Today was day 3 of our collaboration with the Lemon Project, and I find myself filled with a newfound sense of pride in our institution and the people within it. Although I had few preconceptions of the Lemon Project as an organization before this weekend, I never expected it to be powered by such passionate, respectful, and compassionate people who truly believe in the College of William & Mary. Everything we have done on this trip works toward acknowledging the wrongs of the school and rectifying them, and we seek to do it with loving and respectful intentions. This was incredibly powerful for me to realize and witness, and has altered the way I look at our school’s relationship with race and gender.
After interviewing the Legacy 3, one thing became (paradoxically) clear: things have changed, and things are very much the same. At first, it was surprising to me that these women seemed hesitant to speak poorly of the school. I expected stories of racism, prejudice, and adversity to abound. The reality did in fact feature some racial and gender discrimination, but these were not the central narrative. These issues were background noise, the static of these women’s lives, much as they are in the lives of women and minorities on campus today. The words “those were the times” were said often, and without judgment. Those were the times. That was how things were. Today, these are the times. This is how things are. We work to change them, but in the meantime we live, work, and learn. The injustices we bear, some more than others, hang on the outskirts of our personal narratives. They are not the main event, but an unseen presence felt looming just offstage.
The Legacy 3 spoke with eloquence and honesty. They made their pride in William & Mary very clear, even as they spoke critically about issues on campus during their time here. They wore their heart and their burdens on their sleeve, and their commitment to telling their story with integrity and grace moved me like not much else has. Listening to the Legacy 5 speak today has instilled in me a gratitude and love for William & Mary that I have not felt before. Their words make me proud of this school, and drive me to change it for the better during my time here. After this weekend I resolve to appreciate the College critically. My pride in our school and the belief that it can be better are not exclusive ideas, but one in the same.