When your identity is tied to your race it can be uplifting and even empowering, especially in the African American community. However, in spaces like Eckerd where racial diversity is almost non-existent, being identified by just your race can be oppressive.
Black students at Eckerd deserve to be treated as students, not stand-ins, not diversity symbols, and not representatives of a whole. More importantly white students on campus and white faculty members should respect the wishes of Black students to share their experiences and opinions or give them room to be silent and take breaks away from heavy and racially charged topics.
According to Eckerd’s common data sheet for 2024-2025 there were 56 Black students on campus last year. This calculates to the African American student population comprising 2.96% of the total population according to the ‘24-’25 data set. The Eckerd college campus is 75% white in terms of student body…