Spring Break
Shades of CSU attempts to break down 'race box'
Justyna Tomtas
Issue date: 2/17/09 Section: News
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Shades of CSU, an organization that looks at the issues of race on campus and beyond, hosted "The Race Boxes" in the Lory Student Center on Monday, which featured discussion, anecdotes and presentations designed to encourage people to break down their "race boxes" and recognize how alike people are despite their differences.
Four members of Shades spoke to an audience of about 20 students and faculty, sharing their thoughts and stories about growing up in interracial families.
The issue of which race each panelist identified with struck a cord among the group.
"Mixed races are just starting to be identified. We're more than a mixed race group, we're mixed identities," said Alyssa Dawson, co-president of Shades.
Dawson stressed how important it was to step outside of the box and accept people for who they are.
"I think it's remembering to not be put off by races. You need to be proud and educate others," Dawson said. "Work hard to not be ignorant and try to understand."
Prior to the 2000 Census, people of mixed race were only allowed to check one box for race in order to identify themselves.
To put this in perspective, the audience was asked to fill out a survey hoping to show the difficulty in having to select one box our of a broad range of categories when trying to identify their majors.
"Take a look at what we go through," said Kate Wormus, treasurer for Shades.
Shelby Chase, a member of Shades, discussed the strains that selecting one race box had on her mother.
After switching schools in third grade, Chase needed to identify her race using only one box. However, her mother refused.
"She asked me what I wanted to be this year, 'black or white?'" Chase said. "After that we switched it up every year."
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