Photo Credit: Kimi Wei.
PARAMUS, N.J. – Bergen Community College student Ivan Wei believes equality is colorblind – and so is he. Perhaps not in the literal sense – Wei can see just fine – but for this self-described “Chinese-Hispanic-Native American-Irish-Jew” with light skin, race means little when discussing human rights issues.
“I want equality for all people,” he said. “To tell you the truth, I want to end racism.”
That philosophy encouraged Wei, of Fair Lawn, to build the College’s chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) from the ground up during the last two years – conventional stereotypes regarding what color skin is needed to join the organization aside. The NAACP maintains membership from all races – Bergen’s chapter follows suit.
“We are the most diverse NAACP chapter in the state: we have people of all ages, races and sexual orientation,” he said.
Peaking at more than 70 members, Wei has served as president of the group since its inception, helping develop activities such as voter registration drives and candidate forums. His dedication to the organization led to his election as the state’s NAACP youth and college chair last year.
This year, Wei earned an even more prestigious post: region II youth and college chair, putting him at the helm of 100 chapters from Delaware to Maine.
During his two-year term as chair, Wei plans on increasing the number of college chapters, encouraging new service projects and setting the ambitious goal of making each chapter in his region compliant under the terms of the NAACP.
Wei, whose activist spirit is derived from his mother Kimi, will graduate from Bergen in May. Staying in-county, Wei will enroll at Ramapo College of New Jersey as an environmental studies major before embarking on a “socially-conscious” career in urban farming.
As he prepares to enter his final semester at Bergen, Wei hopes future student leaders of the NAACP will keep the school’s chapter at the forefront of local human rights advocacy.
“I want to be the change,” he said.
Bergen Community College (www.bergen.edu) based in Paramus is a public two-year coeducational college, enrolling nearly 17,000 students at locations in Paramus, the Philip J. Ciarco Jr. Learning Center in Hackensack and Bergen Community College at the Meadowlands in Lyndhurst. The College offers associate degree, certificate and continuing education programs in a variety of fields.
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