Alyssa Desouza
Alyssa Desouza is a second year law student and member of the Klau Institute Student Leadership Team.
“It is no longer sufficient to keep to ourselves, but rather we must stand up to hate in whatever form it takes."
Your undergraduate minor was in human rights, and you now have an interest in civil rights. Are there any specific issues related to civil or human rights that stand out to you as being particularly pressing at this moment in history?
There are so many pressing civil and human rights causes that deserve redress; equity in voting rights, the inhumane conditions and treatment in prisons, and law enforcement killings of young, black individuals, to name a few. Something that has been on my mind lately is garment workers’ rights. Fast fashion has started to dominate the market. With the rising demand for trendy clothing comes the need for an increased supply – and quickly. This means that the clothes are made with inferior materials, a higher volume of plastic, and will be thrown out at a faster rate.
The low prices of fast fashion also translate into extremely low wages and working conditions for garment industry workers, both within in the US and abroad. It is estimated that 85% of textile workers do not get paid minimum wage, rather making 2-6 cents per garment. In one factory, workers were penalized 2/3 of their daily wage if a mistake was found in the clothing they produced. The positive news is that each of us can quite easily have a direct impact on this issue by choosing to purchase clothing from thrift stores or “slow-fashion” companies. These clothing pieces will last longer because they are made from higher-quality materials. Also, these companies offer better working conditions and pay fair wages to their employees.
What first attracted you to the study of law? How did your interests turn to civil rights law in particular?
I was first attracted to the idea of the law as a mechanism to positively impact a large number of people’s lives. I love the idea that the law is meant to act as an enforcement mechanism when we are being treated unequally.
The fire in my belly was lit while I was writing my undergraduate senior thesis on the impact of voter ID laws on minority voter turnout. Having surveyed the history of voter suppression, the number of barriers to the ballot that have been erected for brown and Black Americans is truly astounding. Voting is a fundamental pillar of democracy and each American should be able to exercise their right to vote without any hindrance. I continue to learn about civil rights and the ways in which a law degree can help me enforce individuals’ equal protection under the law.
You are involved with diversity and inclusion at the law school. What do you see as the importance of promoting these issues within the legal profession?
Diversity comes in all forms, including diversity of thought, religion, ethnicity, race, and gender. We all bring with us our lived experiences and consciously or not, these inform the way we approach problems. The more diversity we bring to the table, the more innovative and holistic solutions we can create. It’s also important that when we talk about improving diversity and inclusion that diverse stakeholders actually have a seat at the table.
On a more personal level, when I see that others that share a similar background to me, I feel as though what I am looking to achieve is possible. Finding mentors that have been in my shoes and can guide me has been invaluable, especially because it has made me feel comfortable asking questions I might have been too apprehensive to ask otherwise.
Diversity and inclusion makes the world a better place!
You are a member of the Klau Institute student leadership team. What prompted you to get involved? What issues does your team want to see the institute pursue?
I came to law school knowing I had an interest in civil rights, so when I went to an event sponsored by the Klau Institute, I was intrigued. Taking the duo of professor Mason McAward’s Civil Rights class and professor Mitros Durham’s Building An Anti-Racist Vocabulary class really sealed the deal for me. The students and faculty at Klau are not only kind, thoughtful, and welcoming, but are also doing such important work that I was itching to get my hands into. The Klau Institute has become a second home for me here at Notre Dame.
We have some awesome events forthcoming - this semester, we expect to have an event on the maladies of fast fashion and an event exploring ethics and athletics. One of the aims of the SLT is to plan events that students are interested in, so if any students have ideas, we would love to hear from them!
Have there been any specific events or interactions in your life – either before coming to Notre Dame, or since – that have made a particular impact on you regarding racial or social justice issues?
While there have been various events in my life that have made me think deeply about racial or social justice, I can most notably reflect on my experience growing up in a conservative part of New York. My family of Indian immigrants faced hostility living in a post 9/11 New York City and had to learn to adapt to the changing attitudes. While I had always been proud of my heritage, I was more hesitant to embrace my identity during this time.
Relatedly, since Asian Americans are stereotyped as a model minority, we are often ignored by the political process and social justice causes. The era of COVID brought a rise of hate crimes against Asian Americans that even the “protection” of being a model minority couldn’t provide. The egregious hate speech and violence emanating from the public and political leaders such as Donald Trump have made it clear that it is no longer sufficient to keep to ourselves, but rather that we must stand up to hate in whatever form it takes