White people need to be aware of their privilege. In their minds, they probably thought they were doing the right thing. They came out to support a liberal candidate who’s against marginalized oppression. On the surface, they hadn’t done anything wrong.
But the lack of awareness about coming into a neighborhood that doesn’t usually have access to these types of educational opportunities and making yourself the center of attention just screams colonization. When you come into a community created by and for black students and you decide to to dominate the conversation, you make it hard for us to feel comfortable in our own blackness.
When the DJ plays Maze’s “Before I Let Go” or Fast Life Yungstaz’ “Swag Surfin’” and we can’t be carefree because you’re staring at us like we’re a foreign species, it doesn’t make us feel comfortable.
I’m not gonna say that you don’t have a place in these conversations, but you need to be firmly aware of your role as an ally and not be literally front and center.
I know you can take one night out of your whiteness to be hyper aware of your place in these spaces. After all, black people have done this every minute of the day for every moment of our lives.