it happened again
nubian on Nov 12th 2006
last week, on the campus of texas a&m university, a couple of students posted a video on a public web forum, depicting the act of a “slave” (a white student in blackface), being whipped by a “master” (another white student in blackface). update: you can view a clip of the film here.
in a response, the president of the university, dr. robert gates, wrote an open letter to the texas a&m community, denouncing the video:
An Open Letter to the Aggie Family:
Yesterday was a sad day for Texas A&M. It was brought to my attention that individuals who appear to be Aggie students had posted to a public web site a home-made video that is so utterly disgusting that, regardless of race, religion, or background, I believe virtually any member of our Aggie family would be outraged and ashamed if they viewed it. The content of the video is offensive on many levels and would be so to all Aggies, but is particularly insulting and hurtful to members of our Black community. The hateful video is not simply an example of poor judgment and insensitivity; it appears to have been purposefully produced to insult and demean. When one member of the Aggie family is
insulted, we are all insulted. I find the content of the video inexcusable and I believe virtually all Aggies join me in that belief.I cannot fully express my disappointment and embarrassment that Texas A&M students may have been involved in this matter. While I respect and value the constitutional right to free speech, I can neither condone nor accept that right being disrespected in this manner. We believe we have identified the students allegedly involved in producing the video and are directing them to meet with Student Affairs officials to discuss their actions, as well as their future at Texas A&M. The university has already contacted the web host and demanded that the video be removed, and they have done so.
The university will be hosting a community forum at 7 p.m. this evening in Rudder Tower, Room 601 to provide students, faculty and staff an opportunity to express their opinions about how the university moves forward and overcomes this disgraceful episode.
In this vein, I applaud the editors of The Battalion for strongly condemning the actions of students whose behavior is counter to everything Aggies stand for — loyalty, character, integrity and respect.
I deeply regret that anyone was hurt by viewing the video, or simply knowing or hearing about it. At a time when Texas A&M is doing more than ever to attract, retain and graduate a diverse student body, the damage done by the insensitivity of two or three individuals is
immeasurable. I am extremely disappointed by their behavior, but even more saddened by the hurt this might bring to many members of our campus and extended communities.Finally, I am truly outraged by this moronic video. Those who made it are no true Aggies, and I expect they will have to live with the consequences of their actions in this matter for a very long time.
Robert M. Gates, President
Texas A&M University
“making fun” of black people is nothing new. i can’t turn on my television, access the internet, or even attend a mainstream hollywood movie without feeling insulted and demeaned. so, hearing about incidents like this that repeatedly happen on “prestigious” institutes of higher learning, doesn’t shock me. moreover, as a product of the lily-white university of california system (and as a current student of another predominately white campus), i have seen with my own eyes, the lengths privileged white students take to appropriate visual markers of “blackness” at halloween parties (the pimp costume was always popular in santa cruz), house parties, talent shows, theatrical performances–pretty much any venue that allows white kids to “perform” blackness without any repercussions, under the guise of it being a performance, and therefore, not a representation of how they really feel about black people.
my question is, however, why do these university administrators continue to ignore what these racist (yes, this shit is racist) actions implicate–why the failure to point out the sickening white supremacist ideology that fuels these parties and videos? it is much more than just some students who lack “poor judgment and insensitivity.”–it is much more than an attempt to “insult and demean.” what these students and by extension the administrators who apologize for their actions represent, is the failure of the academic instituion to seriously address instances of racism and hatred perpetuated by the suppossed, enlightened and educated, future of america.
true, (white) college kids these days are getting at least, a taste of some racial theory and anti-racist discourse in the requisite general education courses–but those courses seem useless when actions like these are considered only as “disrespectful” rather than outright racist. undoubtedly, this letter from dr. gates is not a plea to address the structural and ideological racism that permeates texas a&m and our society at large; rather, it is a last ditch attempt to keep the texas a&m image, ostensibly, racist free and to keep the applications from students of color rolling in under the marker of “diversity initiatives.” likewise, by not calling the video racist and a symbol of the privileged status of whiteness that allows for humilation of the black students who attend texas a&m, dr. gates implies that “it’s ok to be racist, as long as you don’t get caught–at least, don’t put it on the internet.”
bullshit.
if this happens again, and it will, deans, presidents, and chancellors of the university, can you please call it out for what it is?
if it looks like racism, then it probably is racism.
I think they don’t call it out because the message they want to send is not ” Don’t be racist” but don’t embarass. For wahtever reason the dismantling the idealogy runs distatnt second to not embarassing the institution.
i think you pretty much said it Nubian…too often it’s easier to turn a blind eye to the obvious-ness of the situation and what it means in the mind of those people responsible for it…aligning with you, its not just some random disrespectful act…i do not believe that students attending a college cannot or do not know what type of reaction they’d get from something this fukkin offensive or that they don’t know the history behind it which, in my opinion, is exactly WHY they did it…no questions asked…and they can keep their apology…i don’t need it…this isn’t a “free speech exercise”…because it solves nothing…one true-izm in life is that complacency breeds ground for contempt…and in that regard, they’re helping to cultivate this negative atmosphere to unacceptable proportions by saying “oh yeah we don’t condone that…we’re sorry…and that’s not the Aggie way of doing it”…well apparently it IS…not to say that these students speak for the entire campus of Texas A&M, but it’s highly disturbing that the president himself only issued that feeble attempt at salvaging the university’s image and not attacking the REAL issue here…there’s problems like this throughout the south…the United States in general…and no fukkin band-aid is going to cover up the scar tissue left by this and other instances of this caliber…just downright ignorant AND disrespetful…like for real in 2006 THIS is how you see me as a black person?…fukk outta here with that…
sorry for the expletives Nubian…this type of shit burns my azz.
As always, nubian, you said it well. The letter was all about liability, embarrassment, and the ability of the university to attract a “diverse student body,” which is very popular to have these days (not support that student body, just be able to boast that you have one).
I’d like to see the day when administrators and leaders of universities actually try to start tackling racism systematically.
well, all i have to say is… yup. its not about accountability or an institutional commitment to ending White Supremacy and racism. if it were, White Supremacy wouldn’t be so instituted within academia and we wouldn’t have situations like the University of Wisonsin cutting out the face of a Black student and placing it in the crowd of a football game and using it on all their student recruitment materials - without the permission of the student. i’m sure we could come up with plenty of examples of racism being carried out by academic institutions.
I swear I got this same exact letter as an email from the prez of Cornell when a bunch of white students here hurled epithets at and then stabbed a prospective black student(because he had the nerve to stand up for himself) last year.
This is nothing but damage control. And bullshit.
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oh, for heaven’s sake. excuse me while I jam my eyeballs out with forks. This is absolute bullshit–and it’s shit like this that makes me feel pretty hopeless. like things are never going to change. I mean, over and over and over again–it just never stops.
I agree. the university is in damage control, not fix it mode. so much for academia being a place for higher learning and molding future generations.
I think about commericals that encourage parents to talk about drugs. They usually show examples of what happens when the parents do not talk about drugs.
