A few Tuesdays ago, I walked into the Letterman Building at 5 p.m. and officially joined one of Ball State University's cultural organizations.
The Cannonball Club? I think that's just a legend. The Body Modification Club? I wish I was that cool.
In fact, a few minutes after five I was sitting with 60-ish other students, listening to LaTessa Black, president of the Black Student Association. I am probably one of the top 10 whitest kids ever. Not quite on the same level as the Jonas Brothers, but pretty damn close. At first, I felt as excited as I do when I sit down for a buffet dinner, but as the room began to fill up, I became more and more aware that yes, I am at a meeting of the Black Student Association, but no, that doesn't make me black. Just like how putting on a red leather jacket won't make Zac Efron as cool as James Dean.
While waiting for the meeting to begin, a disconcerting idea crept into my head, diminishing my self-assuredness. Maybe I shouldn't be here. For a while the awkwardness seemed tangible. I knew people were staring at me, this confused and goofy kid, wondering if I'd stumbled into the wrong classroom. That feeling was verbalized when my friend Ronnie, who I hadn't noticed before, leaned forward, grinning, and asked, "JD, what are you doing here?"
This was a question I had expected and prepared for. In the time it took for me to walk from my apartment to the meeting, I had rehearsed a clever answer. Something about how I need an education in cool and what better place to start? If you watched the Grammy's this week and saw LL Cool J and that lame white guy with a receding hairline on stage together, you understand where I'm coming from.
Actually, the real reason I was there, listening to someone talk about the Gospel Explosion that will be in Pruis next Saturday, is because last year I heard Carlos Murillo give a lecture about leaving the comfort zone. This guy, who's a well-known playwright, was challenged by his freshman English teacher to leave his comfort zone - in the most dramatic way he could imagine - and to allow that experience to reflect in his writing. Most people would order a sub from Jimmy John's that's different from "the usual." He dropped out of school, and he has become quite successful - I had the opportunity to meet him because one of his plays was a main stage production of Actors Theatre of Louisville's Humana Festival, which is an impressive accomplishment in the theater world.
I was inspired by this playwright's story and endeavored to leave my comfort zone as well. I have never been part of the racial minority. Some of my classes are totally comprised of white students, and as I realized this, I became curious as to how minority students must feel. To be on the outside. After reading an article about the Unity Pageant, I decided to join BSA because I was curious and I thought the organization would be hosting some events for Black History Month.
At the meeting, I didn't sense any hostility, but initially, I did feel out of place. The best way to describe it (that I can think of) is to imagine being with two friends who tell inside jokes. Although you don't know the history behind or context of what they're saying, it still seems kind of funny and you can laugh along.
While the first half of the meeting was spent discussing business issues, the second half was an energetic conversation about racial slurs and inner-race prejudice. Later, the conversation evolved into a question of whether certain aspects of African-American culture are suppressed by the non-black majority. Hearing another ethnic group talk about stereotypes and prejudice was an enlightening experience, one that I think everyone should have.
Sometimes I find myself getting into a routine, this monotonous and unchanging day-to-day schedule. At times like that, I believe getting up and going out is essential. I find that doing something out of the ordinary, whether it be talking to a stranger or taking a spontaneous road trip, is one way to meet people from different walks of life and to become more open-minded. As a person, I want to be ever-evolving and open to different experiences, however they may present themselves; that, to me, is one of the most essential aspects of life, to encounter others and challenge personal ideas and beliefs.
JD Mitchell is a sophomore majoring in creative writing and writes 'Boozers and Losers' for the Daily News. His views do not necessarily agree with those of the newspaper.
Write to JD at jdmitchell@bsu.edu
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