Race Relations

Throughout the previous year, issues regarding race relations have become a major discussion topic in our lives here at Exeter. Events such as the microagressions assembly have resulted in much needed opportunities for conversation surrounding race. While our school has been making an effort to plan these events, 25 percent of the school is Asian, and the Asian population on campus has been largely left out of such discussions.The school supposedly facilitates events to allow our students to learn about Asian culture. For example, the school hosts an event in the spring called Asian Night Market. It was created as an opportunity to experience different Asian snacks and treats. However, this event ultimately fetishized Asian culture and helped to reinforce some negative stereotypes. Some comments overheard include “Wow, this is like communism. How Asian!” and “This is so kawaii,” both of which are incredibly offensive. Asian Night Market should not be an opportunity to fetishize Asian cultures by commenting on someone’s traditional wear as “so anime.” At Exeter, the Asian population are expected to educate our peers about our diverse cultures with only store bought food. There are no formal opportunities for Asians to educate others on topics relevant to Asians specifically such as discrimination against Asians. The Asian clubs often become servers instead of leaders—there is not much support in the community surrounding the Asian and Asian American students who often feel out of place in everyday discussions. It is discouraging to dismiss any individual’s problems as a result of his or her race.The Asian community makes up about a quarter of the entire school. However, we are excluded from many of the events regarding racial discrimination. In conversations, we are told that our racism is “the good kind” and that “at least your people aren’t being killed”. We don’t write this oped to minimize racism directed against other races. However, the fact that discrimination against Asians is so easily brushed off is not acceptable. Stereotypes such as the Model Minority Myth negates the accomplishments of Asians on campus causing people to make comments such as, “Of course you got an 11—you’re Asian.” This form of racism is certainly not to the same level in anyway as those faced by other racial groups. However, considering that such a large population of our school is Asian it is unbelievable that there is so little discussion surrounding racism targeted at Asians and how it effects the opinions on racism of students on campus. For Asian students on campus, finding other peers and faculty who share the same experiences is intimidating when the stereotype labels Asians as a model minority.What is most disappointing about the lack of discussion surrounding Asian race issues is how clear the exclusion is. Recently, the AISNE people of color conference was hosted at Exeter by the Office of Multicultural Affairs. However, the Asian community on campus was not invited to attend until much later than the other affinity groups on campus. While other clubs were heavily involved in planning the event and were allowed to plan workshops, the Asian Advisory Board was only at the last minute allowed to host forty-five minutes per day of icebreakers and discussion. There are few opportunities to formally address the discrimination against specific racial groups, and the conference would have been a chance for Exonians to share individual experiences. Instead, the Asian Culture Clubs are only able to take part in events such as the Asian Night Market, in which the Asian population on campus literally serves the other students. Although the Night Market was created with good intentions, it displays the exclusion of the Asian community from actual events discussing racism.One out of every four students on campus are Asian. Asia is a large and incredibly diverse continent, and all Asians on campus are affected by their cultures and the stereotypes that come with them. All Asians on campus are affected by racism in some way, yet we are not given a forum to discuss these issues. Taking the time to discuss racism targeted against Asians would not take away from discussion concerning racism targeted at other groups. Instead, it would allow Exeter as a community to become more open, and allow them to better understand the complexities of race relations.