The Lack of Multiculturalism and how it Affects Students

In my Social Justice class, we read an article about the lack of multiculturalism and how it affects students. The article basically described how many students of color are treated as a collective rather than an individual with diverse thoughts, ideas, and perceptions. Many times in classes, mostly those with just one or two students of color, the student of color will be asked racial questions with the assumption that are going to represent the “Black, Asian, or Mexican” point of view. I was in this situation before where I was asked “Do all black people love chicken?” Personally, I love chicken but how was I supposed to speak for all the other black people in the world. These questions make minority students feel alienated and isolated due to these inhospitable practices. Many times, the experiences and existence of these minorities are belittled.
These injustices and wrongful assumptions are, in a way, not the fault of the teachers, but more of the institution’s fault. There is a lack of faculty of color which makes up the institution. Studies have shown that faculty members provide a needed outlet, support system for students, especially minority students, one that is often missing in the majority environment. Faculty of color provides someone to talk to, and turn to for advice. When frustrated and feeling alone, the faculty members of color bring diversity and a sense of comfort, which most students miss when on campuses that is not as diverse. Here at DU, I have friends who desire a professor of the same color that they can talk and look up to. However, with the lack of faculty of color, this is near impossible. I feel that more faculty of color will decrease these tensions and will create a “shoulder” for these students of color to lye on.