This week’s podcast resonated with me in several ways, especially in the wake of the decision to keep the names of Ryland Hall and Freeman hall. I have had several conversations with people ranging from complete strangers to loved ones about racism over the past year. I have made it a priority to not just have difficult conversations but to educate myself outside of these conversations and be an ally in the fight against racism. As discussed in the podcast, it’s easy to assume that someone sees and shares the same beliefs as you. The fact of the matter is that most people don’t. Living in Richmond this past summer I vividly remember going on my daily walk down monument avenue and thinking to myself as I passed each statue, why is it that racism is being celebrated? In the blink of an eye the Lee monument was covered with various messages and in various colors, a call and demand for change and justice in the wake of George Floyd’s death. Many people, including those with who I lived with, failed to see the reasoning behind the need to take down the statues, often saying they are “part of history.” They became extremely uncomfortable when talking about racism. 

In this moment I recognized that both myself and society need to be better. We cannot just stand by and expect someone else to fight racism. It takes every single one of us to eradicate this hatred. These conversations are difficult but they are necessary to have in order to understand the situation at hand and to learn how to be an ally. The arrogance of my roommates and failure to even acknowledge the reasoning behind the need to take down the statues infuriated me. I realized that not everyone will see eye to eye, let alone be willing to listen. At the end of the day that is their choice. I learned that the most important thing that matters is that I am willing to educate myself and others regardless of their views and also be an ally to others in any way I can.  In the wake of the university’s illogical decision to keep the names of Ryland and Freeman hall, I am ashamed to be a student of this university. This place supposedly prides itself on making a difference and listening to its students. The fact of the matter is this notion is a lie. At the end of the day, the University does not care what we have to say or what we believe in. I stand with every single organization on campus and my friends who have disaffiliated and been hurt by the university’s actions. We as students demand change and expect more from the university than a heartless letter with no reasoning behind these actions.