Photography and Text by Danielle Cano-Garraway
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What’s Your Penn Story
Everyone’s Penn experience is different for various reasons. Our backgrounds, socio-economic statuses, ethnicities, values, passions, religious beliefs and visions play an essential role in shaping our college experience.
The one factor that has greatly influenced Sarah’s* experience is being a black student at a prominently white institution (PWI). There have been many times where Sarah has felt lost and unwelcomed in a place that is supposed to be a “home away from home”. It feels like she has to fight ten times harder to prove herself.
Like many students here at Penn, Sarah has a clear vision of what she plans on doing after college, yet she has had to overcome obstacles that many of her peers will never run into. While wearing Penn gear Sarah has had people come up to her ask, “ do you know someone who goes to Penn? ” not even considering the fact that she might indeed be student at Penn.
The emotional baggage that has built up trying to navigate the PWI system as a black woman has been a difficult journey. Protest after protest Sarah and her peers have to remind those around them that they do belong, that black lives matter and that the injustice found across the country is disgusting and that they are demanding change.
Sarah has found different groups and organizations that have helped her cope with all of the obstacles that she faces. Sarah will continue to fight for change and will stand in solidarity with those who are going through a similar experience. When will it all end? When will the pain stop?
* Names have been changed to protected individual’s identity
Photography and Text by Danielle Cano-Garraway, Copyright 2015.
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About The Author: Danielle Cano-Garraway is a Junior majoring in Cognitive Science at the University of Pennsylvania, Class of 2017.