Voice, Culture, Race, otherwise known as VCR, is a place of comfort, joy, and safety for many campers of color, marginalized identities, and white allies. Whether it’s playing a heated Family Feud, having conversations about family traditions, or talking about our racial and religious experiences, VCR is an inclusive space for people of all backgrounds. Recently, one of our conversations was centered on our different cultures and social norms. Surprisingly, many of us had similar ones, such as taking off shoes before entering the home.
Another memorable shared norm was the importance of cleaning up the table after a meal, even though one camper identified as Black, and the other of German-Jewish descent. We identified this norm as “survival etiquette” that marginalized communities rely on. Upper Camper Reva T. explains that VCR is a space where “everyone just pays attention to what you have to say” and that the “conversations are natural,” which is a major reason why the environment is comfortable. It was captivating to see how campers of diverse ancestry shared similar customs. VCR is also a place where campers can come together and process negative experiences they’ve had in PWIs.
Ayana: When I first stepped into VCR last year, I was greeted with a circle of smiles and was immediately swept into a game of Egyptian Ratscrew. I identify myself as Southeast Asian and Muslim, and at camp, I pray three times a day. My counselors and bunkmates are open-minded to my religious needs. In my experience, WriCampia creates an informed, warm setting that welcomed me from day one. However, being a minority group, it was a delight to find out there was a specific late night for people of different races, ethnicities, and religious backgrounds.
Neva: I first attended VCR as a Middle Camper, looking for people like me and people open to honest conversations about race, ethnicity, and culture. WriCampia has always been a home for me, but as a Black camper here, it’s rare to find people who understand my racial identity and experiences. I joined VCR again this year after having extremely positive experiences in predominantly BIPOC spaces in high school. I became one of the leaders of my school’s Black Student Union and currently attend a youth space for research in Black culture outside of school. I wanted to return to VCR to find a similar space at WriCampia. I am so glad I did because after attending just a few meetings, I have made memories I’ll treasure forever, especially learning Spades.
Thank you to Jordan for leading VCR this year and to Shanille for leading it in past years, and huge shout out to everyone who attended this year. Everyone is welcome to come to VCR! As Jordan puts it, “VCR is a place to be safely vulnerable.”