This incident, the “Ghetto Party” (UT Law School), the team I think, Ohio who had skillets at a football game, the team that played the German victory song, etc, I think are all examples of not discussing race openly and honestly. It is the torso without the head. Do whatever actions you want without thinking. Race does not exist so there is no need to think about how it will be seen as anything but entertainment for little Johnny. @@
Kevin: Shit’s got that low at Cornel since I was there? Damn, When I was there we had folks on notice that we were taking no shit. Now they stabbin’ folk?
Yo Nubian you on fire!!!
Peace
a couple of weeks ago at a freakin’ pee wee footbal game the white team(they had all white kids) dressed up in black face and taunted the black team(they were all black kids) and it didnt seem to be such a big deal. i was like, damn, why is blackface so popular right now!
Oh, please. You’re either obtuse or being deliberately obtuse in order to make your point. The man called the video “disgusting” and “moronic”, as well as “purposely hateful”. He made it clear that it was especially offensive to black people. He says that the consitutional right to free speech doesn’t excuse this nonsense. He lauds those who condemned it. He provides a forum for people to discuss it. He does everything except actually use the word “racist”. So WTF do you expect out of him? Granted, he should have expelled the students so fast they bounced, but he might have decided that would make them look like victims. Better to avoid further publicity by treating them badly until they withdraw.
He’s a university president, for fuck’s sake: his job is to preserve and promote the public image of the university. Of course he’s going to condemn the boys’ actions in terms of that. That’s what he was hired to do. Going on some long tangent about white supremacy would distract people from the real issue, which is that those kids are a bunch of assholes. Everyone already thinks they’re assholes. People rejected them in the strongest terms possible. And you’re wringing your hands because the administration didn’t choose to make it a teach-in moment about some vague overarching discourse that you believe, based on personal and anecdotal experience, is what everyone else is secretly thinking? Switch to decaf. Twenty years ago, an appreciable fraction of the campus would have been claiming that those boys had a “right” to be racist asshats. Now, everyone says “Christ, what an embarrassment”. Because they, rightfully, feel that our culture has moved beyond that, and that expressions of that sort of racism are fundamentally throwbacks to the Bad Old Days. Even middle-aged white Texans think of racism as the Bad Old Days now. And if that’s based on public shame rather than some kind of truth and reconciliation commission, it still means that most people think those were the Bad Old Days.
How old were these kids? I find that a lot of the younger generation have no clue (and it’s their parents fault).
@felagund,
I think you are the one being deliberately obtuse..
you say:
He does everything except actually use the word “racist”
Granted, he should have expelled the students so fast they bounced
hmmm, so you answer the question yourself yet, still have to ask what he should have done?.
I swear, thing just get ‘curiouser and curiouser’
^^^^sustained.
that is all.
12 felagund if everyone “knows” that the boys are racist then what was the purpose of the president exluding the word? If it were the case then the word would have no power. If everyone truly thinks the “boys” are alone in this racist behavior then why not say it. It was not said, because the president as well as the community and the alumni do not believe racist is systematically dead. That is why it was not said.
And I would like to know since you bust up in here with guns a blazing if you think Nubian should have been a good ole submissive and just say “thank you massa, thankyou so much for letting everyone know it is those boys alone and not the university.” Fucking Please. I have been on A&M’s campus more than once. Know the whole area of College Station, Bryan, to Brenham to Marble Falls. They are some racists motherfuckers around them parts. It is time they are called what they are and let them feel the heat.
Assholes—New code word for white people not to feel guilty about having racists white people and their racist white people enablers. Assholes— Translation: RACISTS MOTHERFUCKERS
Sondjata: How old were these kids? I find that a lot of the younger generation have no clue (and it’s their parents fault).
Yes.
Yes, these frat boys are ignorant shitheads. And from looking at the photos would I be wrong to hazard a guess that maybe they got their “costume” idea from MTV rap videos where black people are presented as buffoons.
And I’m not sure how the UC system is lily white when 68-70% of the students are people of color and 30-32% are white.
something very similar happened in Baltimore at Johns Hopkins. This is outrageous and completely unacceptable behaviour for anyone. Like the person above said, I also blame the parents. It’s called teaching right from wrong and equality for everyone.
Here’s the article on JHU:
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/bal-te.md.hopkins31oct31,0,2918232.story?page=1&coll=bal-local-headlines
It’s racism.
Not everyone knows that the boys actions were racist and that is why it is important to say it. As always we (poc)are the only ones who do and we have to say it over and over again. And then we get accused of being obtuse and told to calm down.
felagund, I’d managed almost a week of blogging without getting angry. You ruined it. Thanks for nothing.
Soul : can i send you flowers?
Chasing: Because the boys aren’t alone as you have demonstrated. They just were too dumb to keep it to themselves.The message is don’t embarass the school. That same letter with those boys kicked out is a whole new message. BUt they aint giving that one.
Sondjata: I’m sure I’m not that much younger than you and yeah some folks have NO CLUE. To the point that folks needed it explained why saying Serena WIlliams looks like a monkey was a bad move. One memorable at Penn : I was visiting and some girls we knew got called bushwomen and chocolate temptresses walking to class
blackamazon:
I just checked your profile. I got at *least* a decade on you.
Really hmmm! Well then I restste that to mean my generation of young bucks can be amazingly ignorant
[…] Blackacademic points out yet another case of young whites deciding that putting on the blackface is just, y’know, hilarious. […]
[…] Blackacademic points out yet another case of young whites deciding that putting on the blackface is just, y’know, hilarious. And she also points out that the University President’s letter, which is mainly about saying “it was just a few bad apples, there’s no larger problem to be addressed here!,” manages to avoid ever using the word “racism.” Because using that word would apparently be in bad taste or something. […]
And I’m not sure how the UC system is lily white when 68-70% of the students are people of color and 30-32% are white
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
And they have enough nerve to all be the same shade. WTF is that?
“We are going to paint on black, just need one color.” RMFEs
“And I’m not sure how the UC system is lily white when 68-70% of the students are people of color and 30-32% are white”
Where did that come from. I’m in the UC system and I hardly ever, EVER see a black face.
http://www.ucop.edu/news/factsheets/Flowfrc_9505.pdf
Use the zoom in and you can read the stats.
Funny: I had to go back and read the letter twice to be really sure it didn’t use the “racist” word. Perhaps because it’s NOT powerful enough? In this society, “racist” gets flung around a lot. It has possibly lost some of its ability as a power word.
I have seen statements similar to this before. But
“We are sorry and saddened that some of our students acted in a racist fashion”
is not in my eyes, as powerful, or likely to affect people, as what he DID say. I mean, as public statements go, this is damn unusual in its vitriol. “Utterly disgusting” (accurate as hell) is not something college presidents usually say.
Of course, I’m coming from the “duh, it IS racist” perspective here. So I didn’t need that word to be said to make me realize that. Still, I didn’t think the letter was so bad.
