Since March is Women’s History Month, there have been many events across campus that have been devoted to honoring and supporting women at Drew. One example of this was the “Black and Brown Women at Drew” talk that was held on Monday, March 16, in the 1867 Lounge of the Ehinger Center.
Members of The Office of Student Engagement who specialize in DEI created Black and Brown at Drew to host events and meetings that work towards building community, fostering meaningful conversations and providing a space for Black and Brown students on campus to feel welcome and seen.
This event was formed with the same hopes in mind, but with the focus of discussions led by and for women on Drew’s campus.
Community Advisors Julisha Moses (‘26) and Fundi Ngcongwane (‘27) hosted this event in collaboration with The Office of Student Engagement and The Office of Residence Life.
When asked about the planning process and overall intentions of the event, Moses said, “When I gave the idea, it was just as a way to center Black women in the conversations that we already have at Black and Brown at Drew, and to create a space for everyone in attendance to recognize the experiences and difficulties that come with being a person of color on campus.”
The event consisted of questions facilitated by Moses and Ngcongwane followed by open, honest and meaningful conversations from the men and women of color who attended regarding their experiences at Drew and in their personal lives.
Certain topics of discussion included their personal definitions and meanings of womanhood as well as representation and identity on and off campus.
Students mentioned that, for them, womanhood means having a community, growing individually though also growing as one and having shared cultures and experiences. They also stated that they often find such communities within their homes and families, in their friend groups or clubs and within each other as people of color at Drew.
Many mentioned the importance of vast and diverse representation on campuses, in media and in everyday life when asked about their personal definitions of the term. Yet, some also stated that certain forms of representation only show one aspect of diversity–which can be extremely limiting. This can lead to strict mindsets that stem from negativity that hinder daily life and growth.
The students were also asked about where they felt that they are most represented and the most safe at Drew. It was widely agreed upon that student-led groups often succeed at demonstrating diversity and devoting time and space to represent those who deserve to be seen and heard. Additionally, many often find the most representation in groups of friends who look, act or live similarly to how they do, and within their families.
While Drew strives to be an inclusive and positive environment, it was also shared that oftentimes Black and Brown women and men feel less safe within certain majors, minors or in classrooms as a whole. Certain majors fall within primarily male dominated fields of work, and this manifests in the classroom. Though some areas of studies are female-led, they are often still not areas of which Black and Brown women can feel the most represented and safe.
This further highlights the importance of creating events such as this where students of color can find community, feel connected on an interpersonal level and where their safety is prioritized. Above all, this highlights the need for inclusivity and diversity in classrooms and on college campuses as a whole.
Black and Brown at Drew will continue to host events like this that create welcoming environments and bring up important discussion topics. Their next event will focus on navigating the workforce as a person of color; taking place on March 26 at 5:30 p.m. in The Space.
Casey Bush is a sophomore majoring in psychology with a minor in writing and communication.
