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1. Alas, a blog » Blog Archive » Step Away From The Damned Blackface, Already on 14 Nov 2006 at 7:24 pm

   [...] UPDATE: Carmen at Racialicious reports on a constructive approach campus administrations can take when students wear blackface. [...]

Comments

1. Lyonside wrote:

   Interesting that the conference brings up frats. My 18YO cousin (white Catholic) joined a fraternity as a freshman this year (they get them early now, evidently).

   Being the good cousin, I look up the organization’s bare-bones website. The history page (the only one w/ information) mentions casually that initially the 2 student groups that merged to form the fraternity did not allow Jews (no mention of any other ethnic minority, since they weren’t likely to be even admitted in the early 1900s).

   After that little slip, NOT ONE MENTION of diversity, or when they started admitting Jewish men, or when they started outreach to other ethnicities, or how those efforts continue today. It’s an odd elephant in the room that gets a snide mention and then is never mentioned again.

   I asked my cuz how was the diversity of his chapter. Sounds like they’re going by the token system at UPitt: several Jewish men, 1-2 blacks, 1 Asian, no Latinos that he knows. Now, it could be a lot to do w/ the frat itself or those who are likely to join one in the first place, but it’s fishy at best.

   Posted 14 Nov 2006 at 12:38 pm ¶

2. Julie wrote:

   I used to think that the dominant culture in the US was in a headlong fall back to the 50’s. This return to unabashed racial parody makes me think differently — we’re returning to the 19th century.

   Posted 14 Nov 2006 at 1:19 pm ¶

3. Carmen Van Kerckhove wrote:

   Julie – seriously.

   Posted 14 Nov 2006 at 1:46 pm ¶

4. Vandia wrote:

   WOW! Strange how tenaciously these archetypes have persisted despite everything that is being done. I disagree with Julie. This thing has never been in the retreat. It just went underground.

   Posted 14 Nov 2006 at 2:28 pm ¶

5. dcase wrote:

   It is interesting that the students may even disciplined- though the description of the tape sounds gratuitous and probably merits something.

   Regardless, I agree there needs to be education before any punishment whne it comes to stuff like this. However, excuse my cynicism, but I’m beginning to believe that punishment and education will not matter. It mayb make things worse. The students don’t care, people who support them don’t care (and it will likely net them more support from a lot of ouside approving people) , and the rest will forget soon enough.

   Posted 14 Nov 2006 at 2:42 pm ¶

6. eric daniels wrote:

   I am not one to agree with Gregory Kane of the Baltimore Sun, but in this case of the ‘whites frat boys at Texas A&M’ and the Chinese Dude at Johns Hopkins they had learn this somewhere and that leads us to our t.v. screens and radio. Black Youth culture (12- 34 ) can’t have it both ways, celebrating “ghetto life” in it’s extremes and then complain when the majority society parrots it in high academic culture for fun, folly and explotation. Like George Clinton said, If you don’t like the effects Don’t produce the cause”. But I wouldn’t trust those students as my doctor.

   I am someone who believes that if a Chinese kid like Park wants to make fun of Afro- Americans the BSU should have an ‘Asian -American theme party with it’s “‘me so horny me love long time” or the geeky Asian male who can’t get any women (any movie since 1985) or for whites the 9-11 Party with whites jumping of the first Twin tower with Black Students singing Pink Floyd’s “Learning to Fly” . racism runs both ways let’s see if they can take it as well as they are dishing their racial angst out.

   I am sorry ladies for the racially offensive language but in my opinion, you cannot reason with people like this who are racist to their core but unlike the lower- class type of racist, they justify their behavior behind politcal rhethoric and or stop being so P.C. about minorities . Dialouge is impossible with people like this because they become…

   1. defiant
   2. defensive
   3. angry
   4. whiny

   Because they feel they are under attack on college campuses by Minorities (about 90 blacks at UCLA) and love to say that black comedians can make fun of us why can’t we do the same to Blacks. It’s a waste of time and effort that would be of better use to the BSU to go into poor schools to

   1. develop mentoring programs

   2. Help black students to adjust to life on campus with racist asians people like Park

   3. Develop more academic programs to develop more black doctors, lawyers etc..

   4. Racism amongst the majority of Americans is a fact of life towards Afro- Americans.

   I say it is better if we had our own infrastructure to because if this is the attitude of these so- called “educated elite” then black self- determination should be the most important thing not multicutltural understanding or reconcilation because I would not want these folks as my doctors, lawyers, etc and maybe that is racist on my part, but I call it self- protection because people who intentionally stage ‘ghetto parties’ do not like you or value our humanity.

