Hard Times At Bentley College

I’ve known I was going to attend Bentley since I was 14 years old. I worked hard to get the best grades possible in order to be able to attend. The first few weeks were easy enough and I was having a good time.

Last week my first year seminar class were having a discussion on racism. Most of them seemed to agree that racism was no longer an issue.

That same night I was in my room doing my homework while my roommate was doing her homework with another student. They couldn’t figure out how to say a word in Spanish and my roommate asked the other student to ask me (I had my headphones on). They other girl got my attention and she said “Jessica I didn’t know you spoke Spanish.” I said of course I speak Spanish I’m from the

Dominican Republic

.” She said, “I didn’t know you were Dominican” so I asked her where she thought I was from.

She laughed and said, “I don’t know I just though you were regular.”

But racism is no longer and issue.

(The girl by the way said in another occasion that is she ever said anything offensive to anybody is because she is from

Maine

and she doesn’t know any better.)

On another note, my service learning was canceled again. :(

Comments

[Jeff Jacques]

Hey Jessica,

I have also experience similar racism on this campus, although it has not be directed towards me in particular. A few days ago I was in line at Seasons Dinning making a waffle when a girl said to another one of her friends, "have you seen all the Asians around here, there are so many of them." Don't worry though, just keep your head up.

[Hitesh]

Jessica,

It seems that racism is unconscious. I bet that the other girl didn't even realize what she said when she made her comment. It was nice that you were able to catch that.