3 critical lessons from campus racial flashpoints that we ignore

In the aftermath of a flashpoint, the vice president for student affairs and/or the chief diversity officer and their team should meet to assess whether and how the core issues that ignited the flashpoint have evolved over time. In what ways is this singular incident connected to previous flashpoints in the past 2, 5, 10, or even 15 years? A longitudinal analysis of the issue can reveal deeper challenges that affect your campus community.

For example, in 2021, students at Howard University protested poor housing conditions for over a month. Similarly in 2018, Howard students held a nine-day protest demanding the creation of a university food bank. When these incidents are considered in context of one another, it becomes clear that there is ongoing student demand for basic needs support. These incidents can be connected even further to the chronic underfunding HBCUs experience serving outsized representations of students of color. Taking the time to identify and reflect on such patterns can aid efforts to resolve student issues and prevent future related flashpoints.

Resource: Check out EAB’s infographic on how to engage today’s student activists.

In a post-flashpoint analysis, evaluate the state of relations between the institution and the communities of color involved. In what ways does your leadership team maintain relationships and remain current with community needs, experiences, and perspectives? Consider collecting data (e.g., surveys, focus groups) from the involved groups to get a clearer sense of how the institution is perceived and trusted by the community. Efforts to rebuild trust with communities of color can help address past grievances and mitigate future friction and harm.

Consider racial flashpoints as an opportunity to measure the efficacy of your institutional commitments to address your racial climate. Flashpoints are indicators of existing racial dynamics and challenges on campus. In your reflections, consider what institutional resources you have and can leverage to address the root issues driving the flashpoints.

For example, student activists have demanded reforming campus police units across the country, many of which were established in the 20^th century in response to tensions between institutions in cities and neighboring communities of color. Going beyond the chronicling of these histories, universities have begun collaborating with police units to mend community relations and rebuild trust with their residents.