Anonymous, Class of 2024

You can see the divide between races and ethnicities, but for the most part, people tend to integrate and befriend anyone who they believe is friend-worthy. There are some resources for Black students, but they are often student-provided. Other times, the resources are there but are not as convenient as they should be. They offer scholarships for us to come but are not the best at providing safe spaces and opportunities with Black people in general. I would like to see more safe spaces, as well as more automatic support. I have heard that some people of different races get aid quicker than Black people. Also, I wish the microaggressions would stop as well. That is not to say that there is not any support, but it should be more beneficial. We do have faculty and staff here to change the narrative, but the negative encounters Black people face here should decrease at a faster pace. I feel that more representation is coming along as more Black students join the school. I also feel represented through the student government and clubs because a lot of Black people run important events, clubs, etc within Bard. Do not be afraid to pick the school that is best for you based on these encounters, but make sure you prepare for them and seek out safe spaces and people within your school who can aid in guidance and listening. As long as you have someone to talk to, you will be fine because we all are working to create better opportunities for Black people. Sometimes actions of others are discouraging and saddening, but we will get through it together; we are here for each other.