Journal of College & University Student Housing "Housing While Black" Theme Issue - 52

Pursuing the RA Position
Liam recalled how her own RA, a Black woman, inspired her to pursue the position:
[My RA] really opened me to a lot of opportunities when I first came here, and it was
really easy to talk to her because I did have a lot of issues regarding race as a freshman.
I lived with a lot of white kids who had never lived with Black kids before and did a lot of
offensive things. I felt like if I had a white [RA], I wouldn't have felt as comfortable coming
to them to tell them about the issues.
Having had a positive experience with a Black RA, Liam wanted to be that person for
other students:
To have [an RA] who looks like you in your first year here, that's like elemental in
your development as a college student. I didn't know where to get my hair done at.
I didn't know where the beauty supplies were at. . . . Stuff like that is elemental to Black
culture, especially for young Black women. I think that encouraged me as well as just
wanting to be in a position to aid people like how she aided me.
The others nodded. While they may not have had a Black RA like Liam, they could
relate to wanting to support Black residents. Brandon explained how his experience
differed from Liam's but how he, too, thought about race when considering the position:
I didn't really see many Black RAs around. So, I was like let me take this opportunity
to like show and let people know like hey, even though you don't really see that many
Black RAs, if you actually go out there and actually show and prove that you can do
things, then you know you'll be able to get the position.
Student agreed. " I don't ever want African Americans to feel like they can't do something
because you don't see enough that are like you. "
Captain opened her mouth, then closed it again. The others looked at her expectantly.
She acknowledged that there weren't that many Black RAs, but she had never
questioned her ability to become an RA: " [To me], it was more like, I know, for sure
they're going to need some more people that are non-white to be on staff. " Simone
seemed surprised by Captain's comment:
I do know, that in like, just regular jobs, they do have like a quota for like diversity hires
and stuff. . . . But yeah, I just didn't think they were like thinking, they need to be here
because more diversity, or you know, she's just a diversity hire, just so they won't seem all
white or. . . . It's more of, you know, who is qualified for the position.
Everyone was silent for a few minutes as they reflected on whether they had perceived
their race as something that helped or hindered their chances of being selected.
Higher education institutions are historically white spaces, rooted in racism
and white supremacy, that continue to use curricula and policies that
reinforce systems of oppression.
Volume 48, No. 3 * 2022 49

Journal of College & University Student Housing "Housing While Black" Theme Issue

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