The 30-room facility that caters specifically to "people of color" (POC) – meaning anyone other than Caucasians with fair skin – created a list of rules about house guests that specifically targets white people with Jim Crow era-style discrimination and racism. (Related: Anti-white "diversity officer" positions are among the fastest growing careers in America today.)
"Many POC members moved here to be able to avoid white violence and presence, so respect their decision of avoidance if you bring white guests," the list explains, stating that all guests who are white must be announced in the co-op's "Guest Chat" before even being allowed to enter the building.
Once inside, white people are not permitted to occupy common spaces. They are only allowed inside specific members' rooms if invited by a "friend" – though this writer wants to know: what self-respecting white person would ever be friends with someone who lives in an openly racist, anti-white space?
In addition to banning white people and prohibiting them from existing anywhere that is publicly visible, the Person of Color Theme House also requires that everyone who enters the building and is not inside a private room wear a face mask at all times.
There is also a bullet point about how members and their guests should not invite anyone inside the facility that might "express bigotry."
"Avoid bringing parents / family members that express bigotry," the rule states. "Queer, Black, and indigenous members should not have to avoid common spaces because of homophobic or racist parents / family members."
Would UC Berkeley support a "White Person Theme House?"
The Person of Color Theme House, which is located at 2310 Prospect Street in Berkeley, claims to be a safe haven for "low-income, first generation, immigrant and marginalized students of color."
"Originally known only as Andres Castro Arms," a listing for available units at the house states, "Person of Color Theme House was established in 2015 to better serve and empower students of color within the Berkeley Student Cooperative system."
"Person of Color Theme House exists to create a safe and welcoming space for its house members and build solidarity with communities of color in the Berkeley area and beyond."
The Person of Color Theme House is not directly run by UC Berkeley, according to Assistant Director of Media Relations Adam Ratliff. In defense of the facility, Ratliff told the media that it is "not the role of the campus" to do anything about this openly racist facility.
This writer supposes if this was a "White Person Theme House" as opposed to a non-white theme house, Ratliff would have a much different perspective on the matter.
According to Stephen Ross, the cooperative experience manager for the Berkeley Student Cooperative (BSC), there are actually some self-deprecating white people who live inside the Person of Color Theme House who apparently are not allowed to make an appearance, ever, in its common areas.
"White people can and do live in POC house, but the focus for POC house is providing a safe and supportive living environment for people of color," Ross said, adding that all of the 20 BSC facilities "have their own culture and practices."
All of them, Ross added, exist for and actively work towards "not making Whiteness central to the experience for members living in the house."
"If Whites had an off-campus, unaffiliated house that had signs: No Colored Allowed – UC Berkeley would kick all the residents out of school," wrote one commenter about the situation.
The latest news about institutionalized racism against white people can be found at RaceWar.news.
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