They say Trevor made a mockery of MLK Day say guilt-ridden liberals and white apologists

Radiofree West Hartford ^ | January 24, 2004 | David M. Huntwork

[PoliticsInCT]

Trevor is a junior at Westside High School in Omaha, Nebraska. On Martin Luther King Jr. Day Trevor, along with a couple of friends, decided to orchestrate a campaign that he be named the recipient of the "Distinguished African American Student Award" for next year. In the best American political tradition, they printed and plastered throughout the school about 150 posters showing a smiling Trevor giving a thumbs up and encouraging votes for him. The award has been given for eight years on Martin Luther King Jr. Day to a senior selected by teachers.

There was only one slight problem. Though Trevor was born and raised in Johannesburg, South Africa, he is white. This apparently did not sit well with the powers-that-be at Westside High School. In very short order, Trevor and his band of merry men found themselves on the receiving end of disciplinary action. Though the punishment of the other students has not been publicly disclosed, Trevor himself was suspended for two days. This was his reward for publicly spoiling the spirit of this inspiring award on no less than the holiest of the politically correct holidays.

I suppose an insignificant punishment for unsanctioned poster hanging may have been in order but the resulting punishment was certainly out of proportion to the crime. The students were not officially disciplined for the hanging of the posters themselves but for the particular ideological message that was contained on them.

Even more disturbing and serious was the punishment of another student for circulating a petition the following day criticizing the practice of recognizing only black student achievement with the award. This gallant expression of grassroots activism was swiftly squashed by the now on-guard school administration that was boiling at the audacity of mere teenagers hanging, as they put it, "inappropriate and insensitive" posters in this culturally aware and enlightened society.

There is no law that says one has to be "appropriate and sensitive" (as defined by who?) but the speech codes in public high schools and college campuses are mercilessly used to strangle any suggestion of dissent of the policies and ideologies of the Left.. Never mind that Trevor is more "African" than any other student attending his high school and is probably more knowledgeable of African culture than the other 1,842 students combined.

Continued

[cyborg]

Who? Robert E Lee?

[Dead Corpse]

Reflection room?

They'll never let me in to parent-teacher conferences will they? They'll see me coming and bar the door.

Probably for the best 'cause I'd probably not react well to that kind of namby-pamby PC crap.

[Enterprise]

LOL! It should be obvious! If a white African-American asserts his status he will be dealt with severely! You have to be a black African-American to qualify for status! Go to your room!

[CurlyDave]

Maybe someone from one of their civics classes could comment on freedom of speach. Last time I looked he was guaranteed freedom of speach. I haven't seen the part where blacks are guaranteed freedom from getting their feelings hurt.

While they are looking it up, check out the equal protection parts. An award at a public school reserved for African-Americans is not constitutional.

Why do I hope for a big lawsuit and the firing of the ones who imposed punishment?

[Enterprise]

I can no longer remember where I read it, but at some point, an Egyptian was told he could not call himself African-American because he wasn't black.

[alloysteel]

You don't have to be black to BE "Black". Consider the example of the "Former Occupant of the Oval Office, 1993-2001", declared to be our "first Black President". (Never mind that part about "President", he never served in that position, he only sat in the chair.)

It is all a matter of SOUL, doncha know, and if you don't have that, you are an Uncle Tom (or an Aunt Jemima, depending on gender).

[FreedomPoster]

>>I've always wondered what would happen if a white from Africa asserted his African-American status.

I have a great story on that from just yesterday.

I talked to a white guy that emigrated from South Africa with his family about 20 years ago; he manages a shop in a local tire store chain I use. He got his U.S. citizenship when he was a junior at Tulane. He said he marched right into the financial aid office, obtained a application for a scholarship reserved for African-American students, dotted all the "I"s and crossed all the "T"s on the application, and after some gnashing of teeth, got a scholarship for all his tuition for his senior year. After all, it was earmarked for people "of African ancestry", and he certainly qualified.

I gave him a big high-5 on the spot.

[Prodigal Son]

Actually, of all those that have, they've been given scholarships,etc. but that's college not high school.

Aye, I meant more in the sense of challenging what this whole concept of African American is all about- which is what this young man is doing.

I'd like to see this debated more in society at large.

[FormerACLUmember]

There are many millions upon millions of Caucasian Africans (i.e., Arabs, Berbers, South Africans, etc) unknown to the moron bigots who run that hell-hole public school.

Praise to the young white African-American for showing the world the true racists: his pathetic school's ignorant mega-hypocritical administration!

[Prodigal Son]

it is about turning the tables and making their racism work for them.

Exactly.

[cyborg]

You will definately see this more challenged as society mixes more. Expect the opposition to be as vocal. Look at what happened with Proposition 54. Ward Connerly got death threats,got hate mail,etc. people questioned it up and down,etc. The laundry list of 'special interests' against prop 54 was mighty LONG.

[reg45]

... or be descended from someone who once lived in Africa.

Like the entire human race!

[cyborg]

Many Americans are ignorant when it comes to Africa, African life and history. Most black or white, can't locate well known countries. Well heck, if the average American student can't locate certain states on a map then how are they supposed to know there are white people who come from Africa? Public education is sorely lacking in basic geography and lots of people who would be interested in learning about Africa are turned off by 'afrocentric' special interests.

[reg45]

Irony of ironies, MLK Day was celebrated on Robert E. Lee's birthday (January 19th). Dr. King's real birthday was the 15th.

[Poser]

A well written article that deserves a bump and full reading. Thank you and welcome to FR.

It's about time we stopped calling black people "African-Americans" because they aren't. Perhaps each of the different caucasian groups should start demanding to be hyphenated as well.

I want to be called "Euro-American" and I will be horribly insulted if you call me white! I will call you a racist and a xenophobe if you even say the word "white!" I want all of my cultural holidays to be recognized! Saint Patrick's Day should be a national holiday. Valentine's day and May Day as well should be observed with national holidays.

Does anyone know of any Welsh holidays? I want to start celebrating them.

[LWalk18]

I can no longer remember where I read it, but at some point, an Egyptian was told he could not call himself African-American because he wasn't black.

IIRC, this guy was actually black, dark skinned and everything else, but because he was Eqyptian he was marked white because all Eqyptians are considered white by the U.S. government. He sued, but I can't remember if he won or not.

[Prodigal Son]

Are you the author of this piece?

[cyborg]

How can the government tell someone what to call themselves?

[Tench_Coxe]

The one bright light in this is, at least from what I see, is that the kids 'get it'. The administration doesn't. And the heavy handed manner, I suspect, will only help more kids to 'get it'.

[sweetliberty]

"They're just upset someone came along and knocked over their racial applecart."

Bingo. I think it is the blacks who make a mockery of MLK period, when they trumpet blackness above everything else. That was NOT Dr. King's message. I think they make a mockery of both the man and his message when they elevate him almost to the status of a religious icon instead of a champion of equal rights. I think Dr. King would be embarassed and grieved to discover what a nightmare his dream has become.