   Posted 14 Nov 2006 at 5:19 pm ¶

7. Jay wrote:

   eric daniels, I’m afraid that making fun of the Johns Hopkins guy’s race isn’t going to do very much, because he already does it himself:

   http://www.greekchat.com/gcforums/showthread.php?t=81996&page=3

   Posted 14 Nov 2006 at 9:18 pm ¶

8. April wrote:

   This is HANDS DOWN the most inspiring entry of this year so far. Excellent coverage y’all. I’m from Texas, and I know all too well what A&M have been up to. I’m going to see if we can have a discussion at the WRC about blackface.

   Posted 15 Nov 2006 at 3:13 am ¶

9. makethelogobigger wrote:

   Tv? Media, etc? Gotta respectfully disagree.

   Everything starts with the parents.

   Later maybe, the shows we see, CDs we hear and so on reinforce the message. But blackface isn’t something you see on MTV2 last time I looked.

   I know urban culture, hispanic culture, etc., is often hijacked by mainstream white suburbia, and that it seems like there’s this odd racial zeitgeist at work. Like, if we only bring it out in the open, say the words no one says or talk about it, it’ll lose it’s meaning.

   Based on the blackface incident, I can see that’s working out pretty well.

   That can work in a younger generation, but that’s not enough because you still have the current older generation to deal with. Old dog/new tricks?

   It starts in the homes, either subtly or overtly. And right now, a whole new generation of racists is set to grab the baton passed down from previous generations.

   Vandia expresses shock that despite certian efforts, this kind of thing still happens. But if those efforts are targeted towards the ones who know already better, is the effort wasted, you know?

   Will education defeat that? Maybe.

   (Not to equate race with sex, but I look at how many teens think HIV is no big deal or even STDs, yet where are some of the highest transmission rates found? In that case, education can play a huge part.)

   But when it comes to race, that shit still runs deep. You can talk all you want about education initiatives, and isn’t it great that we’re all able to come here and rationally discuss the issue as enlightened and educated individuals, (we hope).

   However, there’s also a whole bunch of people out there who think it’s only halftime of the Civil War. I remember something a friend of mine said while traveling through Virginia that illustrates this.

   He had gotten into a discussion with a white store owner about the North and the South and the differences between both. Then, matter of factly, the owner said “Ya know, we was doin’ it right til y’all stopped us.”

   And that was the mid-90’s. Now that may have been part of the old guard, and beliefs like that die hard, but that same attitude is still out there, alive and even well. Especially when I see blackface parties.

   No matter how many ‘I’m Lovin’ it!/Can’t we all just get along Mickey D hip-hop spots I see.

   Just sayin.

   Posted 15 Nov 2006 at 3:24 am ¶

10. Lyonside wrote:

    Make the Logo:

    I agree, it’s not just the media, it starts at home, but I do think that all the publicity in recent years feeds future incidents (I never HEARD about these incidents in the 80s).

    But WHAT begins at home? OK, some incidents are parent-instigated (this comes to mind: http://www.wkyc.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=58405&provider=top).

    But I think more often, it’s the middle-of-the-road, not blatently racist but uncomfortable dealing with race, middle-class parents who let the little incidents that precede things like this slide, because they either dont’ think it’s a big deal or because they don’t know what to say.

    Posted 15 Nov 2006 at 11:36 am ¶

11. eric daniels wrote:

    Then Jay, it should be obvious to anyone black that these students will be the future ..

    1. Doctors
    2. Lawyers
    3. Leaders
    4. Employers

    And to think these kids are going to care for your health and rights when they assume power in 10-15 is naive at best, I supported conservatives pouring more monies into HBCU’S for the same reasons folks like Park and other majority white college kids (and minority enablers) because people like that

    1. will not take care of your health equally
    2. will not protect your rights equally
    3. will have negative attitudes about Blacks

    So Afro- Americans can build upon our tradtional infrastructures and create endowments for these schools so there can be more Doctors, Lawyers, small buisness etc.. My solution is a practical one because having a consersation on “Race” is bound to lead to more dillusionment amongst both sides which will end up in some sort of racial violence on both sides.

    I would rather have the BSU recognize that racism is a fact of life particularly in the post Affrimitive Action era with the few Black Students that would be on a college campus in the future. I would say, that Asian – American racism towards blacks on college campuses and in American life ought to be examined on this page because it is always explored through the lens of poor and educated blacks racist attitudes towards a so- called ‘model minority.

    Posted 15 Nov 2006 at 4:34 pm ¶

12. S wrote:

    Good points, Eric.

    I think these things need to be address in the school system BEFORE the college years. We need to work on the next generation, as well as the current one. Some of the middle and high schools do this already, but they are so focused on the white-on-black racism that they don’t pay much attention to the racism of Asians, including Indians, usually directed at ANY non-white or non-Asian party.

    Posted 15 Nov 2006 at 5:39 pm ¶

13. Ka_Jun wrote:

    Just a note, eric daniels, the surname Park, doesn’t strike me as being Chinese. “The Chinese kid” shouldn’t be a synonym for “The Asian kid”. Then again, I guess for some folks we all look alike.

    http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/bal-hopkins1103,0,7788367.story?coll=bal-local-headlines

    Posted 16 Nov 2006 at 4:33 pm ¶

14. kim wrote:

    Eric,

    I’ve gone back and read some of your older posts and just want to say how appreciative I am of your candor, lucidity and clarity.

