Who is Seen

Mari Smith: Last May at Antioch college students of color filled the coretta scott king center in secret to have a difficult discussion about race and culture. The day was started by verbalizing their frustration. They called it a day of disappearance. The idea was to show the college what a day without people of color or POC would look like. Many POC felt as though they've never been seen in the right way.

Noella Nzishura: I don't like to make myself disappear.

Mari Smith: That was Noella Nzishura, a fourth year at Antioch college, one of thirty students and faculty members who attended.

Noella Nzishura: Because we've been enduring this society and made it invisible. Our thoughts, our skin color, it's so vibrantly there but were unseen.

Mari Smith: Noella says she's too often seen for the color of her skin but too completely unseen when it comes to opinions and involvement in the classroom.

Noella Nzishura: The reason that a lot of people are afraid of dark people is 00:01:00because of the concept of pureness and what is scary? Dark is scary. When we're going through problems, depression, we say it's a dark place in our life, it was a dark period. When you hear that, what you think about so now people of color are darkness.

Lucas Bautista :No one wants to be called racist, like no one, not even racists. It has such a strong connotation. Once you call someone racist they will do anything to not be called that.

Mari Smith: Lucas Bautista a second year analyzes the social constructs of racism.

Lucas Bautista :There are different types of racism and different places that racism comes from and it needs to be acknowledged that there needs to be a certain amount of humility from people who don't have that experience. That is just not seen.

Angel Nalubega: I think authentic real engagement comes from your everyday actions. Us communicating with one another like "I'm seeing you" you know you have to really see people. I think It's hard to understand people's issues when you don't see them and when you don't try to see them.

Mari Smith: Angel Nalubega a second year brings up a very important question. Who are we authentically engaged with? What does that look like?

Noella Nzishura: But in the end I was like I don't need to understand why some POC need this. I just need to come and support them. During 8 hours of discussion that were sometimes very emotional students agreed that they need a community. A form of security that will watch their backs understand their struggles and show up for them. Here is Ishan Allen, a third year.

Ishan Allen: Being able to have that love for yourself. Being able to really celebrate who you are can further help you to build a culture I guess with other people. If there ain't that love it's hard to give love back.

Mari Smith :The conversations that happened on that day of disappearance are one 00:03:00step towards a more inclusive campus. The story is far from over. The college is continually evolving and there will be new students here in the fall. Further changing the POC and larger campus community. For WYSO I'm community voices producer, and Antioch college student Mari Smith.