Written by Emily Longman
Segregation. It’s a topic that makes a lot of people uncomfortable, regardless of their skin color. However, it is an undeniable fact that segregation is part of this nation’s history that many would love to be able to forget. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Concordia’s Office of Multicultural Student Engagement (OMSE) has gone out of their way to make sure that it is not brushed under the rug and is instead held up as a learning experience. OSME implores, “Let us remember the unjust societal conditions of yesterday as we commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the act that enabled us to not endure such conditions today.”
On February 10, 2014, CUC students were confronted face-to-face with a small-scale simulation of how segregation affected life for both whites and blacks on a daily basis. Signs were hung around campus that indicated which doorways and facilities white and colored students, respectively, were permitted to utilize.
MaNesha Stiff, Director of the OMSE, sent out emails explaining the historical significance of segregation, as well as introducing the concept of the signs, dubbing it the “Segregation Experience,” and asking members of the Concordia community to tweet their thoughts with the hashtag “SECUC2014.”
The experiment certainly caught students’ attention – at least 40 individuals tweeted about the signs.
The signs were highly effective in showing how uncomfortable people are with the reality of life:
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#secuc2014# RacismStillExistsPpl
@kpolcaster
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Does being reminded of your privilege make you uncomfortable? GOOD. #SECUC2014 It is not wrong to go back for that which you have forgotten
@dorotalp91
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I was definitely thrown at first but I like the idea. It’s so taboo to talk about, but needs awareness. I love it. #secuc2014
@OMSEatCUC
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Participation in the segregation experience was completely optional. However, despite the positive feedback, others were not quite as enamored with the idea:
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I realize that this was a part of history but I feel there could have been a better way to celebrate black history month. #secuc2014
@wysteria9922
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@CUChicago There could have been a more tasteful way to celebrate black history than to display these signs and offend students! #secuc2014
@talesofadiva
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Saw the sign and ignored it. I would have ignored them 50+ years ago. I don’t need to be reminded of the past mistakes every year #secuc2014
@aleenelizabethc
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Regardless of how well received the segregation experience turned out to be, at the very least it got people talking. Many were gratified by the fact that it highlighted just how far we have come, though it also pointed out the areas where our country still needs some work, even 50 years after the Civil Rights act.
