True message behind the UCLA student’s racist rant
(Ethnicmajority) Over the weekend, a UCLA student named Alexandra Wallace posted a YouTube video complaining about her fellow Asian students. Her complaints included using cellphones in the library, parents who visit on the weekends, and speaking languages other than English. Her video prompted a rash of negative responses, death threats, and a rebuke by the Chancellor. She later wrote an apology to the school newspaper stating that she could not “explain what possessed me to approach the subject as I did”.
The true message here is not what the student said. I actually admire her guts to express her true feelings so publicly when so many others are afraid to do so. This is America and she is expressing her rights of free speech. And I admire the swift responses from many appalled Americans voicing their opposing views as well.
No, the true message is about what is thought, not what is said. The student clearly does not regard her fellow Asian students as American, even though UCLA has over 12,000 Asian American students enrolled. This represents nearly a third of the enrollment at UCLA, and outnumbers all foreign students by more than four to one.
And the harm is not in what she said, it is in what she does or will do. What happens if she is the position to hire or fire someone at work? If she regards some people on the basis of race as “not American”, will that influence her decision? To spout racist views is not nearly as bad as racially discriminating against someone.
In a way, the harsh response to her video may actually hinder our ability to talk about race. I’m sure there are many who feel the same way she does who will now suffer in silence. For them, here’s my piece of advice.
How do you stop an Asian from talking on the cellphone in the library while you’re trying to study? Answer – same way you would anyone else.
True message behind the UCLA student’s racist rantTags: Alexandra Wallace, UCLA
