At about 6 pm on a chilly Saturday night, I’m having dinner with my girlfriend right before my senior prom. After we finish our meal and begin to leave, I notice slightly to my right an elderly man who is staring at me intently. As I attempted to break his gaze by looking elsewhere, I then saw that he was looking directly at both my partner and I. Perhaps you’re thinking that I was paranoid, but I’ve seen this movie before: I’m a black male, and my girlfriend was half-Asian, yet could easily pass for white.

By no means was this the first account I’ve experienced something of this nature. Whether it was in nice restaurants, a mall, or even in her neighborhood for that matter, I noticed that people would stare at us (especially me) like we had committed some sort of crime. Aside from these awkward encounters in public settings, I’ve also been faced with judgments from those within my own community. On more than one occasion, when I’ve told friends about who I was dating, they immediately jumped to, “oh so you don’t like black girls then?” I assume they must be kidding.

What many fail to realize is that placing judgments on interracial relationships is a reflection of our deep-rooted ideas of segregation. As many of us have realized, the U.S. has a long history regarding the separation of minority groups from the majority. Though we no longer have black and white water fountains or separate bathrooms for people of color, segregation still appears to affect our perceptions of relationships with one another. Simply put, judging interracial relationships is a manifestation of that historical mindset, even if we do not realize it. The fact that even in today’s society, we find that a black man dating a white woman is weird shows that many are confined to that old mindset.

Although this may appear to be a simple concept for many to understand, there are still those who struggle to understand why judging interracial couples is wrong. Human beings should not be separated into their own subgroups, similar to how other species on earth are not segregated. At the end of the day, despite our ethnicities or cultural backgrounds, we all are just one race right? Human! Considering this fact, placing judgments on whether couples date interracially or not makes little sense. Dating shouldn’t solely be placed on looks, especially those of race and ethnicity. Instead, dating should be focused on substantive qualities such as personalities, goals or interests you find appealing.

While it’s perfectly fine to date outside of your race group, it is also valid that dating within your culture can have positive benefits. Because you are dating someone with the same ethnicity, that person most likely has faced similar racial experiences and challenges as you have faced yourself. Additionally, you wont have to worry about being stigmatized by modern society. After awhile of dating outside your race, you grow increasingly tired of being judged and stared at because your partner is different than you.

If you know at least the very basics of U.S. history, you’ll remember that Martin Luther King Jr. once said, “I look to a day when people will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.” Though times were different back then, the same principles can still be applied. Why punish those who choose their partners based on internal qualities, the ones that matter most, placing judgments or labeling them as “sellouts?” The time has come to move on.

It’s a mellow Saturday evening, and I’m waiting for a long-time friend in the foodcourt of a downtown San Francisco mall.  Finally, after a few moments, he arrives. I couldn’t be more ecstatic to see him. Even though we hadn’t seen each since our middle school graduation, we started chatting away about politics like two old men.

Topic of discussion suddenly switched to gentrification. If you need a recap, gentrification is the process of renovating and raising the rent in poor urban neighborhoods. As a result, poorer residents are forced out by higher rent, which allows wealthier citizens to take their place. But as my friend accurately pointed out, many seem to be missing the mark in understanding why gentrification is actually bad.

“I really hate when people say that gentrification is bad because it decreases diversity. There’s way more to the story than that.” The San Francisco Rent Board’s Annual Eviction report showed that there has been a 54.7 percent increase in notices of evictions over the past five years. In turn, gentrification is an issue that goes well beyond the loss of diversity: It is an issue about the loss of homes and livelihood.

The issue has become a widely-debated topic across the United States, some of the places closest to us — like Portland and San Francisco — serve as some of the most drastic examples of gentrification’s impact. According to an analysis by Governing magazine, 58 percent of Portland’s lower priced neighborhoods had become gentrified since 2000. There are even whispers about the Whiteaker neighborhood in Eugene slowly succumbing to the trend of gentrification.

But numbers can only tell so much. The real problem with gentrification has to do with the emotional attachment that’s severed after residents are asked to leave their homes. Gentrification asks people — some of whom have lived in the same neighborhood for generations — to move elsewhere.

Displacement is only one of the issues that gentrification raises. Once old residents are out, “gentrifiers” water down the cultural value of the area they’ve moved into. While the majority of those moving in do not mean to do this on purpose, tensions between the displaced and those who move in inevitably begin to boil.

This ultimately breeds distrust between the residents who reside in poor neighborhoods and the city. For instance, when rent prices increase, many might fear eviction if they speak out. This becomes especially problematic when people of color are put into that position. The result: deep-rooted tensions and animosity between racial minorities and those in charge of the city.

