R’Perspective: The greatest gift of them all
When I was a kid, between the ages of four and 12 years old, Christmas was my favorite time of year because it was the closest thing to magic for me. A mysterious man...
R’Perspective: Fireworks, smoke and family
During our New Year’s Eve party in 2014, my father announced that we were going to move from San Francisco to Sacramento in the summer. I yelled at him, demanding answers as to why....
R’Perspective: Through my eyes: being black at UCR
In my two years at UCR, I have seen many changes. I have changed from being a freshman at a new setting to a confident and empowered junior who knows that UCR is where...
R’Perspective: Gripping with my racial perception
Growing up as a kid, I always seemed to draw more attention than my peers. I didn't act terribly different than others. In elementary school, when everyone spoke in class, often I would join...
R’Perspective: Reinventing Yourself
My, how time flies. A part of me doesn’t believe it; but here I am, writing a reflection of my time spent in college. Has it really been four years since I first set...
R’Perspective: President-elect Donald Trump’s promotion of America’s xenophobia
Almost as soon as Republican nominee Donald Trump was announced as the president-elect, America was gripped with fear and a sudden realization of how racism still actively rules our society. While the white majority...
R’perspective: What I learned about white privilege
Today, like every day for the last 18 years, I woke up white.
I sat through class today without being looked at as being the “positive” exception to my race, and was able to contribute...
R’Perspective: Bullying comes from anyone and anywhere
Kids are mean. In my lower middle-class elementary school, teachers talked about bullying being bad. Then, in fifth grade two kids sat on beanbag chairs as the teacher announced to us and pointed at...
R’Perspective: Why being well-rounded can be dumb
I wonder what spurred me on to become a well-rounded student. Perhaps it was Rory of “Gilmore Girls” with her impeccable academics, respectable extracurriculars, devoted interests and her repetitive drama that infatuated me? Or...
R’Perspective: Why my identity doesn’t need to be questioned
“You speak to your mom in Spanish?” my coworker inquired one day at the office when I answered a phone call from my mother. While I didn’t give the question a second thought, it...