The Hate Wall - Breaking down discrimination and building up respect

Mizzou's MCI committee added another level to their annual Hate Wall event on Tuesday, Sept. 28. Traditionally, the MCI would set up a wooden wall in Speaker's Circle on which students could write discriminatory phrases. This would put such hateful words on a more permanent, blatant canvas in demonstration that these words are hurtful to the MU student body.

Starting last year, the Hate Wall was moved indoors and made into a discussion forum, more-so than a display. Representatives from university diversity organizations are invited to write the same phrases or terminology on cardboard boxes that would be stacked into a wall. At the end of the forum, after all representatives have shared and explained the terms, the wall is broken/destroyed - symbolizing the breaking down of stereotypes by this event.

I attended the event last year and really enjoyed the positive manner that all participants seemed to have during the event. Attending this year's event, there was more of a sense of frustration and anger, which I was unsure how to approach or comment over. Each representative stood in front of the crowd with the hateful bricks acting as a background to his or her 'presentation.' It was as if the negative verbiage on the 'wall' behind them were emphasizing the sadness and disappointment in their explanations. Other comments made even made the sharing section of the event seem like a mother's disciplinary lecture, shaking her finger at us all. "Just don't say that. Why would you even think of saying stuff like that?"

What pulled this event out of the negativity was the added small group resolution discussions. The MCI stressed that educating everyone about what is OK and not OK to say is one step, however discussing what can be done to resolve these issues is what is going to make a difference.

I stand firm in my belief that racism, discrimination and stereotypes are inevitable in society and it is impossible to eliminate these from human psyche. It is nearly ridiculous to find a solution to an unsolvable problem, but reducing negative and unjust beliefs and actions is possible through education. That is the one lesson I could take home from the Hate Wall event - that nothing will change unless we lead by example and help communicate our cultures, history and lifestyles to everyone.