RACISM
continued from page 4C
ferson has become a school were
everyone feels included. In order for
the concept to work, Ansari said it's
vital to create awareness and have
zero tolerance for harassment.
While the racism-free zone may be
her most prominent service now,
Ansari, 55, has carried the torch for
many social causes. 1 ler desire to re
shape a world full of inequalities was
ignited when she witnessed a race
riot at Jackson State University.in
Mississippi when she was 11 years
old. Ansari, who grew up just outside
of Chicago, said she told herself she
had to do something about it.
"1 was always a fighter," she said.
"1 was always a person who didn't
believe in people being treated with
disrespect."
Her recognition of the rift between
black and white deepened when she
attended a predominantly white high
school. There, she had to contend
with racial slurs and with teachers
who had no real interest in her aca
demic ambitions.
"You can't be a nurse," she said
the teachers told her. "Black folks
can't be nurses.
"I never could understand why,
due to the color of my skin, people
thought I was different."
In the years after high school, her
social activism flourished as she took
on everything from women's rights to
housing issues in Chicago. When she
lived in New Mexico she immersed
herself in more work for women,
black farmers' rights and Native
American rights. In Eugene, she not
only started the racism-free zone, but
also worked for the city as human
rights commissioner until earlier this
year. She said she also started the first
citywide Martin Luther King Celebra
tion in 1986.
"The universe carried me to a lot
of people who'd been struggling,"
she said.
City of Eugene Human Rights Pro
I
Bahati Ansari
has dubbed
her office at
Jefferson
Middle School
a "racism-free
zone."
Jessica Waters
Photo Editor
gram Manager Greg Rikhoff has
known Ansari for almost 20 years
and said the strong, energetic, hu
mor-filled woman is committed to
human rights in all aspects of her life.
"1 ler life is not separated into what
she does for a living and what she
does for human rights," he said. "It's
all seamless."
1 le added that Ansari had contin
ued to show everyone they all have a
stake in creating an equitable and car
ing community.
"She's really done a remarkable job
of showing how interconnected we
are," Rikhoff said. "You can't work on
race and ignore issues of disability
and you can't talk of women's rights
and ignore ageism."
Ansari said it's a big challenge to
educate people and build inclusive
communities. Oregon's history is
heavily marked by its exclusion of
blacks. And while Eugene prides it
self in its "liberalism," Ansari said
there are many issues that people
still have to rally for.
"They think that it's OK, but it's
not," she said.
Retired University Professor Edwin
Coleman, a staunch social activist
who has worked with Ansari many
times, agreed, saying that the civil
rights movement is not over.
"You must always remember and
keep going because we as Americans,
and especially we as African-Ameri
cans, are not free," he said.
Coleman said Ansari has availed
herself to a lot of issues in a variety
of ways.
"She's continually working for the
betterment of all people, not just peo
ple of color," he said.
While her work for others gives her
great pride, Ansari believes one of her
greatest accomplishments is raising
her two sons. She also has five grand
children. She said she is concerned
about the future of black youth, espe
cially with so many young black men
in penal institutions.
"I think it's atrocious," she said.
"More of them are in the institutions
than in college over things that the
average person wouldn't go into in
stitutions for."
Ansari said she isn't about to slow
down. She still has dreams. She wants
to go back to school for a graduate
degree and she wants to build a re
treat center where people who have
experienced persecution can heal.
She also wants to skydive and learn
how to fly.
"I'm still growing," she said. "Every
day I wake up and say, "What am I
going to do now?"
She says her belief in herself has al
lowed her to envision and work for
what she wants.
"Love yourself first," she said.
"When you do that you command
that out of others."
Contact the news editor
at ayishayahya@dailyemerald.com.
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