Dear Human,
I am like you. You are like me. Every person faces hardships—every person bleeds the same. While hardships consist of a spectrum regarding the magnitude of these “hardships,” we all face them..
In today’s day and age, people tend to establish subgroups of people based on the issues we face, deeming their struggles worthy of giving sympathy towards. This does not necessarily have malicious intent. I too have fallen into the idea that someone shouldn’t be allowed to complain because they have something I don’t. However, once I actually take time to listen to their story, I tend to understand that if I was in their position, I would feel the same as them. This involuntary behavior fails to recognize that struggles are subjective to each person.
I am lucky—and I realize I am privileged to say that. My understanding of privilege truly altered after taking one class my freshman year revolving around Genocide.
It was a hard topic to discuss and the four months of class were not nearly enough time to dive into the magnitude of these tragedies. In one of the units, we analyzed the intervention in the United Nations, and it became clear that the UN deals with the majority of genocides by turning a blind eye to the situation. This notion of “turning a blind eye” is applicable to many of the social issues in modern day America regarding government intervention. As a policy student, I hope to adjust and enhance current policies to promote equality and reduce inequities in the future. However, as a college sophomore, all I can currently do is assist in raising awareness.
Telling our stories is a way in which we may reflect on our past and create a better future for our society. I seek to aid in building a platform where people feel safe to tell their truths, one that Umuco Love does..
We can continue to make generalizations on groups of people and their struggles. However, listening to an individual’s story can provide a raw and candid snapshot of a bigger issue. I like to compare it to the Migrant Mother picture (one of the most recognizable photographs from the Great Depression). We can learn about the hardships of the depression era in school, but visualizing it creates much more empathy among viewers. I still have not experienced true hardship, but going into such detail broadens my perspective of the cruelty that still occurs today.
Umuco Love holds all these values of acceptance, understanding, and reflection on experiences. I am proud to say I have joined this family of people who do the opposite of not silencing others—they amplify others. They help me feel like I am contributing to a part of society that I seek to address. The only generalization you fall into at Umuco Love is a person with a story. We all have a story to share, so why not share it?
-Alexa Natale