Macon teacher faces firing for 'mimicking African-American'

The Macon Telegraph ^ | April 6, 2005 | Jake Jacobs

[SittinYonder]

A Central High School social studies teacher could lose his job "for mimicking an African-American" at a student-faculty basketball game March 25.

Bibb County Schools Superintendent Sharon Patterson said Tuesday that she has recommended Greg Dougherty for termination.

Patterson said she first heard of the incident in the middle of last week but did not begin her investigation until Monday, when classes resumed after spring break. She sent a letter to Dougherty on Tuesday, she said.

Erin Weaver, principal at Central High, confirmed Tuesday that Dougherty was on administrative leave and had been recommended for termination "for mimicking an African-American."

[SittinYonder]

There's a photograph in the paper that doesn't appear on the website, but the photo depicts a black girl on the court laughing. The teacher is wearing a t-shirt that reads "Macro," an afro wig and (though I can't tell from the photo) apparently brown make-up.

[goldstategop]

Right. The new racism. Thou Shalt Not Offend Minorities.

[goldstategop]

Right. The new racism. Thou Shalt Not Offend Minorities.

(Denny Crane: "Sometimes you can only look for answers from God and failing that... and Fox News".)

[SittinYonder]

I thought it was interesting that the students quoted in the story all support the teacher, say he helped with after-school tutoring and made economics interesting. They also put him up to it - though you would have to wonder about him a little to not foresee where this would put his career.

[JennysCool]

The article further says: The Telegraph reviewed photos taken at the event that show Dougherty wearing an exaggerated Afro-like wig, and with brownish makeup covering his face and arms.

Seems a pretty astonishingly dumb thing to do. Hasn't this guy followed the news since, say, 1972?

[SittinYonder]

Seems a pretty astonishingly dumb thing to do

That was my thought, too. He quizzed his students to see if it would be insensitive ... But I wonder if firing him isn't a little extreme.

[JennysCool]

Firing him IS extreme -- about as extreme as you can get -- but, sheesh, this is 2005 and the guy is literally doing blackface?

I'm not a PC person AT ALL ... but that's just plain unaccountably stupid.

[WestVirginiaRebel]

How come when a teacher imitates an African American it's racist, but when Enimem does it they give him millions of dollars?

[Larry Lucido]

[goldstategop]

It may be stupid but in this country its your right to be stupid. They still haven't fired Ward Churchill but they terminated a neo Nazi professor. I see freedom of speech is reserved only for those who agree with the Left.

(Denny Crane: "Sometimes you can only look for answers from God and failing that... and Fox News".)

[JennysCool]

Hmm...Good point!

[Graybeard58]

this is 2005 and the guy is literally doing blackface?

I went to Mardi Gras in New Orleans this year for the first time and one of the things I learned is that the "Zulu" organization is one of the largest and most popular groups represented. They have white people in their organization but it is mostly black.

One of their requirements of anyone who is in the parade, no matter their color must be in "black face"

[SittinYonder]

You couldn't possibly be suggesting that the PC crowd has a double-standard ... certainly not! [/s]

[SittinYonder]

How come when a teacher imitates an African American it's racist, but when Enimem does it they give him millions of dollars?

Because Eminem has TALENT

;-P

[GeekDejure]

Firing him IS extreme -- about as extreme as you can get -- but, sheesh, this is 2005 and the guy is literally doing blackface? I'm not a PC person AT ALL ... but that's just plain unaccountably stupid.

=======

But it's perfectly AOK for Michael Jackson to do white face, eh?

[Larry Lucido]

No, of course not! :-)

[BJungNan]

When the notion was brought up for Dougherty to appear at the game in blackface, he asked students if that would be insensitive, and they assured him it wouldn't, Boggs said.

I was going to say the teacher should not be fired until I got to this part of the article. If the teacher is so stupid that he needs to get advise from students on what is appropriate behaivor or not, he does not belong teaching kids.

[Lancey Howard]

but the photo depicts a black girl on the court laughing.

What "court"? A basketball court?
But I thought "White Men Can't Jump"?

[BJungNan]

Yes, good point!

[SittinYonder]

If the teacher is so stupid that he needs to get advise from students on what is appropriate behaivor or not, he does not belong teaching kids

That's the part that really struck me and prompted me to post this. A teacher getting fired for being in black-face is not unexpected ... a teacher seeking advice from students about dressing in black-face seems (hmm, I'll use your word?) stupid.