After a Logan family’s Black Lives Matter sign was recently set on fire, an anti-racism vigil was held at the Cache County Courthouse this weekend.
Tomoya Averett is a senior at Utah State University. She said she’s spent her entire college career reclaiming her identity as black women.
“Because who cares if you say the N word or use blackface at Halloween, if you go to church on Sunday, right? I can count timeless recollections of times when I've heard microaggressions like 'you're so smart for a black man, or you're so pretty for a black girl.' (These are) the silent killers that makes it hard for the black community, especially here in Logan to lead with compassion,” said Averett.
Averett was one of people who spoke the Black Lives Matter vigil in Logan on Saturday, which was held in response to a Black Lives Matter sign recently being set on fire. Emilee Harmon was another USU student who attended.
“I think seeing events like this in Logan, Utah, where racism is so prevalent, it makes me want to keep going. And it makes me want to work for a better future for black people, for black youth, for black trans people, because we can make it better,” said Harmon.
Harmon believes Utah State can support black students like herself by actively training their staff, faculty, and student leaders to be anti-racist and by having more Black people in leadership postitions.
Harmon’s friend Hailey Darrow came with her to the event and said events like this help her better acknowledge her white privilege and inspire her to listen.
“I think it's starting with just trying to educate myself through my own time and research, instead of putting it on like five black friends," Darrow said. "I just think it starts with taking accountability of educating yourself instead of relying on other people to do it."