College graduations shouldn't be canceled for protesting genocide in Gaza
Contrary to (un)popular belief, I believe these college students are genuine instead of being trendy
A few years ago, I wrote an article entitled “Trending: #FightforJustice.” Although I wasn’t always on the same page with the cover artist, she did a great job with this cover art. I loved the entire image of a protester outside, looking on in silence. I remembered what it was like to be her, specifically in college. The only difference was, unlike the cover, I didn’t have a massive group behind me who was holding signs and megaphones, ready to fight for a cause with me.
Did most agree with the cause I was fighting for? Yes. A considerable amount complained about how racist the faculty and the lesson plans were. But everybody was so worried about their GPAs and degrees, and they just weren’t willing to put that on the line.
Meanwhile, I was challenging the student newspaper, the cable company, the English department and the school’s leadership overall. I didn’t even want a degree with that school’s name on it. I’d already submitted my transcript to go to another school. I was done-done with this university. Coming from Chicago, I just couldn’t get on board with an entire group of professors (and locals) treating black folks like they were lesser than.
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Unfortunately, I remember one (black) guy telling me I needed to “find a boyfriend and stop being so militant.” I shook my head. The irony is I thought this guy was really handsome, but he blew his chance (he was flirting on occasion) at that moment. I knew he would never be somebody I would stand beside. I’m not saying I was trying to be Deborah Johnson 24 hours of the day, but this guy had 0% Fred Hampton and -1% chance of a date after that comment. And the expression on my face let him know that -1% was permanent.
Not every college student is following a trend
So when I hear Peter Rosenberg of Hot 97 brushing off college protesters, who are supporting a ceasefire between Palestine and Israel, as “just being 20,” I grit my teeth. While quite a few points he’s made on the war are on point, there have been a couple of times where I thought he was dismissive of college students as just doing what’s trendy.
Contrary to his belief (and others), I know firsthand how hard it is to get an entire group of college students, including in your social circle, to stand up for a cause. I know what it was like for other students to get petitions signed (in my case, it was usually the Native American students). It is hard to get a bunch of teenagers and early adults to all be on one accord.
It’s why I think the recent drove of anti-war students on various campuses is admirable. It’s not the first time ever that college students have stood up for a cause, but they’re so vocal against the genocide happening in Palestine that graduations have been canceled at two schools — Columbia University and University of Southern California. With more than 30,000 people in Gaza killed and a sizable amount starving, I get it.
What I don’t get is the lack of logic in universities robbing students of a graduation ceremony. I’m willing to bet that some of those graduates are not participating in the protests on either side, so why are they losing out on a ceremony because some are? Up the security, don’t cheat the students.
This is a move that will not only cost President Joe Biden youth votes (and black votes from those who are notably in support of Palestine and/or anti-war), but (I’m assuming) graduation cancellations will sour graduates on their own schools.