How can opportunities to discuss equality take place if there is hidden anger in the room?

Imagine being forced out the home you and your family have lived in for all your life. Imagine that people who don’t even understand the culture of your community are replacing your neighbors. Imagine knowing that you can’t live in your neighborhood anymore unless you’re making as much money as doctors, lawyers or CEOs. For many, these are realities.

The time has come for us to recognize that gentrification is an issue too complicated to describe in just a few sentences. The longer we wait to acknowledge the heart(s) of the problem, the longer we’ll have to wait to create the body of the solution.

Going from Lick-Wilmerding High School to the University of Oregon, I have been very blessed to say the least. Having attended predominately white institutions for the entirety of my educational career, I’ve been fortunate enough to attend schools where racism is not openly blatant and is typically frowned upon. Others in my community, however, have not been as lucky.

For many years, the University of Missouri campus has dealt with deep-rooted racial tensions. In recent years, there have been countless incidents concerning a lack of racial understanding on the campus. In 2010, during Black History Month, it was reported that white students vandalized the Black Culture Center on campus and were only minimally punished. Additionally, students made threats to burn down the cultural center, to which little penalization was given out. Cynthia Frisby, a journalism professor at the University of Missouri, recently spoke out about her experiences with racism on campus, including being called the n-word directly to her face by both students and fellow faculty members.

The list of both racial insensitivity and blatant disregard for racial equity extends endlessly. However, in spite of these instances, the students at University of Missouri rose to the occasion. They demonstrated why more minorities at predominately white institutions should actively rally against oppression.

Through activism, minority students were able to accomplish a lot in just a short period of time. In the past couple of weeks, news coverage of the situation has increased, bringing attention to the issue around the nation. With more national media coverage, an increasing number of people have been sharing posts on social media regarding the situation, making it easy to follow.

The protests and collective outrage are persuading even non-minority students to join in on the events. During the events, many white students have been participating in the protests and fighting for a common cause alongside black students. The inclusion of white protestors illustrates a campus that is unified. Students coming together from different backgrounds to fight for each other will lead to quicker solutions and outcomes. The push by these students has already resulted in the university’s president, Timothy M. Wolfe, announcing his resignation. As opposed to receiving lip service by the administration or empty promises, students forced real change, which will greatly affect how racial tensions are dealt with in the future.

When minority students collectively protest like those of University of Missouri, positive outcomes can come to fruition besides the original demands. For example, in the case of Missouri, now that the former president is resigning, minority students can have more of a say in how the new president is selected. Activism and protests about racial tensions can lead to more open and honest dialogue with administrators. Students can actively work with faculty and the leaders of an institution to create solutions to better address these concerns. Ultimately, collective activism by minority students can lead to a shift in a school’s culture regarding equity, safety and responsibility.

In the recent days, many have focused on the athletes of the University of Missouri, who refused to play until the president of the school resigned. While the intention here is not to belittle their acts of courage, more emphasis should be placed on the importance of the minority students who protested as a whole. Nationwide, students of color face institutional oppression along with lack of social justice and awareness. Even at colleges that are deemed liberal, there is still much progress to be made. The minority students at the University of Missouri have shown us that, even in small numbers, colossal change is very much possible to achieve.

At most social events I’ve been to, whether it’s a wild party or chill night with friends, I tend to engage in the inevitable discussion of modern day hip-hop music. As I sit and share my opinions, there’s always the guy or girl that fires back, “This generation of rap music sucks. They all talk about the same shit!”

Whoa there. Lets take a step back and evaluate this.

But first, we need to discuss the elephant in the room; “What about all the bad stuff rappers say in hip hop?” Many hip-hop songs do indeed focus on “bitches,” money and weed. Additionally, many hip-hop lyrics contain a great deal of objectification of women.

Not too long ago, Rick Ross glorified date raping a woman in one of his songs.

He clearly states, “Put molly all in her champagne, she ain’t even know it, I took her and enjoyed that, she ain’t even know it.”

Lyrics such as these have no place in modern hip-hop, and quite frankly, anywhere.

Ross isn’t the only culprit of promoting violence against females. Rap legend Eminem has a long history of using lyrics that blatantly pertain to the abuse of women.

While modern rap has exemplified deplorable qualities, to only focus on these aspects would be close-minded. There are many songs, albums and artists who illustrate the positivity the genre brings.