P.S. most universities cannot just expel students without following their own internal regs. I strongly doubt they could do so absent a hearing, appeal, etc etc. I have no doubt the administration will make their life hell. Not that they don’t deserve it–but (again) when’s the last time you saw someone in administration put such a beautifully veiled threat in print? “Those who made it are no true Aggies, and I expect they will have to live with the consequences of their actions in this matter for a very long time.” was brilliant.
Ye’ old minority slight of hand:
Although a majority of the students are “People of Color” (Which people presume to mean they have the same interests) there are only 909 “Afr. Am) persons, a full 3% of the 2005 enrollment. Significantly outnumbered by “Asian-American” with 10x the enrollment. although Asian-Americans make up what percentage of the US population? You’ll find these black faces also outnumbered by a good 3x ration by “Chicanos”. In fact the only group less represented than ‘Af-Am” are Native Americans Yet I’m sure there are plenty of people upset about how Affirmative Action is giving away those 3% of enrollments to black folk who complain too much about slavery.
I know..off topic.
My impression from reading the statement was that those guys are in the process of being called up on the carpet, and maybe expelled. I got that impression from this sentence: “We believe we have identified the students allegedly involved in producing the video and are directing them to meet with Student Affairs officials to discuss their actions, as well as their future at Texas A&M.” To me that they may not have a future at A&M.
Also, have you guys seen this?
http://www.ebogjonson.com/archives/2006/09/should_i_use_bl.php
I got a kick out of it, and think it’s just as applicable to off-the-blog behavior.
Whoops. The above comment should read, “to me that IMPLIES they may not have a future at A&M.”
the ebogjohnson chart is AWESOME, and should be required reading for pretty much everyone, even if it never crossed their minds to use blackface photoshop, because it’s hell funny.
course, this is beyond photoshopping. what smug little fucks they look like, too. i’d like to smack the pancake right off them.
>And I’m not sure how the UC system is lily white when 68-70% of the students are people of color and 30-32% are white>
um, -what?-
I was in the UC system a decade ago. unless things have -radically- changed, that’s, um, rather -dramatically- inaccurate. i could probably even go dig up the actual stats.
if anything, i’d expect it’d be -more- white now, considering both the increasingly anti-affirmative action moves, cuts in education at the pre-college level (which effectively means that the poorest/most marginalized are, once again, the most screwed; which effectively means overwhelmingly, if obviously not -solely,- POC) and simultaneous jacking of costs/cuts in financial aid, not to mention the aggro nouveau “woe is Whitey” movement that’s been in effect at least these past ten years or so.
the aggro nouveau “woe is Whitey” movement
I am really grooving on that phrase, belledame. : )
…oh, never mind, cm already brought up the stats.
so it looks like all the others together add up to more than the “white” stats, but is that really the percentage? can’t be bothered to do the math at the moment, but 24, 362 whites out of 65,851 total is…yeah, maybe that’s about right, okay, that’s less than a third.
all the same, you factor that that’s white vs. -everyone else put together.- and by -far- the second most represented demographic is Asian American, at 16,317. African Americans would represent less than 5%, looks like, at just under 3,000. and relative to the overall increase in the student population, looks like it’s actually a smaller percentage than in 1996. certainly no bigger.
and i wonder how many of the 3,137 “unknown” are also white. i would suspect more than not, given that it’s usually white people who don’t want to mark the checkbox in this sort of thing, in my experience. I also wonder who’s under “other.” a lot might be mixed-background, I suppose.
..duh, I’m wrong, math is hard: that’s -not- less than a third.
…o for fuck’s sake. anyone?
-sigh-
25,000 would be 1/3, or 33%, of 75,000.
this is 24,362 out of 65,851. so that’s less than half, but i -think- less than a third.
fuckit lemme dig out Excel.
…fuckit, the problem is i don’t even know the right formula. blagh.
is there a mathematician in the house?
Bottom line: cm says she hardly sees any -black- faces on a UC campus. and indeed this started off being about, well, -blackface.- (not at a UC, btw, of course, but in Texas, A &M, which i presume has its own stats and so forth).
10% of 65,851 would be 6,585.
half of that, 5%, is 3200 and change; and black students are listed as 2900 and change, so, uhhhhhhh, yeah, what sondjata said…
(i really should read all the comments before going off, shouldn’t i)
probably around 3-4%. mebbe more like 4. but then also factor it no doubt varies from campus to campus as well.
The question of Asian Americans vs. other POC as per representation at college campuses, not to mention the ways in which “POC” apparently means different things to different people, at least at first, reflexive thought, is interesting and probably worth a discussion; but it doesn’t, it seems to me, really say much one way or the other about 1) the underrepresentation of actual black faces on campus and 2) the sheer offensiveness of Mssrs. Entitlement there playing around with the blackface makeup and other peoples’ hot buttons.
39…”but i think MORE than a third.”
sorry for the post jag; don’t mind me…
(24, 362 / 65,851 ) * 100 = 37%, according to my calculator. More than 1/3, but close enough for government work.
Blackface does seem to be kind of epidemic lately, and I don’t know why, or whether my perception is skewed and I’m just hearing about it lately. The college at which my mother teaches just had an incident of this type, too. The faculty and student body are holding demonstrations against racism, but I don’t know yet what disciplinary actions will be taken.
blackamazon…
but of course.. you can send me flowers.. can I send you some Tea?
According to chasingmoksha’s link the to total UC system wide freshmen enrollment in 2005 was 30,083 of which 10,165 were white. According to my calculator I got 33.8% white and 66.2% people of color (plus or minus 4.7% for unknown students). According to the same stats in 1995, the year previous to the elimination of affirmative action, the UC freshmen class was 37.2 % white and 62.8% people of color. UC is neither lily white nor is it getting any whiter.
I read it as a threat, too, and I hope that these students see their academic careers suffer for it.
I’m not sure whether to see the phrasing as a disavowal in a good or bad way–on the one hand, “This is not what we’re about, you little assholes,” is a very good thing to say; on the other, “Don’t look at us, we just prepare them for adulthood,” isn’t so much. I was glad that he didn’t even bother with the idea that this might be a joke or intended as such.
I am really grooving on that phrase, belledame. : )
Same here.
The UC freshmen class was 37.2 % white and 62.8% people of color. UC is neither lily white nor is it getting any whiter.
Drydock I do not see too much room to be all oily about UC stats. This particular stat was only one element of lily whiteness. The faculty, and who is tenured and who is asked to be tenured would need to be considered in assessing an institution’s lily whiteness as well as the curriculum and where they are going with that curriculum and how many of what color goes from enrolling to actually graduating and if “white thought” is rewarded over any other possible thought. I realize that so many “whites” would like to make it simple so they would know how to comfort themselves, but it is not so.
These blackface boys were from A&M. The other example was from Ohio. Does racist white America get off the hook because the UC system has evidence of diversity?
chasingmoksha Said: @12:47 pm
“And I’m not sure how the UC system is lily white when 68-70% of the students are people of color and 30-32% are white”
Where did that come from. I’m in the UC system and I hardly ever, EVER see a black face. ”
i’m sayin’ I’m here at UCSB and it’s only 2.7% black. that’s 400 black students out of 20,000+!
chasingmoshka, what school are you attending?
