There are racist people in the world. There are bigots in the world. There are people in this world who discriminate against others based on arbitrary characteristics, especially in the country we live in. To deny or refute these things is to be willfully ignorant.
This being said, it has not been easy for the victims of these people to prosper in spaces where they are not welcome. Whether it be educational environments, professional environments or even public settings, there are obvious displays of both these attitudes and microaggressions.
Last month, a white Hamilton County judge resigned after a video surfaced of him chasing a black woman down, grabbing her and bringing her back to his courtroom. The judge claimed he was simply guiding her back to the courtroom. He also forced her into a seat in the jury. The video clearly displays the judge’s anger and the woman’s terror.
There was no reason for this judge to act in the manner. Why chase this woman? Why did he have to put his hands on her? There’s no reasonable explanation for doing so. Regardless of the woman’s actions prior to the incident, there is nothing which can justify this judge’s behavior. The woman came into the courtroom searching for protection and likely left even more terrified than when she came in. The judge’s behavior was despicable, and I can’t help but think his resignation was a way to save face while he could.
As much as the world would like to pretend it doesn’t, race plays an important role in the daily happenings of our country. To claim not to see color is to ignore various systems designed to help some prosper more than others. Furthermore, being “color-blind,” is to ignore the past and the present, and what others have worked so hard for.
Would this incident have occurred in the courtroom of a female judge, Hispanic judge or black judge?
Representation matters, not only in media, but in the real world. The only way to prevent these incidents is to have environments where those being served have someone who shares a common cultural or racial background. We must have minorities in these positions to support those in these situations.
Racial and ethnic minorities in the U.S. are at a higher risk of premature death and other health problems than white people. According to a study published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, black men have the lowest life expectancy of any demographic group. The lack of diversity among physicians is a primary reason for this. In 2013, out of the total active physicians in the U.S., 4 percent were black or African American, 4 percent were Hispanic or Latino and 49 percent were white, according to the Association of American Medical Colleges.
These statistics are not comforting to anyone, most certainly not a member of these marginalized groups. People tend to be comfortable around those they can relate to, whether it be someone who looks like them or someone from a similar background.
I don’t cast aspersions on those in the majority, but rather I place the looking glass on our minorities. While there is no denying minorities are subject to harsher qualifying environments, this should not serve as discouragement. The statistics demonstrate a need for minorities in positions of power. If we want to see an increase in minority representation, those in minority groups must infiltrate the unwelcoming environment that currently exists.
Maya Stevenson is a 19-year-old English and economics sophomore from Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
