This year, as with the past twelve years, Pierce College has invited students to participate in the Students of Color Conference, or SOC. All students are welcome regardless of their identity, cultural or otherwise. This event has fostered acceptance and encouraged students to enjoy every type of identity.

Some say the SOC, Black History Month, and other events like these further segregate marginalized identities. However, in a culture that heavily marginalizes and discriminates against non-dominant cultures, it is extremely valuable to have a designated time to display and enjoy human differences. Without these set times, we are further marginalizing massive groups of people.

It is no secret that our culture caters to white people. We undoubtedly have systematic privilege that people of color do not. The number of African American men in jail for drug possession is disproportionately higher than that of white men, despite white men being more likely to be in possession. There are inarguably still race issues in our culture. However, the SOC is not a race issue. Providing spaces where people are accepted is not racism simply because white people don’t feel welcome.

Only subjegated peoples are allowed to decide what is and isn’t offensive to their cultural identity. Those affected by racism are the most important people to listen to in discussions of racism, just as women are the most important to listen to in discussions of sexism.

It is not surprising that an event that doesn’t cater to white people would offend white people. It is extremely important to devote time to destroying the systematic discrimination that exists in our country.  The Students of Color Conference is doing just that; inviting all students to enjoy and explore differently cultural identities.

This year, as with the past twelve years, Pierce College has invited students to participate in the Students of Color Conference, or the SOCC.

All students are welcome regardless of their identity, cultural or otherwise. This event has fostered acceptance and encouraged students to enjoy every type of identity.

Some say the SOCC, Black History Month, and other events like these further segregate those identities.

However, in a culture that heavily marginalizes and discriminates against non-dominant cultures, it is extremely valuable to have a designated time to display and enjoy human differences. Without these set times, we are further marginalizing massive groups of people. The Students of Color conference is offering everyone a time to explore and celebrate non dominant cultures. This is undoubtedly a positive experience for all those involved.

It is no secret that our culture caters to white people. We undoubtedly have systematic privilege that people of color do not. The number of African American men in jail for drug possession is disproportionately higher than that of white men, despite white men being more likely to be in possession. According to data by the U.S. Sentencing Commission, once convicted, black offenders receive sentences of 10% longer than white offenders of the same crimes.

There are inarguably still race issues in our culture. However, the SOCC is not a race issue. Providing spaces where people are accepted is not racism simply because white don’t feel welcome.

Only subjugated people are allowed to decide what is and isn’t offensive to their cultural identity. Those affected by racism are the most important people to listen to in discussions of racism, just as women are the most important to listen to in discussions of sexism.

It is not surprising that an event that doesn’t cater to white people would offend white people. It is extremely important to devote time to destroying the systematic discrimination that exists in our country.

The Students of Color Conference is doing just that; inviting all students to enjoy and explore different cultural identities.