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 Being an African American woman on
a majority white campus is a challenging task. I say
this because for those who find comfort in seeing images
in your likeness, Notre Dame may be discomforting at times.
Forgive me if this sounds misleading because I love my school
and realize that acceptance here was an honor and privilege
handed down to me from God. However, there are still significant
moments where I, a young aspiring attorney, am made to feel ever
conscious of my blackness.
Academia is an integral part of
Notre Dame's culture. I am a double major, studying
both African American Studies and American Studies.
This means that race is a dominant theme in many of
my classes. Typically, on the first day of a new
semester, I enter my novel classroom to find that
I am one of two Black students on a class roster that
boasts of thirty plus. For students like me, this is
routine and never do I expect to share a classroom with
more than four students of color at any given time.
The intricacy of this reality presents itself weekly,
whenever the issue of race arises and "The Black Prospective"
is needed. I find that students and at times professors too,
slowly turn their heads desperately desiring that my black peer
or I raise our hand to speak on behalf of Black people everywhere.
Here, the problem is that white students have the privilege of
representing themselves. When the individual white student
speaks, her thoughts are never misconstrued to represent a
larger category of whiteness.
The same does not hold true for me.
Often times, on majority white
campuses, there is an overwhelming assumption that
African American students attending those schools
are members of sports teams. From my personal
experiences and the shared experiences of many of my
African American peers, Notre Dame is no exception and
perhaps may set the precedent for the recurring question,
"What sport do you play?" It would be dishonest of me
to allow the reader to believe that ND does not have
some of the nation's most exceptional black athletes.
Of course we do. However, it is critical to note that
these athletes transcend race. For it to be a common
assumption among many white students and members of the
larger South Bend community that something besides my
academic ability has afforded me this opportunity can
be disheartening.
The only sport I play is academics!
With that said, I realize that God
has granted me a special blessing. Of all the students
who could be here, He chose me. Moreover, when I walk
back from the library tonight, peer into the night sky,
and see the golden dome shining brightly through the
midnight air, I will know that it is worth it.
When I finally reach my dorm room to meet a group of
girls, from all over the country, who I am blessed to
call my friends and recap the events of the day, I know
that it is all worth it. When I call my mother back in
Southern California to inform her that it is still snowing,
I feel a sense of accomplishment and knowing that she is
proud of me is more powerful than words can express.
Notre Dame has afforded me the opportunity to compete at
the next level and graciously I have accepted the challenge.
My collegiate experience thus far is one that I will learn
from and cherish forever.
Go Irish!
Shawtina Ferguson, originally from
Inglewood, California, will be a senior at the University
of Notre Dame in the fall. sfergus2@nd.edu
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