Chasingmoksha,
I’m with kristen. UCB is less that 2.7% percent black. there are like 100 Native American students (What is that less than 1%?). If you are meaning to note the risen Asian population–Southeast asians are still underrepresented. Latinos are underrepresented.
But even so, the UC system and the rest of ‘higher’ education is white in mindset and that aids these problems more than anything. That is why these students think their actions are honorable enough to video tape and post on the web.
I want to throw into the mix that the author of this letter is the replacement for Donald Rumsfeld.
Worth thinking about.
Luisa,
“But even so, the UC system and the rest of ‘higher’ education is white in mindset and that aids these problems more than anything. That is why these students think their actions are honorable enough to video tape and post on the web.”
I’m not on the end of the discussion that you are assigning to me. Perhaps another glance of the comments are in order.
I want to throw into the mix that the author of this letter is the replacement for Donald Rumsfeld.
I can’t believe I didn’t realize that. Thanks.
chasingmoksha,
oops, sorry
note to self: read all comments b4 commenting.
\
I want to throw into the mix that the author of this letter is the replacement for Donald Rumsfeld.
wow. i totally missed that too.
also, i went to uc santa cruz and i could count on my hand how many black students i saw/knew. they say its getting “whiter” by the minute and i only graduated 3 years ago.
if you can, check out the facebook group “a call to arms” - in spite of this tragedy good has come. the students who planned the rally, petition and oversight committee at A&M are taking a proactive stand to structurally implament changes at A&M. it was all done so professionally. they have put into place a team of leaders who will continue to demand an end to racism and racist acts and hold the administration accountable. it’s a long road, but it’s happening.
also, you should know that the 3 students involved withdrew from the university, and one wrote an apology/explination of motives that does give some insight into the reasons behind making such a sick and twisted video. there is absolutely NO excuse for such hate crimes, but i would be interested in seeing everyone’s thoughts about what the student said…if anyone can get their hands on a copy of the apology please post it.
Using Chasingmoshka’s link we see that the overall white UC student freshmen enrollment population dropped from 37.2% in 1995 to 33.8% in 2005. So the UC system, besides obviously not being lily white, has in fact gotten approximately 3.4% less white due mainly to an increase in Asian students and smaller increase in Latinos.
Secondly, UC Santa Cruz using the same source has gone from 55.5% white (frshmen enrollment) in 1995 to 52.8% in 2005 for a decrease of 2.7%. So UC Santa Cruz while relatively whiter (and a lot smaller) than other UC campuses has also in fact gotten less white.
is it worse to shit in your own bed publicly or privately? this is the new question of the ages. educational organizations like a and m are constantly struggling to maintain a coherent and reasonable community voice, some kind of unifying credo, and if the choice is to be made to do so by hating haters, would that really be that much more sophisticated than hating in the first place?
> Blackamazon Said: @6:40 pm
I think they don’t call it out because the message they want to send is not ” Don’t be racist” but don’t embarass. For wahtever reason the dismantling the idealogy runs distatnt second to not embarassing the institution.
It depends what campus you are talking about. If I were to guess a UC campus that would have the highest proportion of Black students, I would think it was UCR and UCR’s definitely near the top of that list, but even though I’m an alumna of that school and I liked it, it’s not top tier in the UC system in terms of prestige like UCB and UCLA.It’s not as desirable as UCSB and it doesn’t top any lists. Like the other UCs, UCR has a high percentage(45+%) of Asian or Asian American students but for a while, it also had the highest proportion of incoming African-American freshmen, after the passage of the anti-affirmative action ballot initative 209 in 1996.
A TIME magazine article on the issue outlines this striation in the UCs that occurred soon after the passage of 209. I hate the article, but this excerpt’s statistics support the contention that the purpose of 209 was not primarily or only to keep non-Asian people of color out of the UCs, but to shuttle them to the lower-tiered schools including UCR and keeping them out of UCB and UCLA, the top tier UC schools. Evidence that supports this was present when someone tried to push a discussion on the agenda of the UC Regents to discuss other types of “affirmative action” that are often racially based including the admission of “legacies” and the children of parents with financial connections including those who donate money to the institution. Affirmative Action that particularly at UCB and UCLA favors Whites. That discussion was vetoed by the regents including Ward Connally.
(excerpt)
Here’s an article online somewhere which I haven’t read, but it’s accessible through some libraries. I’d like to check it out. I wonder if it deals with the same issue.
How California Voters Created a New Ghetto for Black College Students
Journal of Blacks in Higher Education, No. 21 (Autumn, 1998), pp. 76-77
doi:10.2307/2999003
UC enrollment after affirmative action ban:
http://seas.stanford.edu/diso/articles/affact2.html
[…] it happened again - blackademic by not calling the video racist and a symbol of the privileged status of whiteness that allows for humilation of the black students who attend texas a&m, dr. gates implies that “it’s ok to be racist, as long as you don’t get caught–at least, don (tags: blackface racism costumes) […]
personally I find the whole “Ghetto for Black College Students” funny as hell when there are plenty of places, HBCU’s in particular that would love to take Black Students. No they are not perfect places, but at least no one there is moaning about not seeing black faces.
Out of curiousity, does anyone have the stats on A&M?
“verdad Said: @11:59 pm
…also, you should know that the 3 students involved withdrew from the university”
Great! Somehow, I doubt they’ll be getting any references from professors–and I imagine their future college careers (if any) are going to take quite a hit, unless they go to Bob Jones or something like that.
It’s my belief that the system will really never be entirely able to stop lunatics (I’m classifying these folks as lunatics because they’re obviously fuckin’ insane). What is really important is that we get instant condemnation (check) and severe consequences (check) for folks like this.
Which leads me to a serious question for those who have better perspective than I:
Given that the racism exists, is it better for public things like this to happen every now and then? Is it better for this type of thing to go public? Would it be preferable if the students hadn’t posted it online; hadn’t been found out? Is the event itself combined with the public condemnation an overall positive or an overall negative thing, compared to “hiding” it?
drydock Said: @12:29 am
Using Chasingmoshka’s link we see that the overall white UC student freshmen enrollment population dropped from 37.2% in 1995 to 33.8% in 2005. So the UC system, besides obviously not being lily white, has in fact gotten approximately 3.4% less white due mainly to an increase in Asian students and smaller increase in Latinos.
Secondly, UC Santa Cruz using the same source has gone from 55.5% white (frshmen enrollment) in 1995 to 52.8% in 2005 for a decrease of 2.7%. So UC Santa Cruz while relatively whiter (and a lot smaller) than other UC campuses has also in fact gotten less white.
__________
what is YOUR purpose AND point? a whole 2.7% decrease…pardon me if i don’t wet my knickers
I really should be study, however, I did want to see for myself the demographics at A &M which is proving hard to find. I did find this little nugget. Looks like the good folks of A &M needed a lesson (some convincing) that diversity would not kill them. HAH!
