Following a year of protests and political upheaval, college students of color are “bracing for a return to campus racism.”

Following a year of protests and political upheaval, college students of color are “bracing for a return to campus racism.” As the school year revs up, so have Black, AAPI, and international college students’ concerns for on-campus racism and discrimination after a year of civil unrest. According to the FBI, hate crimes targeting people of Asian descent rose by 70% in 2020, while hate crimes targeting Black people rose by nearly 40% during the same time period. Student-led groups like the Black Students Union, Black Student Association, and Asian American Student Associations across campuses in the country have created “counter-spaces” where students of color can feel safe or gather with other students to share “similar experiences of oppression.” Other students of color have started carrying pepper spray, staying in groups, and having emergency contacts accessible as a way to ease anxieties while on campus. We told you that safety is one of the qualities BIPOC students look for when considering a college, and according to experts, universities should play a bigger role in providing resources for students of color instead of leaving it all up to the students to fend for themselves. (Insider)