Norijah Alexander, 19, started her freshman year at St. Catherine’s University last fall. She entered a classroom optimistic, but left uneasy, being one of the few Black women in the room.
As she began to navigate a new part of her life, she struggled with her identity. She felt she needed to act a certain way. When she tried to look back on the things that grounded her, there was a hole.
“I feel like I have to be more responsible,” she said. “I have to be a certain way, and I have to change my tone for people. I feel like I have to be myself for my comfort, but I also have to put it in a way so other people don’t get uncomfortable with me.”…