This column, formerly named “Black After Obama,” is now expanding its scope and being re-named ‘Blank (insert the writer’s race in the blank) After Obama.’ From now on, this column will be a space for students of all races to talk about how their race has affected their social experience post the 2008 presidential election.Since The Guilfordian is committed to bolstering diversity both qualitatively and quantitatively, giving both white students and students of color (all students of color, not just African-Americans) the opportunity to intentionally speak about how their racial experiences and perspectives have either changed or remained the same after electing a black president is more substantively equal than only welcoming black students’ voices.

It is not The Guilfordian’s job to privilege the presentation of the collective voice one of one student demographic over another’s. This is not to say that this news organization is not still encouraging all black students to write for the column; we are – it’s just not exclusive anymore.

By changing the column from “Black After Obama” to “(Fill in the blank with the writer’s race) After Obama,” The Guilfordian can offer its readers a more diverse array of accounts regarding the issues surrounding the role that race plays in student’s lives as this country becomes more diverse and less white every single day.

The wealth of this community lies in its diversity, and enriching this community means breaking down racial and social barriers that segregate diverse members of the community, many of whom have common goals regarding this institution’s commitment to diversity and substantive equality.

This column is a chance for students from these many groups to do just that; by sharing their stories, they have the potential to start dialogue among diverse groups of students, faculty, and administrators about the role that race plays in dictating the social climate of this institution.

Despite our having elected a black president, we do not live in a post-racial society where racial-social hierarchies do not exist and, subsequently, racial inequalities do not proliferate. Guilford is no exception.

We need to overcome racism and the myriad forms of systemic oppression as badly as any other part of society does, and “(Fill in the blank) After Obama” is here to publicly spearhead that process.