A University at Buffalo art student said she makes no apologies for posting controversial signs on the north campus last week. Graduate student Ashley Powell placed signs stating 'Whites Only' and 'Blacks Only' as part of her art project. It outraged both black and white students. WBFO's Focus on Education Reporter Eileen Buckley spoke with Powell about why she doesn't regret her actions.
The second year UB graduate student said her signs were urban installation artwork, where students were instructed by their professor to make create a piece about 'time'.
Powell said he selected the 1965 style postings as a way to begin a conversation about what's happening with racism today.
"What those signs are meant to do was to implicate white privilege," stated Powell in a WBFO News interview. "Although those signs physically don't exist today, in 2015, the systemic structures and institution racism that they reinforce still do very actively exist."
WBFO asked Powell what her definition is of 'white privilege'.
"White privilege is define as skin color that benefits a certain group of people in society systemically, structurally and institutionally. How white people are born into certain privileges that non-white people don't have," said Powell.
Powell describes how blacks have to deal with police harassment.
Powell tells WBFOher professor was well aware of the project she was planning to post on campus.
"So he knew those signs were going up?," asked Buckley. "Yes, of course he did," said Powell. "My professor does not believe in censorship of art at all."
Powell said she has received responses of 'hatred' from some whites. "Because racism is a taboo subject to talk about. To go out and specifically say that I am calling out that I am implicated white people and white privilege, that's something that's very taboo and unaccepted."
Powell claims she is receiving the most support from an older generation from black members who lived through the racial times decades ago.
Powell will not apologize for posting the signs. "I will not apologize for my actions at all," stated Powell. "There's no reason to apologize to get people talking and thinking about racism in a way that they wouldn't have before."
Powell describes that she has experienced racism in her life. She has been called racial slurs.
"It's literally through they way we are treated, that they way we are dressed, through the way that we are spoken to, thorough they way we are looked at," said Powell. "I'm here on a very gracious fellowship and many people tell me because I'm black.
The University responded to the incident by saying it is 'encouraging the UB community to discuss how to negotiate the boundaries of academic freedom in a safe and inclusive environment.'
