INT 151 is critical for students because it is meant to get us to talk about race, racism and inequality in our very first year on campus. St. Joe’s is a predominantly white institution (PWI) that has, over the last few years and in its past, had numerous instances of racist acts and behavior. The Hawk has reported on these instances extensively. To not support a course on inequality in American society is to ignore our history of racism, colonialism and exploitation of Black, brown and Indigenious peoples. For more than five centuries, America has experienced not just racism, but sexism, homophobia, misogyny and antisemitism. 

INT 151 is meant to be an introductory, one-credit course that allows us to acquire the language and tools to talk about inequality in American society, and for that matter, in the rest of the world. If we truly aspire to cura personalis and our social justice goals and aspirations, then surely we must allow ourselves to be uncomfortable as we talk about the injustices that currently prevail in our society. 

Individuals and organizations have, in the last few years, encouraged a climate that permits people to be more openly racist, misogynist, anti-semetic and xenophobic. It is important for people coming out of high school to recognize and talk about inequality, which isn’t always just about race, but is fundamentally connected to our social, political, cultural and economic life. As Pope Francis tweeted on March 21, 2021, “Racism is a virus that quickly mutates and, instead of disappearing, goes into hiding, and lurks in waiting. Instances of racism continue to shame us, for they show that our supposed social progress is not as real or definitive as we think.”

Rather than allowing racism to mutate and fester in silence, we should speak openly in order to address our sins and transgressions of the past so that we may truly create a just world where we respect, care and love one another and fundamentally advance our social justice agenda. 

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