Students demolish prejudice at 'hate wall'

Students discussed slurs and how to handle ignorance.

By Kaylen Ralph

Published Sept. 25, 2009

Education through communication was the main theme of Wednesday night's "hate wall" event.

The event was held in Stotler Lounge and was co-sponsored by Missouri Students Association Multicultural Issues Committee and You In Mizzou.

The event consisted of a two-part program.

For the first half, representatives from nine minority organizations on campus presented derogatory words and racial slurs their groups consider to be some of the most offensive insults. These words were written on makeshift bricks and stacked one on top of another. The total number of slurs comprising the wall was 183.

Then the approximately 80 students in attendance broke up into smaller discussion forums facilitated by You In Mizzou volunteers.

Most students who attended the event were first-timers, including those who planned the event. MSA MCI Chairwoman Alex Holley said planning for the event has been going on for five years. In the past, the event has been in Speakers Circle with fewer participants, less interaction and less understanding from students passing the wall.

"I have not been to a "hate wall" event before and have never heard of one either," Jewish Students Organization member Daniel Brick said. "I went to a Four Front meeting in representation of JSO and the MCI said they were planning this event."

Instead of making the focus of the event hateful words, students engaged in open discussion regarding why people think it's OK to say these slurs and terms and how to best handle this ignorance.

Hispanic American Leadership Organization member Alyssa Mendoza shared some advice her dad always told her growing up and how she was applying that to her career at MU.

"We're all different, but we're all here for the same reason and that's to learn," Mendoza said. "We are the future. Don't let anyone get you down because you're here for a reason."

In addition to ignorance and negative media stereotypes, Brick said many college students don't understand the gravity of certain word choices. During the presentation of his brick, he made a special point of addressing the idea the Holocaust never happened, explaining how hurtful that notion is to the approximately 6 million Jews in addition to other minorities who were murdered.

"I think racial slurs and different derogatory terms are thrown around quite a bit to the point that college students are desensitized to them," Brick said. "They forget that they are actually very hurtful terms."

The event ended when the "hate wall" was literally broken down by a baseball bat, to the delight and cheers of every one present.

"It's important to educate others," Holley said. "A lot of people might be thinking the ideas that were said here tonight, but let's get it out there and talk about these things. Education was the theme of the event. Let's talk and the see what we can do about this problem."