James “Tony” Hypsher is a sophomore men’s soccer student-athlete at University of Rochester. An honorable mention UAA All-Association player in his rookie campaign, he was named UAA Offensive Player of the Week on Oct. 28, 2019 after netting the game-winning goal against Endicott College.

The UAA “Conversations About Race and Racism” series seeks to lift the voices of people of color and recognize the challenges faced in both athletics and academics at the collegiate level. By sharing personal stories, we hope to elevate the conversation about race to raise awareness and bring about change.

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Neutrality is Not Neutral

South African activist and retired Anglican bishop Desmond Tutu said in Robert McAfee Brown’s book, Unexpected News: Reading the Bible with Third World Eyes, “If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor. If an elephant has its foot on the tail of a mouse and you say that you are neutral, the mouse will not appreciate your mentality.”

On June 26, 2015, the United States Supreme Court declared same-sex marriage legal in all 50 states. At the time, Tony Hypsher was attending a residential language camp.

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