Mariah Thompson: Sun-Star should prioritize victims’ voices
I am profoundly disappointed at the Sun-Star’s decision to run the op-ed “Students demanding the unobtainable” (Page 5A, Nov. 16). On such crucial and current topics as structural racism and respect for diversity, you prioritized an opinion piece that mocked and misunderstood what racial justice organizers on America’s campuses are demanding. By choosing this author, you also suggest the appropriate decider of “reasonable goals” for students experiencing racism is a light-skinned man, our society’s least-discriminated identity. His lack of experience with America’s movement for equality is evidenced by his complete misunderstanding of the term “safe space” and what it stands for.
On issues regarding racial justice and discrimination, the Sun-Star should prioritize the voices of individuals who have lived the experience of racism in the United States and thus can more accurately speak to both the need for systemic change and the pain racism causes. Merced is a culturally diverse community that includes ethnic groups whose cultural identity is stereotyped for Halloween costumes every year. It also includes a university of highly educated people, including people of color. Next time, perhaps it is their opinions you should highlight.
Mariah Thompson, Esq., Merced
This story was originally published November 21, 2015 at 12:34 PM with the headline "Mariah Thompson: Sun-Star should prioritize victims’ voices."