Regardless of your race, social class, gender or place of birth, modern day hip-hop brings everyone together. Last year, while having a kick-back with two of my roommates and their friends, we broke out Super Smash Bros. while we listened to music. In a room where no one looked like me, or may not have come from the same social class as me, I spent a good hour and a half arguing about rap music. We attempted to decipher lyrics, and argued about the top five artists of today. Regardless of where anyone was from or who they were, we had a kick-ass time debating today’s rap music.

Our generation’s hip-hop is a lot more diverse than many people realize. Whatever the type of music you listen to, there’s something for everyone. Within hip-hop, there are subcategories that fall under the umbrella of rap. If you’re into a more mellow and relaxed style of music, artists such as Drake, A$AP Rocky and Action Bronson fit this mold quite well. For someone who enjoys a lot of bass, artists that may interest them include Future or Meek Mill. Hell, even if you enjoy southern music, artists such as Yelawolf and Big K.R.I.T. incorporate southern sounds into their work. Basically, our generation has music everyone can enjoy. I’ve yet to meet anyone who doesn’t like at least one rap song.

Many people don’t realize that our generation’s hip-hop music serves as a tool of empowerment. The artists of our generation are not afraid to discuss political issues. Kendrick Lamar’s latest album, To Pimp a Butterfly, is a perfect testament to that. Fan favorite songs such as “Institutionalized,” “the Blacker the Berry ” and “Alright” are songs that speak directly to the tensions between African Americans and white supremacists in America. Recently, at Cleveland State University, students began to sing “Alright” in order to address police brutality. Similarly, in his album, 2014 Forest Hill Drive, J. Cole also illustrates he isn’t afraid to be an advocate for the black community. On my personal favorite track, “January 28,” J. Cole rhymes “What’s the price for a black man life? I check the toe tag, not one zero in sight.” Here, he not only addresses the recent breakout of police brutality incidents, but also the blatant disregard for African-American lives in our society.

Although we don’t have legends such as Tupac Shakur or Biggie Smalls, to say our generation of hip-hop is nothing but substance-less noise is overkill. We can’t go back and be a part of an earlier generation. The negative perceptions of our generation’s rap music have clouded our ability to think about the positive results. So the next time you turn on your Spotify, be open minded and consider the positive effects of today’s rap music.

Let’s rewind the clock to senior year at Lick-Wilmerding High School. I’m sitting with a good buddy of mine during a free period and we’re stressing over college applications. Abruptly, he tells me, “If I were black, getting into college would be way easier.” Although I chose to not say anything, in my mind, I felt my friend was being a dumbass.

Since John F. Kennedy’s executive order of 1961, affirmative action has been one of the hottest topics in the nation. In addition to casual conversation among people, affirmative action has been an issue brought up continuously in courtrooms. Recently, the Supreme Court has evaluated cases regarding whether educational institutions should consider race in their admissions process.

The primary goal of affirmative action in schools is to increase diversity. In an academic setting, incorporating students from different backgrounds and experiences brings new ideas to the table and promotes critical thinking among peers about other cultures. Additionally, its goal is to give minorities the same opportunities to succeed as the vast majority. In many cases, African-American students that come from poor neighborhoods typically do not have the same level of opportunities to attend institutions such as Harvard, Yale or Princeton. Families may not have the ability to pay for private SAT tutors, college preparation courses or visits to any school of their choice. Thus, affirmative action levels the playing field.

If affirmative action does all these great things, why is it the subject of so much controversy? A main reason behind this is because many people view it as an unfair advantage. Common critiques are that it lowers expectations for blacks, it is easier applying to college if you’re black, and lastly, the one I hate most, it’s reverse racism. Regardless of whether I’m chatting with friends or looking at articles on the web, these criticisms drive me absolutely insane. How can something that creates equal opportunity be a disadvantage for others? To say that affirmative action is some unfair leg up is utter blasphemy.

There are simply things none of us can ignore: blacks are at a disadvantage in our society. Last year, PBS reported that merely 54 percent of African-American males graduate from high school compared to more than 75 percent of white and Asian students.

In college, it is no secret that African-American males are scarce: The Congressional Black Caucus Foundation found that black males, ages 18 and over, contribute to a startlingly small 5.5 percent of all college students. Additionally, in January of 2014, CBS Philly announced that 44 percent of African-American males have been arrested before their 23rd birthday. These numbers speak directly to the lack of resources in predominantly black communities and the clear disadvantage they are faced with.

