The UMRA News is offering colleagues across the University an opportunity to share with us some of their experiences on being maroon and gold, and Black. Amelious N. Whyte Jr., PhD, is director of public engagement in the College of Liberal Arts Office of Institutional Advancement, and previously worked in the Board of Regents office and served as senior associate vice provost for Student Advocacy and Support. —Kristine Mortensen, editor

What year did you come to the University of Minnesota? What brought you here?
I came to the University of Minnesota in the fall of 1990 from Brooklyn, which is my home. I came for what was supposed to be a two-year stint to complete a master’s degree in public affairs.

What was something about Minnesota that surprised you when you got here?
In my first year I lived in what was then a brand-new apartment building for students called Dinnaken House, located on Washington Avenue in Stadium Village. I remember that the building managers had to remind students not to leave their car doors unlocked. I was shocked that someone had to be reminded of that. As a New Yorker, I never leave anything unlocked. And even though I have lived here for a long time, I still have a NY sensibility with regard to maintaining the safety of my person and my belongings.

Describe an experience that exemplifies what it is like for you today to be maroon and gold, and Black.
I will describe two experiences that are somewhat related. I am usually the only African American (and the only non-white person) in a meeting unless it is a meeting about diversity. This means that I often am the only one in the room who seems to be thinking about diversity with regard to the topic being discussed, and I have to think about whether others will say to themselves, in response to my raising an issue when no one else does, “Of course he would mention that.” Although there are relatively few African American males in leadership roles at the University, some people at the University are challenged to tell us apart.

And ironically, although there are relatively few African American males in leadership roles at the University outside positions focused on diversity, equity, or inclusion, some people at the University are challenged to tell us apart. For example, I walked out of Morrill Hall one day while a protest was occurring outside and one of the staff members who was protesting said, “That’s Jones,” referring to Robert Jones, who was then the senior VP for Systemwide Administration. If you know Robert, you know that we don’t look anything alike. On another occasion, I was at an Alumni Association event and a former dean who was familiar with me because our paths crossed in various ways over the years, including serving on a search committee together, saw me on the other side of a food table and said, “Hi, Rickey,” referring to Rickey Hall, then an assistant vice president in the Office of Equity and Diversity. If you know Rickey, you know that we look nothing alike.

What’s life like for today’s University students?
Stressful. College can be a stressful time for undergraduate students under normal circumstances but add COVID to the mix and that stress is magnified. While many students have adapted well to online learning, whether they are living at home or are back on or near campus, that is not the case with all students. Many undergraduate students are struggling with finding the motivation to focus on their courses, in addition to feelings of isolation. For students who suffer from depression, anxiety, or other mental health challenges, these conditions can become more acute. 

As a result of efforts by the University to strengthen career support for undergraduates, many students at all levels are being intentional about how to enhance their chances of getting a good job when they graduate. That means exploring internships and other experiences that will make them more competitive in the job market. Unfortunately, COVID has impacted the extent to which students are able to find internships, which can make them more uncertain about what awaits them when it's time to graduate. There is a critical mass of students who are experiencing a number of challenges, which have been exacerbated by COVID and its impact on University life and the economy.

Another issue of concern for many of our students is food and housing insecurity. We have a number of students who lack the financial resources to meet their basic needs with regard to food and housing. We have students who are homeless, or who have living situations that change regularly. We have some students who have to make use of an on-campus food pantry or community resources in order to have enough food to eat, or they have to go without. 

All of this notwithstanding, many if not most University students are making the most of the current situation and continue to work toward their goals. But there is a critical mass of students who are experiencing a number of challenges, which have been exacerbated by COVID and its impact on University life and the economy.

As a scholar of education, human development, and public affairs, and as a Black man, how do you see the impact of racism and discrimination in the U.S.?
As many already knew, and many more have come to realize following the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis, racism and discrimination have a tremendous impact on individuals and society. Within education, these issues impact student achievement in K–12 and limit who can obtain a higher education or find a good job. Within predominantly white colleges and universities, these issues can create campus climates that are unwelcoming for some based on their racial identity, and a faculty and staff composition that fails to match the demographics of the community or the student body. Within public affairs, racism is sometimes embedded in public policies that result in disparate outcomes based on race. It impacts who is around the table and whose voices are valued in the policy-making process. 

There is a tremendous emotional toll for those who have to contend with racism and discrimination as they try to live their lives. There is also a tremendous emotional toll for those who have to contend with racism and discrimination as they try to live their lives or are reminded of how these issues impact others. Many of my Black family members, friends, and co-workers have commented on the feeling of mental exhaustion they have felt over the past few months, particularly with regard to well-publicized examples that demonstrate what many of us already knew. I would put myself in that same bucket. There is also a tremendous financial cost related to racism and discrimination. Citicorp recently estimated that discrimination against African Americans over the last 20 years has cost the U.S. economy more than $16 trillion dollars. 

What gives you hope?
In the wake of George Floyd’s death, I noticed that many of my white friends who rarely commented on social media about instances of blatant racism and discrimination are now choosing not to remain silent. Many have expressed a commitment to educating themselves and to serving as allies in their respective spheres of influence around these issues, and a willingness to challenge others when needed. That gives me hope, because it means that the burden to do this work is not solely on the shoulders of those who are members of marginalized communities in the United States. 

What can members of UMRA do to make Minnesota a better place for all?
For those who need to, commit to learning about the lived experience of those who do not share your identity and be an active advocate within your spheres of influence, including at the U of M, to ensure they are welcomed, included, and sufficiently represented in all the places where they should be. We are in a unique time in our history where there is more discussion and awareness about issues of race and the racial disparities that exist in various parts of our society. We cannot be complacent and assume that these issues will fix themselves simply as a result of increased awareness. These issues will only be fixed if a critical mass of people is committed to fixing them.

 Food for thought
“If not us, then who? If not now, then when?”
—John Lewis, 1961