Whattup Folks,

Some of what I do is rap. I also live in this world. But, mostly I just rap.

So I received this email from a press person at the University:




> Hi Student Leaders:
>
> In an effort to improve the images we have of diversity on
> campus, we’re holding a photo session at three specific spots on
> Wednesday morning, Nov. 10. We’re providing bagels, coffee and the guarantee
> that you’ll have some fun helping us to secure images of diversity on
> campus. Let’s show the world we are here at UW-Madison…and doing
> very well thank you! The times and locations are listed below –
> 15 minutes or the whole hour – whatever you can do will be greatly appreciated.
> If you can’t make it this time, or if there’s a flood of
> people this time, there will be other sessions at other locations in the future.
>
> Please share this announcement with your members and friends.
> Sincerely,
> University Relations
> Office of the Vice Provost for Diversity and Climate

AND....... MY RESPONSE:


Dear [... name removed...]

I received your email to student leaders on campus concerning the diversity photo shoot. I am lucky enough to have worked with you previously through your group interviews about The Issue, a theatre piece the First Wave Cohort 3 Ensemble performed last year. I am pleased to hear about the work you are doing on campus, and am sure whatever you are doing, you want to create a thriving, healthy, and loving environment for students of color. As such, I wanted to respond to your email with a few concerns.

I am curious to know who you are referring to in your email when you use the word "we". Who is "we"? You and your coworkers? The Office of the Vice Provost for Diversity and Climate? Or did Biddy Martin order your office into it after realizing the message she sent to the world by her stunning appearance in the "Teach Me How To Bucky" Music Video? And since I don't know how to refer to "the we" you speak of, I must refer to you as such.

Since the "we" plans to create a space for diverse students to show off the diversity we usually wear, I hope they have put a little bit of thought into such an endeavor. I am suspicious of a diversity photo session in which the University determines between what times and where said diversity is to occur. I mean, isn't it ironic that the "we" has decided to host a photo session just thirty minutes before the MSC's Nacho Average Wednesday where "diversity" will assemble, even without the "we" having to send an email out!

I would be absolutely open to discussing with the "we" (and hopefully every one of the "we" would be in the room) about how I would like to "show the world that I am here at UW-Madison" because I would love to tell you all about how I am NOT "doing very well, thank you!" And I find it very presumptuous, that you have spoken for me.

I am not doing well because on Thursday I was forced to listen to my classmates discourse on how colonization it ultimately good for me. I am not doing well because the LGBTCC participates in the systemic silencing of the stories of queer people of color by failing to report on the homicides of five queer black folks from Milwaukee since September. I am not doing well because last week the Badger Herald glorified a white student for openly dressing as what he thinks an authentic Native American looks like. I am not doing well because no matter how much the students of color I know work towards liberation we have to be faced by such complicated questions as the one you have presented us with: pragmatically approach this request, eat your bagels, and dance for the Office of Admissions or find a way to say "No" to the "we" that doesnt compromise our hope for change.

You guaranteed a fun time at the photo session, and there will be dancing. Can I ask you to consider that bribing hundreds of students of color with bagels to pose for the diversity camera isn't really all that different than just picking up a black person and throwing him in the picture? I mean, aren't you just photoshopping our reality?

I will not be eating your bagels, I will be at Nacho Average Wednesday.

Thanks

dakota alcantara-camacho