I can speak to the struggles of an African-American male from personal experiences. From elementary school to college, I’ve attended predominantly white institutions where I am typically racially outnumbered. It’s frustrating having to go to classes where peers and professors don’t look like you or understand your background. When chilling with friends on the weekends I have often been the typical “token” black guy of the group and the subject of stereotypical jokes. After awhile, it’s easy to feel inferior due to the fact you hardly see anyone like you around. Although I have always had food on my table and never been exposed to gang violence or the mass use of drugs, I have faced my own share of adversity as a black male in settings where I’m outnumbered.

It’s intimidating as a youth to be faced with statistics that say you’re unlikely to graduate high school or to deal with being racially outnumbered. Instead of believing that affirmative action makes someone’s life easier, we should understand that it takes into account these disadvantages for African Americans.

While it is safe to assume that the vast majority agrees that diversity must be increased in colleges, there still remains a great divide on how we can accomplish this goal. To say that affirmative action is unfair is, well, unfair. According to my friend, getting into college would have been a piece of cake if he were me. But, would his life actually be easier if he were in my shoes?

On a typical foggy morning in south San Francisco, I’m standing in line to buy myself and my high school girlfriend the new Jordan Bred 11 sneakers. I had just won the raffle that would allow me to purchase a pair and I couldn’t be more excited.

Aside from having matching kicks with my lady, I loved the way Jordans made me feel when I wore them: confident, stylish, but most importantly, different.

There is so much hype and excitement over every pair, which is released in limited quantities. People line up across the block and even camp outside the stores for a week before releases; I was never this committed. After spending $360 on two pairs, I carried them out of the store like they were newborn babies.

Putting looks and comfort aside, a main reason why the shoes attracted me as a buyer was because of Jordan’s relevance and influence even in today’s society.

References to him and his legacy are found in many modern day hip-hop songs. The latest includes “Back-to-Back” by Drake, which is a reference to Jordan repeating NBA titles in 1996 and 1997. To this day, people still reference famous quotes Jordan once said as a basketball player. My personal favorite is, “I can accept failure, everyone fails at something. But I can’t accept not trying.”

Ultimately, MJ is still a big deal to our generation, even when he’s not destroying his competition on the court. So when I got in line to buy his shoes, it wasn’t just about his sneakers. It was also about his legacy.

Now that I’ve gotten older, I think more critically about the products I decide to buy. I’m beginning to question why I bought Jordans in the first place. Sure, he is the greatest basketball player of all time (sorry LeBron James fans) and is a very successful black businessman in America. But what exactly has he done for the mass majority of people of color who buy his shoes? Let’s take a closer look.

As noted earlier, for the majority of releases, people line up around the block and camp out trying to buy the shoes. When this happens, there are many occasions where all hell breaks loose.

Every year, because of the limited quantities, there are riots and fights between people simply trying to buy a pair. There are countless videos on YouTube illustrating adults and children, being trampled by others to get into stores. Just last year, a 16-year-old African-American boy was shot and killed over shoes from a highly anticipated Jordan Brand release.

You would think Jordan would have something to say about the violence over his shoes, right? To date, he has not said much. He has yet to issue a public apology to people who have lost loved ones. He has not said anything about working with Nike to reduce the violence over his releases.

Despite the fact that people of color are the majority who support his business, Jordan doesn’t appear to care. People are losing their lives and families are being destroyed, yet he continues to remain silent. It is heartbreaking to see Jordan’s lack of concern for the lives that are taken because of his product.

You might be asking, “Well isn’t this Nike’s fault, not Michael Jordan’s?” If we look at Jordan’s career, he has made substantially more money off of his brand than he did his entire time as a professional basketball player. At this point, why have more quantities not been produced to reduce the demand? How much more money does he really need?

It’s not a matter of if Michael Jordan can help the issue, it’s a matter of if he wants to. Although I don’t plan to buy any more Jordans, I still have quite few, which I do plan to sell in the future. If you own them, you don’t have to follow suit, but hopefully you’ll think harder about lining up for Jordans in the future.

On a rare hot and sunny summer day in San Francisco, I walked in the Deboce Park Café to meet up with my middle school physical education teacher. We shook hands and began to chop it up. Aside from catching up on each other’s lives, we laughed about old times when we played basketball together after school (during which he would usually win), and when he served as a substitute in my English courses. We talked about everything from politics to relationship statuses. Even though years had passed since we had last seen one another, it felt as though our relationship was still able to mature successfully.

