Opportunity?

Students have generally not been hesitant about sitting next to me in class, and, as far as I have observed, none of my instructors follow discriminatory seating practices.

I seem to be, however, a curiosity to many of my fellow students, and several of my instructors. A few ask bluntly why I'm going to college, and just what sort of job I expect to get—me, a negro.

One night, a white acquaintance and I were studying German together. Both of us received high grades in this course.

"What are your plans for the future?" my classmate inquired.

"I hope to teach, do research in psychology, or study medicine." I answered.

"If I were a coloured person I wouldn't make too many plans, or set my ambitions too high." he advised. "Even if you're as smart, you can't get the same kind of job as me."

"Well, what should I do?" I asked.

"You'd better go to another country."

"Where?"

"I don't know exactly, but anyplace there isn't any prejudice." he said.

Numerous whites will greet me with a cheery hello and a flashy smile when we pass on the campus. But if the student is a man, perhaps he will not see me when his girl friend is along.

Once, at a social get-together, a white student eagerly expounded to me at great length his political views and ambitions. He was violently opposed to alien, anti-capitalistic doctrines. Yet since then I have passed him shoulder to shoulder a dozen or more times without a dicker of recognition animating his face. He just stares straight ahead as if 1 were an open doorway.

I have much more respect for the person who never speaks at all than the one who speaks at length for one time and never again, or the one who speaks only when he thinks he won't be embarrassed. I'm always willing to go half-way, but 51 per cent, of the way is too far for me.

To be completely fair, nevertheless. I must remark that several of my male acquaintances speak no matter where or by whom accompanied.