Words, Words, Words

A few months ago (I know it's been ages since I've written), I was sitting in the cafeteria with some new acquaintances. These were folks I had met in the course of a math class and who might be becoming friends but it was too early to tell. We were in the loud, cavernous cafeteria room with clattering trays and cutlery and happened to see a pile of pamphlets on the table about local campus elections. These were from the different student government groups, explaining changes they wanted to make on the campus.

There were mostly groups only between the far left and the center. One in particular caught my eye because it was discussing gentrification in the neighborhood in which I live - gentrification that I have seen over the course of the years I have been here. I have many a time wondered how much of a role I play in it myself. I mentioned this to the rest of the group - and I got blank stares.

Soon, I was asked to define gentrification. Now, gentrification is a hard subject to discuss even with close friends and even when everyone has a basic understanding of the concept. Introducing it to people who were, as privileged, white, oblivious individuals, very similar to myself at the beginning of my college career - well, let's say they were resistant to the idea, as I was for a very long time. I failed miserably at explaining exactly what gentrification is and why they should care.

And I thought about other similar situations - situations in which someone has used a term that is harmful, racist, sexist, classist - and about how sometimes, I do what I wish I did all the time and confront them (kindly) about their choice of language. But sometimes I don't. If I am the only girl in the group, I usually shy away. If I am younger than everyone in the group, I usually shy away. If I am a new member in the group, I usually shy away. I wish I didn't. I'm working on it.

But part of working on it is having a bunch of explanations ready and at hand, so that at least under the pressure of being younger/new/the only girl, I don't have to come up with anything new. And then I stumbled upon this video today, which I think will help me in that respect. Maybe it'll help you, too. Because we should never shy away from that conversation.