The Exeter “Community”
On Dec. 5 ALES held a die-in to recognize all of the black and brown bodies that have fallen at the hands of police brutality in this country. Not solely for Michael Brown; not solely for Tamir Rice; not solely for Eric Garner, but for the injustice that has plagued this nation since 1704 when slave patrols, the original "police," were implemented to enforce discipline upon the African slaves.I place my hands beneath me, bracing myself as I bend down to lie on the cement path leading to J. Smith. My head meets the pavement, the chilling air finds a way inside my coat and an unusual silence washes over the academic quad. After 30 seconds, I glance up towards the vibrant, blue expanse of the sky.Originally, I didn’t want to organize the die-in. I felt that Exeter, as it currently is, would not be able to understand this humbling act and the historical context that causes so much grief. But after the vote for the die-in went through the ALES board, I started to help plan it. The reasoning why I should participate in the die-in seemed obvious—I am a young black male, and therefore subject to the same profiling experienced by most of the people I would be honoring through the die-in. However, after participating in the silent protest, my reasons became more concrete, more real. I thought of my mother, her seemingly eternal tears, the pain she would have to endure if I were to die by the hands of a police officer, and the potentially scarring words of "no indictment" rolling across the television screen. I thought of the pain that my family and friends would feel, and the empty space I would leave behind. In America, it is predicted that in the near future, one-third of young African-American men will serve time in prison. I thought of me and my two brothers. That means one of us.As I lay there, my thoughts manifest themselves. A tear rolls down the side of my cheek and into my ear. I know the protest had at least made me more aware and more motivated to do something. But the only thing I could and would think about for the next 48 hours was that this was my life; that this was my reality as a black-American male.The Oxford Dictionary defines community as, "a feeling of fellowship with others, as a result of sharing common attitudes, interests, and goals." We claim that we are the Exeter "community," but that mentality should be present in all aspects of our population, not just in our academic affairs or ambitious collegiate aspirations. When I heard from a friend that students on campus believe that recent events, "didn’t matter," I was troubled. Not only does it make me feel isolated as an individual in this "community," but it forces me to reevaluate how I view Exeter. The school’s motto is non sibi, not for oneself. Now is the time for all Exonians to practice non sibi and spark discussion, learn from others and join the push for a better America, where justice prevails for all. When someone feels like this issue doesn’t pertain to them, I worry not only for the future of our nation, but for these self centered individuals who will become the leaders that Exeter grooms. If Exeter is supposed to bring in and produce highly-educated and intelligent citizens of tomorrow, then the world's future leaders need to be well informed about the systemic dilemma that affects America’s minorities daily. It is a human matter that young black and brown bodies are shot and killed by police everyday, not a black one. The sooner we understand the magnitude of this issue and how it impacts everyone, the closer we are to ending systemic injustices for not just my unborn son, but for the future citizens of the United States.Even though I chose to participate in the die-in, my reality is not one of complete choice. Racism and injustice will continue to impact me, whether I want it to or not, and only through first love, compassion and then action will these cease to be problems. But we already knew that. Right?