Women of color respond

As women of color, my classmates and I are outraged and saddened by the actions of the students involved in the Compton Cookout at UCSD. This is not merely a disappointment in the implicated fraternities, but also in any other willing and able persons who planned or attended that event. To those students who were affected by this disgusting display of racism, know that members of the USD community support you.  An injustice to one is an injustice to all.
Incidents like this confirm that the legacy of American colonialism still pervades our everyday lives. White supremacy and heteronormativity, built on the backs of people of color and low-wage labor, are the standards by which social structures are constituted and passed down to the next generation. A party that was meant to be a fun and lighthearted event parallels 20th century lynching parties, where throngs of people would congregate to lynch one or more African Americans, afterwards proceeding to feast and barbeque.
“Come one, come all and experience a day in the ghetto...No need to visit the ghetto, we bring the ghetto to you.” This was a mockery, an attraction created for the socially and politically protected, so that poverty and racism are no longer real and viable issues. Instead, they have become themes for parties of the privileged. This heinous disregard for the plight of people living in impoverished communities justifies their continued dehumanization. The students who took part, whether they organized or attended this racist, heterosexist, classist party, must be held accountable for their actions and make a public apology.  
We call for this to be an educational moment on the themes of self-definition and community self-determination. In the words of Malcolm X: “Without education, you’re not going anywhere in this world.”  We stand in solidarity with UCSD’s BSU and support their important demands.