Throughout lecture during weeks one and two of the spring quarter, Professor Block has discussed how race, gender, and sexuality helped justify the enslavement of people and define the power hierarchy among different peoples. Race and racecraft, in particular, have been used as a platform to marginalize ethnic groups and warrant white supremacy. Historian Barbara Fields defined race as “an ideology that came into existence at a discernible historical moment for rationally understandable historical reasons and is subject to change” (Block) and racecraft as the “illusion of race produced by the practice of racism” (Mohdin). Although we try to avoid identifying people by their race, it becomes an inherent social indication of one’s identity.

As we continued to talk about race in lecture and discussion, I wondered how racial identity affects people’s day to day lives in big and little ways. Most notably, I noticed that people tend to spend time with people like them. Friend groups typically consist of one ethnicity. After some research, this trend is due to a rise in self-segregation among college students on campus. Self- segregation is when college students from different backgrounds tend to affiliate into separate racial environments. The creation of historically black dorms like 4North in UCLA or exclusive cultural groups tend to isolate a group of people to hang only with people like them. This left me wondering, is the creation of cultural dorms and clubs truly a form of self-segregation or a form of communal congregation?

Dr. Rupert W. Nacoste from North Carolina State University decided to tackle this issue by opening a discussion for diversity, in which students shared their stories, experiences, and feelings. He notes that in one of their open-class discussions, his students talked about how they have a racial mix of acquaintances, but they seldom go to each other’s parties. There are White, Latino, and Black parties, all manner of segregated social activities. Often, people don’t like it when another race attends their party because they feel that they do not belong there  (Nacoste).

I believe that the creation of cultural dorms and groups is to give minority students a safe space with people who share the same cultural experiences as them. This allows them to relate to one another and have things to talk about. Dr. Nacoste notes that tendencies to self-segregate are due to anxiety regarding interacting with racial others (Nacoste). Fear of saying the wrong thing or upsetting the other person often leads to them to isolating themselves in their own group.

Although self-segregation does pose a problem, I do think that cultural clubs are essential to helping students feel comfortable within their own campus. We can combat self-segregation by opening ourselves up to other communities and learning about one another. In fact, the Filipino Club “Kababyan” best represents how different racial groups come together to learn about one culture and create a unified community. Hopefully, we can continue to learn and grow together.

Works Cited

Block, Sharon. “Introducing Colonialism, Race, and Sex.” Racism and Sexuality. 1 Apr. 2019.

Mohdin, Aamna. “Racecraft.” Socialist Review, 1 Jan. 1993, socialistreview.org.uk/375/racecraft.

Nacoste, Dr. Rupert. “Self-Segregation on College Campuses – Community – MOTHER EARTH NEWS.” Utne, www.utne.com/community/self-segregation-on-college-campuses-ze0z1504zdeh.