By DEON COLLIN
In the beginning of his BYU career Mike Ray was just like any other student. Then one day he was questioned by police. It was obvious that he did not match the description of the rapist the police were searching for except for one thing, he was black.
From this episode in life, Mike Ray, a law student from Texas, said, “People are not afraid or judgmental of me because they know me, but because I am black.”
Ray has learned how to understand and educate people about race through experiences. Interested students had the chance to learn about
diversity and focus on the African American experience in a class offered for the first time Fall semester.
The class was called “Perspectives on Cultural Diversity: The African American Experience.” The course is offered again this semester through the Honors department. It covers an array of topics beginning with slavery and ending with a greater understanding and acceptance of others and self.
Darrin Smith, the instructor for the course, conducts class discussions about things in the African American Culture that are misunderstood or never talked about. He also talks about accomplishments and attitudes of many black individuals throughout history.
Guest lecturers address the class, giving new insights and information. The students are also responsible for preparing a presentation that deals with a time, place, event or person in black history.
Students of the class last semester came from different parts of the country with different feelings and knowledge about diversity. Upon entering the class they were not asked questions about what they felt. Instead, Smith went forward with discussion of topics.
Bindi Massela, a student from Indianapolis, said, “I was a first year student at BYU and racism was a big issue, seeing that I am black in a predominately white school. The intimidation was there full force, and I almost felt like no one would understand my ethnicity being here.”
After taking the class, Massela said, “I leave this class with an understanding that the race issue is here because of lack of education.”
Many students in the class mentioned that education is the best way to change the way people think or at least give them an understanding of a different culture. Massela feels good about being able to help educate others while she attends BYU.
Jessica Ripple, a student from Nova Scotia, Canada, majoring in Communications, shared her ideas about the class.
“I didn’t really know any black history before coming into this class. I’m bi-racial but have been raised in a white family,” she said. “The class gave me an opportunity to establish some roots and understand more what I was feeling and experiencing.”
It gave her new knowledge and an understanding of how and why race relations function as they do, Ripple said.
Ripple is also the secretary of the Black Student Union on campus. There are 116 black students on campus, they are from the United States, Africa, Canada and a multitude of other places, Ripple said.
These students share a color but have a variety of interests, talents and ideas. It is crazy to think that just because people are the same color they share all the same ideas and interests, Ripple said.
Joy Coletti, from Provo, majoring in English and Secondary Education, found the first few weeks of class were difficult for her because she had prejudices and needed to change.
“This class opened my eyes to my own ignorance and to the ignorance of others,” Coletti said.
The things that helped students understand and change their perspectives in this class were open minds and information. The students were expected to read two books during the semester: “The Bluest Eye” by Toni Morrison and “Before the Mayflower” by Lerome Bennett.
Through learning about diversity, students realized the entire community could benefit from being educated about this issue.
“At this university we should live the gospel and part of living the gospel means getting to know your brothers and sisters,” Coletti said.
The biggest thing that will make a difference here at BYU in prevention of racism is to educate the uneducated in issues of diversity and accept each other, not just tolerate a person out of obligation, Ray said.
Abdullah Mills, a student from St. Louis, Miss., majoring in broadcasting, said his perspectives were limited to a degree because he would ignore a lot of the racial comments.
“I would let racial comments pass in the name of keeping the peace. Since this class, I have become more educated about racism and its effects, and my perspective has broadened. I am more prepared to inform in an educational manner which is less offensive,” Mills said.
The final word to students from their teacher was, “Now that you have been empowered with information go out and empower someone else,” Smith said.