Misconceptions and Realities about the Concept of Diversity
Developed by the Diversity Subcommittee of Faculty Senate Executive Committee
Faculty Senate
Texas A&M University
Fall 2004
A commitment to diversity means a commitment to inclusion, welcome, and support of individuals from all groups, encompassing the various characteristics of persons in our community. Among these characteristics are race, ethnicity, national origin, gender, age, socioeconomic background, religion, sexual orientation, and disability.
From an educational perspective, we consider diversity to include all kinds of differences and dissonance that constructively strengthen the educational experience. With respect to the Texas public and legislators we are especially concerned about improving racial and ethnic diversity at Texas A&M University.
Achieving a diverse faculty and student body presents challenges that include the debunking of prevailing Misconceptions about diversity. A first strategy for recruiting and retaining a diverse student body must be to confront misconceptions about diversity using high quality research data. We provide the following data-driven responses to selected misconceptions that may impede Texas A&M University’s efforts to achieve diversity.
Misconception: The quality of education at a university has nothing to do with diversity.
Developmental psychologists have long contended that human cognitive growth is a result of adaptation to situations of “disequilibrium,” or discrepancy from routine. The salutary disequilibrium created by a diverse environment adds educational value just as expansion of traditional curricula broadens the scope of content-driven learning.
In 1997, William Bowen and Derek Bok (former presidents of Princeton and Harvard Universities respectively) published a compelling analysis of survey data collected from 30,000 former university students over a 25-year period. On a 5-point scale, the predominant response from both white and non-white students was that interaction with multiple demographic groups made a significant contribution to their ability to function in the workplace. Furthermore, out of 192 social variables isolated in a campus environment, Bowen and Bok determined that interracial interaction was one of the top 3 most important factors in determining fulfillment of future civic responsibility and success.
In a similar study by Sylvia Hurtado, the 1987-1991 Cooperative Institutional Research Program (CIRP) data showed positive partial correlations for all 20 self-reported factors of student growth in civic, occupational, and learning outcomes after studying with someone from a different racial or ethnic background (N=4253; controlled for college selectivity, student abilities, and academic habits). Other positive correlations were present in students who had enrolled in an ethnic or women’s studies course. Hurtado comments in her article:
…although diversity is linked with student development in theory, educators must create certain conditions to maximize the potential for learning…In other words, placing students of diverse backgrounds in a classroom is a necessary but insufficient condition for learning…Particular pedagogical techniques promote the type of interaction necessary to create equal status conditions and, thus, learning in diverse environments.
Therefore diversity has concrete educational benefits for students in a university setting; these benefits are activated and enhanced by faculty commitment to and encouragement of the diversity effort.
Misconception: To promote diversity we must lower important standards.
A common misconception about diversity efforts in admissions is that standards for individual consideration of applicants must be lowered or distilled to an impersonal quota system. Analysis of the complementary Michigan affirmative action cases clarifies the legal safeguards against “dumbing down” the admissions process. In Grutter v. Bollinger, the Supreme Court upheld the importance of affirmative action policies as worthwhile and educational according to basic sociological data and principles.
The Grutter opinion offers a ringing endorsement of the value of student body diversity in promoting numerous benefits, including: concrete educational benefits, assisting in the breakdown of racial and ethnic stereotypes; and the development of a diverse, racially integrated leadership class.
However, in Gratz v. Bollinger some important guidelines were laid down to preserve justice and “narrow tailoring” in admissions.
First, an admissions policy must not rely on separate tracks or quotas that insulate racial minorities from competitive review. Second, race must be employed…as only one of many factors being weighed in a competitive process that evaluates the particular qualifications of each individual applicant.
The dual Michigan rulings affirm both the value of proactive diversity policies and mandate that such policies do not unconstitutionally lower University standards.
Misconception: University resources are being inappropriately diverted from high priority areas to fund campus diversity efforts.
Since 1997, A&M has been guided by the Vision 2020 report which provides recommendations to elevate the university to world-class standards of academics and educational environment. Imperative 6 under Vision 2020 is to “Diversify and Globalize the A&M Community.” President Gates has singled out this imperative as one of the most important in the coming years. In effect, diversity has become one of the highest priority areas for university development and is fiscally treated as such.
Misconception: Post-graduate success of TAMU students depends only on their expertise and is independent of campus diversity.
A compelling analysis of the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth (NLSY) shows that a positive effect on wages exists for non-black men who attended a school with at least 5% black students. Further investigation proved an even larger positive effect for this group if they attended a school with 8 to 17 percent black students. Overall, a “hill-shaped pattern” fit the trend for wage benefits related to black/white diversity, peaking at this 8 to 17 percent. These benefits were evident in the black students themselves, but the compelling detail in this case is that of non-black success. 1,This study offers concrete data to support the following theoretical assertions of Vision 2020:
The time has passed when the isolation of the Texas A&M University campus served a compelling utilitarian function. Information, communication, and travel technology have produced a highly connected global society. The ability to survive, much less succeed, is increasingly linked to the development of a more pluralistic, diverse, and globally aware populace [emphasis added]. It is essential that the faculty, students, and larger campus community embrace this more cosmopolitan environment. The university’s traditional core values will give us guidance and distinctiveness, while preparing us to interact with all people of the globe. Texas A&M University must attract and nurture a more ethnically, culturally, and geographically diverse faculty, staff, and student body.
Misconception: The ideal outcome of diversity efforts at TAMU is a campus that is “blind” to individual differences such as color or ethnicity.
The term “colorblind” has acquired many confusing nuances since it was first coined in reference to racial and ethnic equality policy. On an interpersonal level, being “blind” is ideal if it connotes an ability to ignore arbitrary aspects of ethnicity (skin color, dialect, hair, clothing, etc). However, colorblindness in a social sense is often a damaging excuse to undervalue cultural richness. Moreover, in a political sense, it provides a reason to ignore demonstrated discrepancies in basic circumstances across races. No effective diversity effort can be based on colorblindness.
…research suggests that race plays a strong role in determining where you live, what kind of school you attend, what job options you have available to you–even your health. A cursory review of arrest and incarceration rates, home-ownership rates, the siting of toxic dumps, childhood poverty and dozens of other indicators reveals that, even after accounting for geography and income, race very much matters…
Victor Goode goes on to say that “[The] ‘one size fits all’ approach simply won’t work in the more nuanced world of college admissions,” and Daniel HoSang advocates the promotion of “a new understanding of how racism is exercised and enforced–one that goes beyond a framework of legal discrimination towards an understanding of endemic racism.” Recognizing the empirical ineffectiveness and essential shortsightedness of colorblind policies, as well as the stipulations for individualized review in Gratz v. Bollinger, the TAMU system seeks to avoid the oversimplification inherent in the “colorblind” approach.
References:
P.Gurin, E.L. Dey, S. Hurtado, G. Gurin. Diversity and Higher Education: Theory and Impact on Educational Outcomes. (http://gseweb.harvard.edu/%7Ehepg/gurin.txt). pg 3.
