Growing up, I had a contradictory view on what activism meant. One the one hand, activism was the source of my freedom as an African American. On the other hand, activism was something not in line with the respectability politics I had been taught. For many years, I have carried respectability politics with me. Part of the reason has to do with being raised by a generation of African Americans, who grew up during the process of integration. They were taught to not draw too much attention to themselves, to dress and act “properly,” and to not put themselves in positions that would target them. Never in a million years would I ask to be raised differently.

I have no intentions of changing the respectability politics with which I operate. Instead, I do two things: 1) I make sure that my respectability politics do not hinder me addressing problematic statements and acts that are direct threats to my well being, and 2) I attend events like the Students in Activism workshop which helps me to gain perspective and support/change my personal positions on subject matter.

For instance, the workshop was focused on immigration. I consider immigration to be one of those topics – the touchy ones. The topics that you do not address because you do not have all of the facts. The topics that you do not address because your bias may prevent you from being fair, because you do not have experience with the subject matter. However, being in the workshop helped to further a perspective that I seldom hear: The prospective of the undocumented student. Some of my thoughts were debunked, while others were affirmed. Ultimately I enjoyed attending the workshop and engaging with students who had experiences that no one in my living families have ever experienced.

However, the workshop reminded me of a few key things that I have come to terms with in college. Activism has many faces. It can show its face in protests or addressing problematic statements in class discussion. Activism is not tied to just the actions made by movement leaders, but also the undocumented students who break barriers. All in all, this workshop helped to highlight the importance of deciding which role one would like to play, and to understand the short- and long- effects.