Self-Segregation Exists at Harvard

To the editors:

On March 15, FM published an opinion piece entitled "The Invasian." A few days later, on March 19, students gathered together to protest the opinion piece, the ideas contained therein and The Crimson for publishing it. I read the piece, and I cannot help but wonder why there was so much commotion. Did the author, Justin G. Fong '03, really tell Harvard students anything they could not already see with their own eyes everyday in the dining hall? Black students sit and eat and talk together. Asian students sit and eat and talk together. Athletes sit and eat and talk together. Members of the gay and lesbian community sit and eat and talk together. Preppy white people sit and eat and talk together. Self-segregation happens three times per day on the Harvard campus. This, in and of itself, is not such a horrible thing.

Minorities have often defended their self-segregation as a matter of safety, comfort and understanding. As a varsity swimmer, I was part of a self-segregated group that, to this day, descends on Eliot House dining hall for breakfast and dinner. We even use the same tables. Why do we do it? We are friends, we talk about the same things and we bond as a team away from the pool. Self-segregation is not necessarily a harmful occurrence when it does not limit one from having positive social interactions outside of the segregated group. Minority students certainly have white friends, just as I had non-swimming friends.

What Fong seems to be pointing out is that, within the Asian community, there is a lack of interaction outside of the segregated groups. Maybe he is right. Maybe not. Sure, his observations are stereotypical, but if you all take a look, you may see some of what he sees.

What Fong did not seem to see, and what many white Harvard students seem to forget, when we complain that certain groups keep to themselves, is how many of our friends are not white. Often, when we sit in the dining hall, our non-white friends are surrounded by all white people. We don't even think about it. We don't consider what it would be like to be the only White person in a group. We complain that other groups self-segregate and that they must open up to us; but have we ever thought about being the only White person eating lunch with a group of Black students? Or Asian students? Or Hispanic? Or Indian? Or different than us? I bet we haven't.

In the wake of Fong's opinion, minority groups and coalitions of minority groups are banding together to talk about racism and self-segregation. This is certainly constructive, positive behavior. However, what minorities and Whites need to remember is that the ending of racial stereotypes and self-segregation on the Harvard campus is not solely dependant upon minority groups changing their perspectives, their behaviors, and opening up. At the same time, white students need to be willing to be the only white student at a table.

Terence S. Dougherty '00

Washington, D.C.

March 20, 2001