D. Bok and W. Bowen. “Effects of Diversity on Campus Life.” The Shape of the River. pp 266-268. Princeton: 2000.
S. Hurtado. “Linking Diversity and Educational Purpose: How Diversity Affects the Classroom Environment and Student Development.” Diversity Challenged: Evidence on the Impact of Affirmative Action. ed G. Orfield. Harvard: 2001. pp 187-203.
Joint Statement of Constitutional Law Scholars. Reaffirming Diversity: A Legal Analysis of the University of Michigan Affirmative Action Cases. The Civil Rights Project, Harvard: 2003. (http://www.civilrightsproject.harvard.edu).
K. Daniel, D.A. Black, J. Smith. “Racial Differences in the Effects of College Quality and Student Body Diversity on Wages.” Diversity Challenged: Evidence on the Impact of Affirmative Action. ed G. Orfield. Harvard: 2001. pp 221-231.
Online. “Imperative 6: Diversify and Globalize the A&M Community.” Creating a Culture of Excellence. Vision 2020 Resolution, TAMU: 1997.
D. HoSang. “Hiding Race.” ColorLines online magazine. Applied Research Center: 2001. (http://www.arc.org/C_Lines/CLArchive/story4_4_03.html
V. Goode. “Crisis on the Campus.” ColorLines online magazine. Applied Research Center: 2003. (http://www.arc.org/C_Lines/CLArchive/story6_1_01.html)
Related Reading:
Smith, D.G. “Diversity Works: the Emerging Picture of How Students Benefit.” Washington, DC: Association of American Colleges and Universities: 1997.
Smith, D.G., Wolf, L.E., Busenberg, B. et.al. “Achieving Faculty Diversity: Debunking the Myths. A Report of a National Study.” Washington, DC: Association of American Colleges and Universities: 1996.
That should be “studying.”
Found IT!!!!!
http://www.tamu.edu/oisp/reports/ep/epfa2006.pdf
To wyldchyld– What’s your purpose? Why don’t you ask some of the content-challenged posters here why they insist on defending the absurd idea that the UC system is lily-white and the false idea that the UC system is getting whiter? Or is scrutinizing various assertions about race only okay if we all agree?
Yes, people should stop defending that absurd idea. I don’t care that you go to school there, stop seeing the lily whiteness of your surroundings and start seeing the diversity. Your perceptions of your own reality are all worng, now go and find the true reality–you owe it to drydock. means everything in the world to him.
Here is the link to the apology that someone asked for:
http://www.thebatt.com/media/storage/paper657/news/2006/11/13/News/Apology-2455538.shtml?norewrite200611170811&sourcedomain=www.thebatt.com
Our students have been lobbying that administration for along time to make changes and it seems like this video has finally gotton some action to take place. I can’t help but wonder whether the schools reaction was to make an example of these students versus admitting the campus has a problem. Is this really a case of passive racism and concern for image?
Thoughts???
I’m coming to this discussion late. I haven’t seen the video but the picture is bad enough. I also was curious about the apollogy and found a link to it here:
http://www.thebatt.com/media/storage/paper657/news/2006/11/13/News/Apology-2455538-page2.shtml?norewrite200611171138&sourcedomain=www.thebatt.com
That’s a very long URL, so you may have to copy and paste it into your browser.
Other letters to the Battalion carry on that sacred white tradition of denying racism and asserting that POC want to be victims and see racism where it doesn’t exist. Here’s a quote from one letter:
“If you are not happy with A&M, find a place where you are happy. Wake up. If you cannot deal with real world realities while you are in school, how in the world do you plan dealing with them once you graduate?”
I recall reading studies in the 1980s that showed the difference meaning of “diversity” when applied to groups. If a group has 20 people and 19 people are white and one person is a POC, white people within the group will consider that the group to be diverse, while the person of color does not. I’ll try to find some links.
drydock Said: @11:20 pm
To wyldchyld– What’s your purpose? Why don’t you ask some of the content-challenged posters here why they insist on defending the absurd idea that the UC system is lily-white and the false idea that the UC system is getting whiter? Or is scrutinizing various assertions about race only okay if we all agree?
__________
i don’t think a single person has a problem with you stating your opinion…except now…well except me…i’m trying to overstand why you keep bringing out these miniscule statistics as though it creates some drastic change…from what i’m getting here, the majority of these people ACTUALLY attended these schools…so irregardless of your percentile quotes my dear, i’d be inclined to believe they’d know more than us about how those campuses are or aren’t lily white…and if they are correct, which i believe because again, attended these schools, then that should make you stop and raise your eyebrow as well…
They look like a bunch of whiteboys with bad tans, I say it’s time to celebrate 9-11 with big screen televisons replaying the whole event a nd black students dressing up as ..
1. Osama Bin Laden
2. Carrying box cutters
3. mock contests of people jumping off the “faux ” twin towers.
4. And songs celebrating the deaths of whites who died that day.
5. Two cakes with the Pentagon and the Twin Towers
racism runs both ways and if whites want to be anti- P.C., I say give it to them in spades.
Nubian, the Blackface Agenda is now in effect.
NARO%
OMG! You’ve been back for this long!!! Yo your RSS feed ain’t workin.. I think I have to find out why it hasn’t updated..
Your analysis is so fuckin right on and well said… You must be kickin ass in school yo.. SO glad to see you in action!
Much luv,
Tigera
Your post has been linked to http://eastoaklandstreetphoto.blogspot.com/ as an educational tool for our photojournalism course at East Oakland Community High School..
[…] This trend has reared it’s head in other areas as well. Not long ago, several White male students at Texas A & M University decided to have fun by painting on blackface (There’s an excellent conversation about this on Blac(k)ademic). Consider the case of O.J. Simpson. For many Whites, O.J.’s acquittal exemplifies just how much the landscape of America has changed. 50 years ago, O.J. probably would have been hanged, whether he’s guilty or not. […]
Texas A&M is a place where they dress up in brown shirts and march around a big bonfire. I’m not joking. Dark-skinned students are routinely harassed on the street. The Confederacy is celebrated. This behavior is “just boys being boys, havin’ a little fun” as far as the administration and the community is concerned. Most of the people who go there are “legacies” and/or buy into this cult mentality that infects the school for generation, no kidding. Good old boys of the worst sort. The George Bush Presidential Library is located there, and they have the gubenatorial papers of W. That should give you an idea of the place.
so the -A & M- stats are a bit different:
total number of UG students: 36,580
number of white students: 28,946.
number of black students: 1,045.
Questions? comments?
sorry, this was from CM’s link:
http://www.tamu.edu/oisp/reports/ep/epfa2006.pdf
other interesting tidbits:
The -overwhelming- majority are from in-state, well over 34,000 of the students.
