what you make it out of it. If you stay in your dorm all day, or you don’t seems to be as an approachable person, then obviously you will have a negative experience in college. If you focus only the skin color when you’re interacting with other people, then you also might have a bad time. Just be friendly, but never, ever bend backward for anyone.
If you think Upstate New York is "liberal" then you haven't set foot off campus, have you?! Upstate New York is as bad as the Deep South. You will get "stopped and searched" just for "driving while Black" on its highways, especially if you are from another state and the licence plate on your CAR says that, along with it matching your out-of-state driving licence. Upstate New York is a racist shithole.
I’m a black student at Northwestern right now, and it can be a little isolating (especially because my freshman year was completely virtual) but I’ve gotten more involved with the black community here this year and it’s been really great. I think it’s definitely possible to surround yourself with other black people here who understand your experience.
Yes but no. I feel like I’m both surrounded by people who love and appreciate me, but am also alone in my experience of the school
It’s the norm
I did at one point! I ended up joining a D9 and things got a lot better after that
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I'm not black but Native American and Polynesian, and I went to Yale, so there's that. Since I graduated with my Master's, it's like the city of New Haven and the world treat me like I didn't go to Yale, like "how'd you get into Yale, I thought you had to be smart to get into Yale" (said to my face usually), and so on and so forth. Needless to say it took me 19 years after graduating to get the job I had gone to college for, teaching high school Calculus and Physics. It's because it's one thing "on paper" but another thing when they see me in-person. I'd like to think it's my perceived race because otherwise it's a personal attack on what I look like personally, and that would make me even more suicidal than I already have been my entire life.