After meeting up, I realized that rekindling our relationship was incredibly important. I had the opportunity to learn more about him as a person and human being, as opposed to just as a teacher. Learning personal things about him, such as his favorite activities, concerns, and even some of his experiences when he was my age, shifted the way in which I viewed him. I felt as though I was speaking with a friend rather than an old instructor.

As we go off into college, many of us feel that we no longer find it necessary to keep in touch with old mentors and teachers. Some people feel that high school or middle school teachers don’t have anything to teach to them, so they don’t even bother to reconnect. Or perhaps, they feel they don’t have time in their busy lives to rekindle a relationship from two or three years ago. In college, we have other stuff going on right? Homework, sports, parties, Tinder, you name it!

But what people fail to realize is the importance of these bonds that we’ve formed with our old teachers. Sure, maybe it’s been quite some time since you’ve seen your high school math teacher, but if you’ve built up rapport with them, it’s absolutely worth it to continue that relationship. These people can, and will, give you helpful life lessons. Finding out how old teachers excelled or struggled in college can go a long way in helping you choose the right path and avoid making similar mistakes. It is also incredibly important to find out ways in which they made the most of their college experience. After getting to know them on personal levels, you begin to see your teachers and mentors in a much different light than before.

Keeping in touch with old teachers and mentors can be critical when it’s finally time to get that job you’ve wanted your whole life. Simply getting a fantastic education at UO and attending graduate school is not nearly enough to have your choice of jobs these days. Networking is key, and what better way to do that than with someone who understands your strengths and weaknesses? The more teachers you attempt to keep in touch with, the more possibilities you have in cracking into the hidden job market. Perhaps you may need a letter of recommendation as well. Do you really think they can write a good one after not hearing from you for two or three years?

Moral of the story, there’s significant importance and benefits in keeping in touch with old teachers outside the classroom. No matter how long it’s been, they still have much to teach you and have valuable life experiences to pass down. Saying you’re too busy or too old shouldn’t be an excuse. The way I like to look at it is that the pieces from the past can fit to create the puzzle for the future.

Within our generation, we all have that one phrase or saying that drives us absolutely insane. For some, it’s “I apologize for making you feel that way” or for others, it may be “everything happens for a reason.” But for me, the one I can’t stand is, “I’m smart, but I don’t try.” In high school, I typically heard the phrase here and there among people I rarely spoke to or saw outside of school. But in college, it seems to have become a phrase that is being used more regularly by an increasing amount of people. Every time I hear the phrase, whether it’s from friends or strangers passing by, I’m usually left asking, “What does that even mean? What exactly is smart about not trying?”

In short, the meaning of the phrase is that people are smart, which allows them to excel or potentially excel in school without very much time or effort. There are essentially two types of people who say, “I’m smart, but I don’t try”: those who say they would, for example, have a 4.0 GPA in school if they applied themselves, or those who are most likely lying about the amount time they invest, in order to brag.

What people who use this phrase fail to recognize is that trying is actually an extension of being smart. When the time comes for you to get that dream job you’ve always wanted, being a hard worker is what gives you an edge. An employee who is dedicated, works hard, learns from mistakes, and maximizes his or her ability, is much more desirable than a genius that is lazy. Simply being naturally smart or good at what you do alone isn’t enough to cut it. The hard work and putting in the extra effort comes in play when, for example, you’re seeking a promotion. It’s rare a boss would upgrade your standing simply based on the fact you know more than others.

While everyone possesses some sort of academic talent that makes some subjects easier than others, being able to succeed in an area of weakness is what makes one smart. Perhaps you haven’t been gifted with a mathematical mind so it is difficult to solve complicated math problems or perhaps you can’t write a succinct paper as fast as someone else can. Do either of these cases point towards one being less smart?

Those who are smart strive to learn new skills, take academic risks and enjoy learning in a variety of ways, even if they do not initially excel. Part of the process of becoming smarter includes failure, in which you realize that you actually don’t know everything. In many cases, being comfortable with failure yields better results and self-satisfaction.

In rare cases however, there are some who appear to be naturally gifted in nearly every subject and don’t need to work as hard. There are some who can sleep though lectures or skip class all together, yet somehow, are still able to ace exams and excel in their courses. But regardless of which side of the fence you stand on, the phrase is simply silly to say.

Whether you are saying the phrase to make yourself look cool, or truly believe that you are ”smart, but don’t try,” the time has come to put the phrase to rest. Failing to maximize your abilities as a student isn’t smart under any circumstances. Ultimately, the trying factor is part of the smart equation, and is arguably, the most important variable. And for those who have been able to solve the equation without the variable up to this point, the results won’t be the same when it counts most.