There is something called the G. Bush School of Government.
from their homepage:
http://www.tamu.edu/
…this is also the home of the George Bush Presidential Library and Museum.
and yea, Clio B, I’m seeing references to traditions including a “bonfire” and other “traditions:” Aggie Spirit:
http://www.tamu.edu/home/aboutam/amfacts/traditionsfacts.html
>Aggie Spirit - an intangible that binds together Texas A&M students - and former students - in a unique camaraderie.>
I’ll bet…
I don’t know anything about Robert Gates, based on the letter I’m assuming he’s white (maybe not) but I’m guessing he won’t challenge the system of white privilege because he’s benefitted from it and doesn’t want to rock the boat. His job is to uphold the image on his institution and that’s what he tried to do. But I agree, a person in his position has a greater responsibilty to his society. (Fuck! my comment wasn’t funny at all, I apologize).
It’s like those “boys” that were trying to sue Sacha Baron Cohen for “tricking” them into saying things they “otherwise would not have said if they had known the movie was to be played in the U.S.” If you are ashamed to have your racist ass outed in the U.S., you should be doubly ashamed to have it outed in foreign countries!
And they are not “boys” - these are grown men. They know better. If they are old enough to be away from home, old enough to be more than halfway through college, then they are old enough to be called men. Perhaps if they were still living at home, I could be comfortable saying “blame their parents,” but at this late stage in their lives, they’ve moved well beyond their parental sphere of influence.
There are still segregation cases being tried in the Supreme Court. Affirmative action - looks like it’s on its way out. (Not that I necessarily agree with how it’s being practiced, but that’s a whole different can of worms.) What can we do? I just don’t see any way - other than getting in peoples’ faces constantly - to dial this resurgence back down.
I am an alum of UCLA (PhD), and now I’m a staff scientist at a govt science lab. I am a white female. My take on the UC stats after having spent years there as a grad student in the sciences is that the fraction of black students is deplorably low (2-3%), and it is not increasing significantly. UC is not doing nearly enough to recruit and retain. One of the big problems that I observed (at least at the graduate level - I didn’t go to UC as an undergrad, so I can’t comment from experience) is that the faculty are almost all white, and they are just not interested in recruiting, mentoring, and retaining black students. I have plenty of direct experience with sexism in the faculty. I knew very few of them who were interested in recruitment at all, let alone recruiting disadvantaged minorities like women and black science students. For example, UCLA faculty in my department did not have (that I was aware of) scientific collaborations with faculty at predominantly minority universities – these sorts of connections can be an invaluable means of funneling talented students into UCLA’s graduate programs. Nor did I ever see the faculty go out of their way to encourage minority students to apply to our grad program.
I am finally senior enough now (3 yrs out of grad school) to begin hiring and mentoring students. My field is hard sciences; there were 2 women out of 25 in my graduate class. There were no black students, hispanics, or native americans. Now, there are 2 black scientists in my department over ~150 people. Given my experiences as a minority (female in the hard sciences), I want to do something positive. I am committed to minority recruitment, and the lab I work for does have several excellent fellowship programs for minority students in which I serve as a student research mentor. However, I would appreciate advice from the forum for how best to be a mentor to my students, how to be supportive and help them to achieve their goals, even though I am white.
Your thoughts are appreciated.
Respectfully,
Cynthia
As a student at Texas A&M, I can tell you that while we pride ourselves on having conservative values, we absolutely do not encourage nor are proud of the racists among us. This video in NO WAY reflects the A&M values of diversity. I’d apologize for the video but instead I will apologize for not standing up against racism more.
If you have any questions to ask an A&M student, feel free to contact me at paradochs@hotmail.com
Basically the problem here is the lack of most peoples ability to laugh at their own race…..it really is, because face it whether you want to admit it or not, every race and creed has stereotypes. i happen to be white , and i enjoy watching other races point out funny stereotype of white people, there is a difference between doing it out of sheer hate, or if they are just shedding some funny light on somthing. Racial slurs are another one…i mean really why is it, that african/americans (apparently having an african ancestor from 200 years ago keeps you from being 100% american) can call each other by. This “terribly Racial” slur can’t be said by anyone else……regardless of your stupid or otherwise ridculous reason, the word allegedly means the same thing. Going Back to the African/american thing, That is another problem as long as you label yourself different, some people will treat you as such. You know really if you are born here regardless of your heritage your american, if you come here from somewhere else, and you become a naturalized citizen…..guess what your american….. Now with that said, You can still celebrate your heritage, and pass it on to your children, but don’t wear it on your forehead. Because in so many ways that SCREAMS racial PRIDE….which is what? RACISM. You know another intesting thing is why do people realy argue over the color of santa, he is freaking fictious character. he can be whatever color you want…….
but hey that is my 2 Cents…….
Very good posts here.
Just curious, how do the posters on this board feel about the movie “White Chicks”?
How about restaraunts with the name “Gringo” in it?
How about when a civil rights leader refers to NYC as “Hymie Town”?
Or when the mayor of a major U.S. city says that New Orleans should be, and would be, a “chocolate city” again?
Racism in any form is unacceptable.
chasingmoksha, racist people aren’t confined to College Station, Marble Falls, and the other areas you listed. I have travelled around the world, several times, and racism towards those that are different exists wherever you may choose to go. Some places are worse than others. The Japanese are #1 on my list. Look at the news and you will see racism rearing its head in any number of countries.
I have a very good friend that happens to be from Zambia. He told me that he was routinely discriminated against in his own country and that it was worse when he visited other African countries. He also told me that African Americans visiting Zambia are not viewed as Blacks, but as Americans. For those wondering, he is not white.
Clio Bluestocking, I meet this man while attending Texas A&M. We had several classes together and he was a groomsman at my wedding. I spoke with him numerous times about race relations and it is his opinion that it was extremely mild at Texas A&M. He liked A&M so much that he was staying for his PhD. During my time there, I never once saw or heard of the Confederacy being celebrated. I have been to numerous Bonfires and the only people in brown shirts were those in the Corp of Cadets (ROTC), available at over 1000 college and universities. No one marches around the Bonfire.
Racism does exist at A&M, as it does at every university, but it is not exclusively white on black. I am white and had the opportunity to visit a HBC for a conference. I am here to tell you, racism was there as well.
Racial relations in the U.S. are not perfect. The U.S. has come a long way and we have a long way to go.
The young men that had the blackface party were wrong and I hope that they have come to realize that and changed their ways.
Here are a few closing thoughts for those that post here. I have kicked these around for quite some time and would like ome feedback. Today in America, if someone says something racist that person could be in alot of legal trouble.
Thought #1- Wouldn’t that be protected under the 1st Amendment? I do not condone it, just wondering.
Thought #2- Would you rather have strict laws regarding hate speech and not know who your enemies are, or have the speech protected and the racists would be in the open?
Thank you for your time.
this isnt shocking at all everyone has racisim in thier soul.no one can say oh im not racist or i hate racist people when in fact each and everyone of us are.but when it comes to things like this that happen so often at perdominantly white schools. all these so called students are showing us is that they love us so much because if they didnt they wouldnt even think abt parading around in our skin. and to hate someone u must have some jealousy or love of wht someone is that ur not. and it also proves that these ignorant students are sad and depressed of who they are and sorry but acting like us wont get ur dicks any bigger
Hi Nubian, I’m an Italian woman. I can’t believe that in 2007 there are people like that. It’s really sad.
http://photos-d.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sctm/v157/173/107/1254840298/n1254840298_30221871_1580.jpg
My Friend and I saw this and were a bit offended.
