#StorytellingAsResistance in a college setting

The author of Teens Vogue’s article “What It’s Like to Be Black in a Predominantly White School” (2017) is Stephanie Tate, a young Black woman who has attended North Carolina State University. Born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, her experience into blackness and womanhood, as well as into social activism, grew exponentially while being part of campus life at NC State.

By writing this piece, Stephanie explains what it is the reality of being a black student in a predominantly white institution. “In the midst of deciding where I wanted to go to college, the idea to attend a historically black college or university (HBCU) was a dominant one. I had spent the past four years in a predominately white, Christian private school and I felt like I owed it to myself to consider a school where my blackness would be loved and cultivated“, says Stephanie. Her testimony is fundamental because its message is a clear statement on such a common condition that is not voiced enough with a high number of storytelling narratives.

The article is intended to reach a general public, but its content is channeled towards specifically one group of people: young black students. Considering the nature of “Teen Vogue”, this article is designed to be read by a young demographic, whose interests at heart go to representation and lifestyle references. The audience seeks role models to take inspiration from, real-life stories to relate to, and trendy editorial to expand their creative minds with. Stephanie’s story is a real narrative that touches matters that all young people should take into consideration, but it most likely attracts black people.

“At times I find it hard to be a tour guide for my university because being black at a PWI is not always the most comfortable experience. It comes with challenges, but it also comes with positives“, writes Stephanie. The piece is, in fact, is a crescendo of enthusiastic and welcoming memories in being part of this school, but it all dissipates when it comes to political activism, where race plays a bigger role that society has put already in and all students are called to stick together. Despite the challenges the author has faced, she has found ways to gain valuable lessons from this experience of hers. At the very ending of the piece, Stephanie sums up her rich and constructive experience: “Sometimes I wish I went to a school where everyone looks like me or a place where students swag surfed at football games, but I didn’t and that is fine. At my PWI I have found a community of scholars who look like me, allies willing to stand in the gap, and a plethora of love. I wouldn’t have it any other way“.

I believe that the advantages that Stephanie’s piece has with its medium – being on Teen Vogue – rely on the accessibilities. In fact, a written piece published on a Conde’ Nast magazine has more possibilities to reach out to academia and international activists. Other media, such as a podcast or a video, could be misleading or more difficult to grasp for these two groups of people unless the digital editing and the reporting performance is well executed and doesn’t get in the way of understanding the message (due to sounds, visuals, etc.).