Smith College a PWI

It's a biyotch

Now I know that Smith College is a PWI. I deal with the passive racism all the time, but taking physics II I have been dealing with right out racism. It's very discouraging to do good in a class when the professor already wants to see you fail.

During the first week of class he took good care to know everyone names, which I mean the "normal" American names. He knows Sally, Rachel, and Ava. He will quiz himself walking down the aisles with Isabella, Jessica, and Michelle. But he would skip people with names like Omema, Jessely, Aboni, and Oumou. I thought I was just simply being sensitive and overly judgemental, unfortunately I wasn't. The material we are learning in physics can be complicated, and we need the professor's help in order for us to succeed. That is not possible for the minorities in the class. People have told me that he will bang his head in frustration if he deems someone's question too "basic." He has been rude in emails if he has forgotten to post something on Moodle. He has been overly condescending to any minority and has openly picked on us during class, so much so that the TA of the class has decided to help us the most because the professor is either rude or ignores us to the end of class. The minorities and I have decided to sit together and help one another every day, so that's comforting, but every class we have to encourage each other not to get upset by his actions.

I think it's unfair how I have to deal with this even though I am trying my best in his class and just want to do well. I knew racism existed, but usually people are quiet about it which at times can be more manageable than blatant racism. Every day, I look forward to learning the material, but dread another snide remark from him or his unnecessary heckling. I love physics, but he's making it hard for me to want to be in the class and learn...

Sorry for the downer this week, but this has been weighing heavily on me for the last couple of weeks and I needed to share this experience with people other the ones in my class. Anyway it's almost fall break, and I am stoked! I am also the 100th post, so cool that we have been so diligent, and doing this so long! Keep up the good work!