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For as long as I can remember, the answer, “That’s just how it’s always been”, has never satisfied my curiosity. As a Sociology major at Dickinson, I have been able to examine social interactions and behaviors, as well as the development, structure, and functioning of human societies. The Sociology department has encouraged and supported the development of my critical thinking skills in such a way that it allows me to apply them to real-world problems.

 

As Sociologists, when we debate the works of critical theorists we analyze the theories said author has produced, and we investigate the immediate and continual impact of the author’s work. However, I would argue that we often fail examine the influence the author’s social position has on the their ability to critically analyze any given social phenomenon. Traditionally, Sociology has largely concerned itself with a theoretical understanding of the social processes behind nuances of gender, social class, sexuality, law, and religion. This has often led to the erasure of race within sociological debates and the displacement of scholars of color within the discipline of Sociology.

 

The irony is that Sociology is a form of social science that aims to critique the ways in which social stratification and acceptance shape our social world. Therefore, within the field of Sociology my focus has been on “the interconnected nature of social categorizations such as race, class, and gender as they apply to a given individual or group, regarded as creating overlapping and interdependent systems of discrimination or disadvantage” (or intersectionality) to better understand how to build more sustainable communities. Furthermore, within my work in social sustainability I have placed a focus on Africana identities. This is because I do not feel that the Sociology departments discussion of power and privilege specifically in regards to race are adequate. I personally believe that is has led to gap between majors understandings of critical race theory and anti-racist practices within the field of Sociology.

 

During my time at Dickinson, I have examined how larger, overarching social systems are completely unsustainable if they are predicated on an exploited "under-class" that we often refer to as marginalized. Within the context of higher education, navigating a predominantly white institution has led my world view to revolve around decolonization and not diversification. I believe that it is an act of violence to invite students of color to an institution for the sake of diversity without first removing what the find to be institutional barriers. The feelings of institutional constraint I have felt during my time at Dickinson have led me to pursue education as a career.