This kid is a member of our community but is deffinitely not one of our friends. His name is Garret Cox and his phone number is 1 313 824 3898. Be sure to be respectful to his parents, but if your going to speak with him let him know we are disgusted with his complete lack of social grace.
Black face, yellow face and red face are ALWAYS racist when done by a white person.
The ‘original intent’ of BF was to mock and demonize African-American people, thus when whites do it today it is still racist. I hope that one day BF is made into a hate crime.
White people always seem to look at the ‘intent’ but Black people look at the ‘end result’ and that is, BF done today, conjures up ‘memories’ of the original intent.
A few years ago, Prince Harry wore a Nazi uniform to a costume party and the Jewish community took offence, I am sure that Prince Harry did not “INTEND” to cause pain, but the Jewish community looked at the “end result” and were hurt.
Only a white racist of the highest order would wear BF, and it is even more sad and ironic when a Jewish person wears it.
Remember, BF is (((ALWAYS))) racist, there is no harmless way a white person can use it.
What about the movie White Chicks?
There is NO racist history behind WF, that film was all in good fun, it grossed 77 million and there were NO protests from white people, white face does NOT equal black face.
I am a white woman in Wyoming. I have had the sad experience in our elementary school that a teacher plays the part of the slave master and has the children run thru the halls of the school, while other masters pretend to whip the slaves. This is suppose to show the children what the slaves had to endure in America! We brought this up to the principal that this is wrong, but he stands by the teacher and states that it is ok, and she has been teaching this for years. I can not believe that people believe that this type of behavior is ok in our society. This is suppose to teach them?
Hello
I’m a English white girl who happened on your comments because I’m doing an essay on the blackface tradition in America and how this effects the culture of today. I’ve been very interested by all of the comments I have read so far, as I don’t really have much of a frame of reference here in the UK. Does anyone have any books I should read about it? Or any thoughts or ideas on what culture (especially films/plays/tv etc) that they feels still relates blackface in any way?
Thankyou!
@CDUBB.
1. So the important thing is intentions here? And how am I to automatically know your intentions when all I see for instance a burning cross on my
front lawn and you and you friends running around in white sheets…?
Oh my mistake.
You werent being racist–you were just being ‘WACKY’!!!
**rolls eyes**
So…what if I called you a ‘white pasty-faced mutant’–would you have a beer with me after work? What if I said it with a smile?
Anyway..intentions doesn’t matter. Perception does. Kinda works like sexual harrassment…
And on that note the best thing thing you can come up with (pertaining to this black face incident) is that people are just being overly sensitive?
The REAL issue being that people don’t know how to ‘take a joke’.
Oh Deb—You’re just…so damned WACKY!
I have a good sense of humor but sme things aren;t funny at all. I can’t wrap my mind around your seeming inability
to understand this. Oh well….
2. Who said that all black people call themselves African Americans? Who said that I am not 100% American because I am considered
African American? I don’t even consider myself an ‘African American’…I call myself ‘black. But I am called an ‘African American’ by others.
And if people label me as an African American making others pre-judge me for being called an African American, what am I to do? Hell–if they can act like
this over a name, they probably had issues with black people to begin with but were just looking for shit to justify them–and I’M supposed to care? This
sounds a lot like a PERSONAL problem, to me. Anbd I don’t do those. Keep your issues to yourself. First and foremost–I’m an Air Force veteran, TSGT (8 yrs)
I’m currently serving as a National Guards’woman’ (lol) in the ROTC program… Let’s not go there about who and what is American, is more patriotic and
what qualifies as ‘UNamerican’ and what doesn’t. Secondly, people like this need Jesus AND therapy. Maybe if they had lives and something constructive to do
with their time they wouldn’t have the time be worried about MY BLACK ASS or get all bent out of shape over trivial shit.
3. Racial Pride=Racism? No it doesn’t. You can uplift your community-your people- without tearing other groups down. One situation
really doesn’t have to do with the other.
This is what you and perhaps most other whites do not understand.Many it seems are unable to distinguish between (or separate) Racial Pride
from Racial Hatred. And it’s telling….
When a group of ‘racially proud’ black folks get together…marches happen. Change happens.
When a group of ‘racially proud’ whites get together all HELL breaks loose!! Ppl get lynched and raped.
Villages and cities are pillaged and burned. Countries are invaded. WHole civilizations are destroyed..
You know what happens when ‘racially proud’ black folks have meetings: They discuss how best to serve the black community. There is discussion of
volunteering, talent shows, fundraising, community events, demonstration (lol)…
You know what happens when ‘racially proud’ whites have meetings: *********W.A.S.P.!*********
Ok, ok. One more:
Hell—even when black folks RIOT it’s always because of social or racial injustice.ie, 4 cops shot a lone black male 320 times and claim self-defense. Next
thing you know Al Sharpton is acting a fool. There’s a demonstration. Somebody just starts throwing shit and….there u have a fullfledged riot.
When whites folks riot ir’s usually because…they can’t handle their liquor and their college team wins…(or loses, either way)
Basically.
This is why whenever some white guy starts talking about ‘pride’ and ‘their whiteness’ the WHOLE DAMN COUNTRY gets uncomfortable and that person is quickly
shut down. Because this counrty remembers a not too distant past where ‘racially proud’ and crazed whites roamed the country.
The fact that some are bothered (threatened, really) by as simple a concept as Black Pride is crazyiness to me. Black pride doesn’t have shit to do with
prejudice, hate, racism, whites or anyone else for that matter. Question: So…when you see island folk (haitians, dominicans, Trini, cubans, puerto ricans,
etc..) or Mexicans with their native flag or speaking another language does it make you antsy? I mean–because the only people I see complaining about it are
the whites and if you have a problem with me being African American you probaby go into conniption fits when you see the Mexicans and the flags.
lol…Craziness. But whatever—I will be as proud as I want to be. I love me, I love my people and I’m commited to my people. So what? Doesn’t mean I hate
everyone else. I am not w/out some prejudice but I’m no racist. Whatever you’re talking about that ‘don’t wear your pride on your forehead’…man–go
somewhere. Your words reflect your own beliefs, not mine. If you can’t exercise pride without hatred that’s YOUR shit–and as I said before, it’s a PERSONAL
PROBLEM, sir. So own it. But don’t project your issues on me (or others).
4.The n-word. I don’t use the n-word so I can’t speak on it or why other people do. NEXT!=======>>>>>
5. WHo argues about Santa Claus’ ethnicity? Don’t know what you’re talking about. Anywho–I don’t even get why black folks would argue about Santa Claus
color. That’s some European shit… Now–I could explain why discussions like this take place in the first place but I’m already tired of typing. I’ll just
say I find it a little irritating that some black folks are compelled to lay claim to things that have nothing to do with us.