Black president, white president, does the color of someone’s skin determine his or her character? So often within our community, we stress the issues of injustice and inequality that we face as minorities.
However, once the tables are turned, we fail to realize that discrimination and prejudice is not just a white vs. black issue, but it can reverse to a black vs. white issue.
Opposition to FAMU’s upcoming president possibly not being black appalled me. How could this selection be based on something as insignificant as someone’s skin color? The fact that this is a controversy is astonishing. If an individual is qualified for a position as president, disregarding the person’s character because of his/her color points to racial discrimination and prejudice.
The only repetitive argument presented against a nonblack person being president was that “he or she could not relate.”
To me, that statement implies that a person should be judged on the color of their skin and not their character or qualifications. However, many fail to realize that a number of our professors, administrators and members of the Board of Trustees are white.
The FAMU community doesn’t only consist of a group of black people coming together in an uplifting quest for higher education, but a combination of other races coming together, as well.
Have we forgotten that the civil rights movement was a result of the discrimination and prejudice we endured because of our skin color? Legislation such as affirmative action was enacted to grant minorities a fair opportunity at life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, regardless of their color, race or sex.
One of the most prominent leaders of our time declared that he had a dream that one day his children would not be judged on the color of their skin, but on the content of their character.
FAMU, have we forgotten?
With all the issues we are now facing, do we really want to judge whether a person is qualified for a position based on their skin color?
Marie Triche,18, is a freshman criminal justice student from Miami.