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In light of recent discussion topics regarding, "should colleges practice affirmative action in the admission process?" we must all consider our own social constructs and begin to reflect as to whether or not Holy Cross is here to provide an opportunity for the unfortunate and underprivileged populace. There's a new movement now, in this country, that's redefining diversity. It's not about who's Black or White, Asian or Latino, but whom are caught in between.

What about last years fish bowl discussion on race? or in residence hall RA programs each semester? Holy Cross seems to stress the fragile relationships between Black and White individuals, and to a slightly lesser degree, Asian and Latino, as well. Granted, HC is taking great strides in trying to make this home of ours more inviting and secure for those of separate ethnic groups, but in so doing, are ignoring the even greater movement of an ever growing population of multi-ethnic persons.

"Multiracial children are redefining America. Today, more multiracial babies are born in states like California and Washington than any other race except Caucasian. Census 2000 was the first time that Americans could identify as multiracial, and seven million did so. However, multiracial youth are rarely recognized on forms requesting racial information, or in diversity curriculum. The lack of resources that address their unique challenges is one reason why multiracial children have the highest rates of physical and sexual abuse of any racial group, and are among the fastest growing segments entering the juvenile justice system (mavin.net)."
Many multi-ethnic persons struggle in realizing who they are because they are pulled towards different cultures and beliefs. Myself, for example, cannot say that I'm black, because I'm clearly denying another part of me, the other half, which happens to be white. I'm too white for the brothas, but too black for everybody else. In applying for colleges, nowhere did I find "multi-ethnic or bi-ethnic" when filling out my ethnicity. I had to either put black or white because "other," seems to be far too broad. It appears that the American society forces me to choose a piece of my identity - and I'd rather not.

When having to choose which part of my ethnicity I'd like to identify with, it stirs up a slight fear in denying who I am as a person, being multi-ethnic, and makes me feel a little uncomfortable and sensitive to diversity issues. In fact, "…fears make millions of citizens with a mixed ethnic background either to join a certain ethnic or religious group, or to tolerate oppressions and to feel their apparent defectiveness… " Being forced to identify with a specific ethnicity can only further encourage unawareness and ignorance.
My home here at HC, the very place that is to educate me and prepare me for "the real world" outside of college, is in fact, denying me access to my own search for self-realization. I prefer the term realization as opposed to identification due to the fact that identification, for me, involves my entire relationship with the empirical world. My sense of identity is comprised of my own experiences within my family, cultures, and society. To realize this identity is the movement that has for so many years, been denied.
Here at HC, this development has never been discussed before because those who are aware of these issues have put them in the back of their minds, and those who aren't acquainted with multi-ethnic issues, have never had the opportunity to take it into consideration. In summary, what I'm trying to say is, it's important to find a greater understanding of diversity in our lives, particularly at HC, because diversity is important and very much real in each of our lives.

Click here to read an article by Wincie Lau