    While it is difficult to say aloud that:

    “folks like Park and other majority white college kids (and minority enablers) because people like that

    1. will not take care of your health equally
    2. will not protect your rights equally
    3. will have negative attitudes about Blacks

    So Afro- Americans can build upon our tradtional infrastructures and create endowments for these schools so there can be more Doctors, Lawyers, small buisness etc….

    I would rather have the BSU recognize that racism is a fact of life particularly in the post Affrimitive Action era…”

    I would have to say any pragmatic assessment of published studies and the massive anectodal information we are all exposed to regarding mis-treatment and widespread ill perception of Blacks by those in the model minority and their White contemporaries supports such a response at the HBCU’s and among community groups .

    It is hard to say, because I want to believe that we can purge the ugliness and bring forth a new generation. But we keep grafting the ugliness onto the youth as we raise them, or putting the poison in the water.

    Posted 16 Nov 2006 at 5:24 pm ¶

15. Eric Daniels wrote:

    Kim thank you so much, my outlook at these theme parties have to be looked at without the emotion (as it should be ) as it is being practied by the BSU and other Black Students. Racism like Derek Bell said in “Faces at the Bottom of the Well” is a permamnet feature of American life and it is not going away anytime soon. Because in the past 20 years, conservatives like Ann Coulter, Rush Limbaugh, David Horowitz , Ward Connerlly, Shelby Steele and Jesse Lee Peterson have made any minority redress of what these students do on white campuses as “Politcal Correctness” discussions on race on any major college campus will result into angst- ridden recriminations by these same students that Blacks are whiners.

    So my solution (and Afro- Americans) to the problem should be “Black Power” and that means more lobbying for funds for HCBU’S a realization that in a post Affrimitive Action world with less black students (and organizations) are going to have to live with racism unless they go to a HBCU. I am also for more endowments to develop in these schools more Doctors, Lawyers, etc.. because of these campus highjinks that Afro- Americans should not expect a fair shake from the majority society and instead of less all- black clubs there has to be more because can you honestly expect these students 15 -20 years from now when they are doing their job to treat Afro- Americans equally?

    We have to practice cultural self- protection because it benefits us as a group, It may take 20 years but by developing more concisous black (put any profession here) in what I described we would more stable schools, neighborhoods and we do not have to deal with the majority society expect on our own terms. If any of you oppose my ideas and say it’s separation I would ask you where does talking to folks who do not respect your humanity benefits you?

    Posted 16 Nov 2006 at 10:50 pm ¶

16. kim wrote:

    Eric,

    I took a very long walk today after my note to you, and was mulling over your points, and came to a point of sadness. I was reminded of a poem by Lucille Clifton, or Gwendolyn Brooks, and I’m sorry I can’t be certain just who it was, but the essence of it is that Blacks were not born possessed of an angry rejection at their mother, America, but grew to know a hurt at her own rejection of them.

    In many ways we push on, all of those of us who would see things move away from this point, rearing children, attending symposiums, addressing issues with Department of Education Compliance officials at the state level, formulating strategies at the local level and submitting them for review and inclusion, telling our children to smile as they ride through Old Baltimore , and along the way we come to a point of quiet sadness.

    And then we start again, renewed, hopeful – different.

    -Kim

    Posted 16 Nov 2006 at 11:52 pm ¶

17. deb wrote:

    I first heard about this crap via Robert Jensen’s article re: Ghetto Fabulous parties

    Posted 17 Nov 2006 at 9:54 pm ¶

18. I am not Star Jones wrote:

    This may be unfair of me to ask (since I don’t have kids) but why have children if you are going to raise them to be bigots or maintain their racial/cultural insensitivity as a way of life?

    I feel that most (not all) non-minority parents are decidedly apathatic about the lives, cares and humanity of people that don’t look like them.

    And until those parents stop pretending that it’s okay, there will continue to be children putting on blackface, hosting ghetto fabulous parties, believing pimpery is the sole domain of black men and hoochie mamaness is the sole domain of black women, asian women are submissive and asian men are all math geeks and so on and so on.

    It’s exhausting watching how people come up with new ways to act out their insanity.

    Posted 19 Nov 2006 at 5:44 pm ¶

19. dave wrote:

    70% of African Americans live above the middle class and that is not what is glorified in the media instead it is the other 30% that is often maligned by ill funded education, the legal system and their personal responsibility. Unfortunately, people don’t see the other less glamorous 70% and all these incidents occur as a result of less exposure to minorities or downright ignorance. Every elementary school in this country should have a class on cultural & racial sensitivity

    Posted 11 Feb 2007 at 11:11 pm ¶