The University of Missouri protests over the school’s handling of racism has led to high-profile resignations, social-media threats, and now a Twitter hashtag. Under #BlackOnCampus, countless Twitter users are recounting their experiences with racism on American college campuses, showing that the issue goes beyond the University of Missouri.
The tweets touch on a range of examples of campus racism, like assumptions about one’s intent in being on campus, about one’s intelligence, and the emptiness of campus diversity initiatives:
I was told I made it to graduate school because of Affirmative action, not my 3.67 GPA & 2 BAs & research #BlackOnCampus
— The Du Boisian Biologist (@Hood_Biologist) November 12, 2015
Being #BlackOnCampus means you're beloved in brochures & "diversity" campaigns, but isolated & disregarded in campus access & equity.
— Ernest Owens (@MrErnestOwens) November 12, 2015
Sitting in lecture halls like #BlackOnCampus pic.twitter.com/CMBB8GJK60
— philip lewis (@Phil_Lewis_) November 11, 2015
As with many conversations centered on race, the hashtag has also attracted naysayers, with criticisms like these:
Boo Hoo! #BlackOnCampus Study history..these bozos crying about discrimination have no idea what true discrimination was..
— Donna Lasater (@DLasater_99362) November 12, 2015
Stop whining! You're all so boring. No one is guaranteed anything. Not happiness or safety. Nothing. #BlackOnCampus
— Jack Furnari (@JackFurnariUSA) November 12, 2015
Twitter users, however, are responding to those who are critical of the #BlackOnCampus hashtag:
https://twitter.com/PoliticalGroove/status/664587304535633920
https://twitter.com/CameronConaway/status/664608485234069505
https://twitter.com/KayellaH/status/664623781487509504
After receiving criticism in the past for purportedly ignoring the Black Lives Matter movement, it’s interesting to note that Bernie Sanders is the first presidential candidate to respond to #BlackOnCampus.
I'm listening to the #BlackOnCampus conversation. It's time to address structural racism on college campuses.
— Bernie Sanders (@BernieSanders) November 12, 2015
Just as this hashtag has inspired people all over the country to speak out, the University of Missouri protests have inspired protests on other college campuses in solidarity. NBC News reports on concurrent protests at Ithaca College and at Yale University. Ithaca students are demanding that their president resign over what they say is his mishandling of race issues on their campus. In addition, Yale recently made headlines after a professor spoke out against a university email warning students not to wear potentially offensive Halloween costumes.