Justice Hicks On Being Trans at an HBCU
Student-activist Justice Hicks. Photo courtesy of Justice Hicks.
By Jaimee A. Swift
Justice Hicks (she/her/hers) shares her perspectives on being transgender at an HBCU and why LGBTQ+ student groups on campus need more support.
Justice Hicks’ interview is a part of ‘Voices in Movement’ February 2020 theme, #MakingBlackQueerHistory: Black LGBTQ+ Women and Non-Binary Student Activism at HBCUs. To read the descriptor, please click here.
Justice Hicks is an education major and art minor at Fayetteville State University. Raised in Sanford, North Carolina, Hicks is a member of SPECTRUM, Fayetteville State’s premier and only LGBTQ+ student organization on campus. She is also a Wellness Ambassador at Fayetteville State, an “organization dedicated to providing a positive example of health and wellness by promoting accurate student health information and motivating others to cultivate healthy lifestyles.”
Hicks, via email, shared with me about her experiences as a transgender student at an HBCU; why SPECTRUM needs and should have more support; advice she would give to other LGBTQ+ students; and what a Black Woman Radical means to her.
What have been the benefits and the difficulties of being a transgender student at an HBCU?
Justice Hicks (JH): “Being Trans at an HBCU is a little uncomfortable, to be completely honest. The only perks at this school is meeting new friends and being apart of SPECTRUM. Downsides would be constantly getting misgendered. Aside from that, this campus is okay.”
In your opinion, why is LGBTQ+ student representation important at HBCUs?
JH: “From my perspective, HBCUs are very old fashioned and traditional. The LGBT+ experience is almost non-existent because of the conservativeness of most HBCUs. For example this campus only has ‘Safe Zone’ and SPECTRUM, and we are in desperate need of more support. Adding more support to HBCUs could break the stigma of the homophobic culture that is present.
What can Fayetteville State University do to be more inclusive of its LGBTQ+ student body? How would you like to see HBCUs in general be more inclusive of LGBTQ+ students and the LGBTQ+ community?
JH: “[Fayetteville State University] and HBCUs can be more inclusive by adding more diversity to their schools. Adding more demographics to this school would make this experience even better for myself.”
Please tell me more about your activism within SPECTRUM. Why is SPECTRUM an important organization and space for LGBTQ+ students on campus?
JH: “I am almost always within Safe Zone [and that is] the room most members of SPECTRUM occupy. SPECTRUM is important to the school because it is the only openly LGBT+ organization on campus.”
What advice would you give to LGBTQ+ students at HBCUs?
JH: “Make sure you find your support group and always be aware of your surroundings. Ignorance is always lurking at HBCUs.
What does a ‘Black Woman Radical’ mean to you?
JH: Black women that are very adamant in their opinion and advocate for other minorities.
Who are Black women who inspire you?
JH: “Isis King and Beyoncé.”
You can follow SPECTRUM on Facebook.