Marika Chupp
Embraced with the feeling of family and a one-of-a-kind culture, Hawa Dicko is a powerful black woman. Even when people try to push the growing community of black lives down, the community and the family-like group only grows stronger and deeper with love and compassion for one another.

  “We all experience the sort of struggle it’s kinda like a bubble,” Dicko said. “I think that’s really important to remember during any hard times we do have each other. We’re like a family.” Black stereotypes have rolled around this country; uneducated people only make up a small minority of the rolling around messages that go around.  

 “Sometimes people are surprised when I do well,” Dicko said. “I wonder if it is because I’m black.” With all of the stereotypes that are spread around, it leaves Dicko, and many others, out in the cold. There is a struggle to prove people wrong, to prove that as a whole they are more than just a stereotype and that they’re human.

 Even with the hatred that attacks them, a sort of peace and tranquility can be found. The community continues to flourish and grow stronger each day, in spite of the racism that Dicko frequently faces.

  “I think that we are really resilient,” Dicko said. “We’ve had many obstacles. There’s just this marginalized racism and it’s still going on everyday, these judgements. We don’t let it stop us. We just keep going.” Dicko praises the community she looks up to.

 The negative stereotypes that surround the black community may try to keep black people from accomplishing what their potential, but resilience will only grow along with the family.  

  “I feel like we don’t have much of a voice,” Dicko said. “I feel like only the white voices are being heard.” Today, Dicko and many other people of color refuse to stand back and let the silence continue.