The struggles of POC at a PWI

A recent USA TODAY article found that the racial divide between the number white and black college aged students enrolled in a higher-education institution was rising. The article starts off telling the story of Patrick Ben III, a young black man growing up in the Chicago area. It details the challenges he faced as he attempted to apply for college and those he faced upon enrolling, such as the fact his school did not offer as many resources as his peers did.

In the United States, the funding your school receives is often dictated by the property values surrounding your school. In a country with a history of redlining and segregation, this often means that schools in more diverse communities receive less funding, creating more barriers to higher education. The effects on diversity are profound, according to the article the percentage of black individuals enrolling in a college or university decreasing 22% from 2010 to 2020.

The article also finds that black students are less likely to find a sense of community once enrolling in a higher education institution. This lack of community often results in many not completing their degrees, a lack of community being something I can relate to. 

As a journalist I’m often asked to maintain objectivity, to avoid inserting personal experiences when discussing topics, but for today’s blog post I’d like to speak on my own experience. I grew up on Long Island, one of the most segregated places in the country. I remember the first day of school, my peers making fun of the way my eyes looked, they called me “Chinese Man.” I remember, not hating school, but rather the racism I experienced while at school. 

In many ways, Ben and I’s experience are different, but in one way they are the same. The racism Ben experienced in higher education was systemic, in my case, it was personal. As a POC at a PWI you are certain to face racism in one way, or another.