Journalist shares stories of racism and offers advice

Diversity seminars have been on the horizon at SSU, and the Wednesday night lecture, titled "Post-Racial America," given by Daisy Hernadez, embraced these lines of color and racism within our media.

The audience was thin in the Cooperage on March 18, but some women and men came seeking education from the respected Latino journalist.

Hernandez opened the night with a personal experience that displayed her growth within a diverse culture.

"I felt like an alien," said Hernandez of her childhood, living in a white community. "When I was young, in fifth grade, I could totally make an argument for alien life on the planet Neptune, because some of my family were identified as 'resident aliens.'"

Hernandez has struggled with diversity, racism and sexuality throughout her life.

A bi-sexual and native of New Jersey, Hernandez discussed how her early experiences encouraged her to work in the field of media and pursue a journalism degree. The feminist writer has written for such acclaimed publications as "New York Times" and "Ms. Magazine."

Hernandez works closely with activists and advocates in her editorial work with "Color Lines," a journal focusing on topics of race and politics. Her published work, "Colonize This!" is one of her defining books about women living in modern society.

Associated Students Productions (ASP), Residential Life and Center of Culture, Gender, and Sexuality (CCGS) presented the lecture.

Hernandez shared personal stories throughout the lecture, about her own experiences with diversity and racism.

Questions were raised by audience members on how she felt the best way to approach issues of diversity were. Her advice throughout the lecture was to open up dialogue about diversity and race, and to question the media.

"If you don't like something you read on blogs or Facebook, write to the author," said Hernandez. "I wouldn't know if I was doing a poor job with my magazine unless readers told me."

Hernandez commented on social justice movements, like civil rights and women's movements, and how they relate to story telling and the changing narratives within a community.

"These movements really started to change the way we told stories to one another," said Hernandez. "They put a human face on struggle, creating a way to connect to each other."

Today's society, according to Hernandez, finds a strong relationship using YouTube and networking sites like Facebook as a way of connecting and telling stories.

These sites have enabled society to speak very directly to each other, allowing more communication than ever before.

"This is a really exciting time to be creating media, because the power is very much in our hands," said Hernandez. "We are talking more to each other about race and issues of social justice."

According to Hernandez, racism in today's 'Obama America' is not dead and there are five things that Hernandez still believes Americans can improve in terms of talking about race and feminism.

First being, that the term racism is still unclear to most people. Interpersonal racism and violent racism are two very extreme forms of racism, but according to Hernandez, there is a very vague 'gray area' where most of today's active racism belongs.

"We have to get clear about the public policies [on racism]," said Hernandez. "Most racism is not sexy or dramatic, but the nitty-gritty is more reality."

The second improvement Hernandez suggested is to stop using the word minority, or 'non-white.' She sees the term minority as vague and says that it is commonly thought about as a number or something solid, but in reality comes down to the distribution of power.

She raises the question: In some states people of color are now the majority based on population, but who has the political power in the state? It is commonly thought that people of color do not hold political power although they may be a majority.

"People of color were the ones who showed up to vote for Obama," said Hernandez. "We have shown that we have the power, we have changed a whole nation. So the word 'minority' is no longer a true representation [of community]."

The third way to improve, according to Hernandez, is to talk about the intersections of identity and experiences including race, gender and class.

She says that it's important to keep in mind that people may have heard that their race or gender could make them victims of inequality, but to have it actually happen is a different experience. Sharing these experiences could open further dialogue about diversity and racism.

Asking what is true for the community one lives in is Hernandez's fourth piece of advice.

"We do have a black family in the White House, but this position of power is not reflective in most communities," said Hernandez. "We also know that black men are three times more likely to be in prison and 18 percent of rape victims are black women. When we're talking about people of color or racial issues we have to think about what is true for that community."

The fifth and last point that Hernandez made is that, although individuals are in an economic crisis, one needs to keep focused on the goal of making a better and just world.

With Obama's presidency, there has been discussion about a colorblind America, and getting past racism, but the real goal in Hernandez's eyes is to live in a world that is good for everyone, regardless of race, gender, sexuality or culture.

"I want you to see me as a Latino woman," said Hernandez. "I want you to see my race, and I want you to see me as a woman and think that I deserve to be in a wonderful world where we can succeed together."

On Tues., March 24, Women's History Month celebrations will continue with a poetry performance by SSU's own Kerbrina Boyd, she will recite poetry written by African American women over the past 100 years.