Are we really “One” Jackson State?

Mark Braboy
Associate Editor

Over the past few years, Jackson State University has grown to become a much more culturally diverse university. Right now, we have students from all over the United States and the world.

According to the Office of Research and Planning’s 2014 Facts and Figures report, JSU is not only home to  students from Mississippi and surrounding states, but home to students from as far away China, India and Africa.

Although considered a premier HBCU, JSU has African-American students, Caucasian students, Hispanic students, Asian students and many more. It appears that we are building a bridge that is leading towards perhaps one of the most culturally rich and unified HBCUs in America. But with all of this diversity, are we truly unified as students?

Currently, we are in an era where the country has been racially and culturally divided by issues such as the deaths of Trayvon Martin and Mike Brown and the shootings of blacks by police officers. Because of these issues, race and culture have been a hot button issues nationwide.

Race relations at HBCUs, compared to other universities, are relatively calm. Incidents like the one that occurred last year at the University of Mississippi that involved students protesting the reelection of President Barack Obama by burning signs and defacing the James Meredith statue, rarely occur.

At Jackson State, most students, including myself, welcome students of all races and ethnicities. It is my belief that experiencing diversity allows us to grow as people. The problem is that there is a disconnection between the American students and the International students. There also seems to be a disconnection between the blacks and non-whites. It is like we are all trapped behind our own cultural barriers and are afraid to explore.

It seems that a lot of the ethnicities on campus, including the Americans, segregate themselves and stay within their own kind. This phenomenon also extends to groups within the U.S. Chicago students tend to socialize with other students from the windy city.  Texans tend to socialize with other Texans, and so on and so forth.

It also seems that many of the events and activities held for all students, get very low participation from the international and non-white students. That is not to say that there are not individuals willing to explore different cultures, become involved in organizations, or even support the various events on campus. But the number of students bridging the gap is very low.

We just can’t seem to understand each other because we’re so different. As a result it causes this uncomfortable form of separation that causes internal fear and prejudice.

What we need are more avenues and discussions that can bring both national and international students together in order to foster discussions about race and culture Our student population is too diverse not to include the voice of all Tigers.

I challenge all students, faculty and staff to actively make an effort to include, befriend or just talk to someone at JSU who does not look like you, do what you do or come from where you are from. If language barriers are the issue, we need to bring in translators to help facilitate communication.

We must begin the dialog on race and culture relations that will improve our campus and the world. Let’s start the process to truly becoming “One” JSU.