Columnist Kenyetta Whitfield argues people should not fall prey to the idea that you can only be concerned with one of the world's tragedies.
For most of this week students at universities and college campuses across the United States held protests and rallies in solidarity with the black students at the University of Missouri. However, the rallies, protests and Facebook statuses weren't only directed at Mizzou. People also showed solidarity with students at Yale, Ithaca and UCLA. Each of the four colleges had, and continue to have, students of color urging administration to do something about their campuses' perpetuation of institutional racism.
On Friday, in a disturbing attack that ISIS claimed responsibility for, more than 100 people in Paris were killed. The Internet and media blew up, and rightfully so. In just minutes, tweets and statuses became dedicated to #PrayforParis. Snapchat created a filter, the hashtag was trending and Facebook gave everyone the ability to turn their profile pictures the colors of the French flag.
The solidarity that black students and student allies across the country have shown with Yale, Ithaca, UCLA and Mizzou has been incredible and extremely powerful, including OU's own NAACP's rally on Wednesday. The solidarity shown with Paris all over America is also deeply touching. Yet, in the two days these events have shared the spotlight, a disturbing number of people have taken to social media to criticize student protesters for failing to realize that the happenings in Paris are "real" and that terrorism is an actual problem.
It is extremely ignorant to ignore the deeply rooted systems of oppression and racism embedded into the American education system. It is also ignorant to assert that black students and students of color should ignore problems they are facing — very real problems — in the wake of terrorism in Paris. It is human nature to feel compassion, and the student protesters are no different. People must realize how little faith many people of color may have in the American media because of its lack of devotion to their causes.
The Paris attacks are a tragic event, and yet so is what's happening at Mizzou, Yale, Ithaca and UCLA. The ISIS attacks in Lebanon on Thursday are also a tragic event. It takes a special brand of ignorance to belittle the concerns of people of color to push the burden of every world's tragedy onto them. One can #StandWithMizzou as well as #PrayforParis. It is important to remember the realities of these protesters lives. They are not in Paris, and though they are feeling empathy for those affected by the attacks, it does not take away from their personal struggles. Nobody would urge someone in Paris currently to pray for Lebanon.
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It is unfair, and in many cases the work of systems of oppression, to determine what issues constitute activism and general compassion. Myself and many others are praying for Paris, yet in the same breath are hoping that the American people don't forget the scared and concerned students at these colleges.
Kenyetta Whitfield is a sophomore studying journalism. Do you feel that the Paris attacks are overshadowing other current events? Tweet Kenyetta @Ken_Whitty or email her at kw162913@ohio.edu.
