Racist emails and online messages have recently been directed at Black students at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, according to an email sent to members of the university community by the administration.
Nefertiti Walker, the chief diversity officer at the university, said that racist emails were sent to several Black student organizations using the groups’ online “Contact us” forms. The emails were described as “vile, blatantly racist, and violently offensive.” Also, it was reported that a motorist yelled a racist slur at a group of Black students on campus.
“All of these anti-Black racist acts run in stark contrast to who we strive to be, which is a campus where all students are welcomed and feel a strong sense of belonging,” Dr. Walker wrote. “We condemn all acts of anti-Black racism and will work to diminish their intent to cause harm to Black students on campus.”
Why is this NEWS? This type of explicit racist behavior happens at the majority of Historically White Colleges and Universities (HWCUs) if you ask most native born Black American students. In fact, this type of racist behavior is inculcated in the fabric of most HWCUs from the faculty, administrators, staff, curriculum, and especially most of the insecure White students.