Posted on 02/24/2010 6:58:28 PM PST by nickcarraway
UC San Diego administrators stage a campus-wide "teach-in" today about a recent spate of racially-charged incidents against African Americans on campus. Black student groups plan to hold a news conference before the campus-sanctioned event. The students believe these incidents reflect a deeper sense of racism at the university.
African American student Bijon Robinson is a top scholar and athlete at UCSD. Dozens of colleges tried to recruit her. Now she regrets her decision.
“We (her family) came from struggles and this was an accomplishment being here. But I would prefer to go somewhere else than to be here, knowing that I have to look over my back because people want me dead,” Robinson said.
Robinson is referring to a note found at UCSD last week that read "Compton lynching." The note surfaced about a week after a group of UCSD fraternity members organized a party to mock Black History month.
Students were invited to the so-called Compton Cookout. The invitation told women to come as “ghetto chicks” with “nappy hair” and “a very limited vocabulary.” Malt liquor and watermelon would be served.
Some say the Compton Cookout was just meant to be a parody. But Robinson and her bestfriend Eliz Diop are not laughing.
“The whole party was planned to dehumanize our culture,” Diop said. “They chose to emphasize the parts of our culture we have no control over. Who wants to live in the ghetto?”
Many minority students have said the incidents speak to a larger problem. African Americans make up only 2 percent of UCSD’s student population. The majority are whites and Asians. Plus, one small group of students has exacerbated the racial tensions by publishing inflammatory material in an alternative newspaper called The Koala.
Those students also appeared on a student-run TV program using racially offensive words in support of the Compton party. Now there’s a freeze in funding for student TV. Kris Gregorian is Koala’s editor in chief. He ducked an interview with a joke.
“The Koala communication protocol dictates we do not provide statements to the press unless beer is provided. The overarching goal is beer,” Gregorian said.
This kind of joking around is a sign of new generational trends, says San Diego State University sociologist Jean Twenge. She’s the author of Generation Me. She says her research shows young people today are increasingly self-absorbed – and few have any grasp of what something like the civil rights movement meant.
“They (students) maybe don't even have a lot of understanding of the history. They saw this as another group, and some of the people in this group do some things that they could have some fun with. And they don't understand the deep pain and the prejudice and discrimination that has happened in the past,” Twenge said.
A group of black community leaders hang their heads in prayer on a Saturday afternoon in Southeast San Diego. Many of them lived through the civil rights era. Now they’re meeting to discuss the problems young black people face today.
Baye Kes Ba Me Ra is with the Pan African Association of America. He says the problem at UCSD is bigger than just a few students.
“Its not just what the students did. It's a reflection of the individuals who run the institution,” he said.
Penny Rue is vice chancellor of student affairs at UCSD. She says the university has been trying to make the campus a more hospitable place for minority students. For instance, UCSD does send many admission letters to black students, but many don’t accept. They go to other schools like UC Berkeley. She says it’s a dilemma for UCSD.
“There are things that make it difficult. One is California law. Prop. 209 prevents us from using race in any way as a level of analysis,” Rue said.
Proposition 209 was the end to affirmative action in California. Rue says the university is trying to increase the number of underrepresented students on campus using other strategies.
And last week, black student leaders presented a list of 32 demands to help fix what they call a “racial state of emergency.” Officials say they will meet many of their demands. Minority students say the real test comes after the campuswide teach-in and once the media scrutiny fades.
It's interesting that you would say that since the article never mentions the race of the students involved, especially considering, and per the article, that "The majority [of students] are whites and Asians.
Don't you think it's interesting?
You don’t see those shows are stereotyping Blacks? Cosby might be the best of the lot, but he appalls me with his act. His show is an improvement over Buckwheat in the Little Rascals, yet it remains trapped in the stereotype. Sorry, we didn’t overthrow slavery, fight Jim Crow and rise above it without welfare just to see Bill Cosby play JJ Walker with a sweater and college degree. When I see him as Huxtable you can almost hear someone whispering, “don’t act too White, it won’t be believable.” It is like Black culture is defined by nobler Crackers. Absurd.
Yes... I get it... I am a racist asshole... Now just go away.
Black history month is about separating Americans. Black history as it occurs in this country is simply American history - the good, the bad, and the ugly.
I believe Black History month was devised because at one point in this country, black people were only included as a foot note (basically talking about slavery) and someone thought it would be a great idea if black contributions were noted. I think it is a great idea to incorporate black history into American history. I don’t believe that it was intended to be divisive.
It’s not so interesting if you are able to read context clues. And I’m pretty sure the black students would not be up in arms and protesting black students having a “ghetto party”.
Never Deagle. I always have to have the last word.
Heh...good for you... waiting for your comeback...
You don’t see those shows are stereotyping Blacks
You haven’t seen any of those shows have you? You wouldn’t be asking that question if you had. They portray black people from all walks of life: working class, college educated, families, single women etc. Do me a favor and tiVo some of those shows and get back to me.
I would bet money that this "found" note was not authored by a white student.
I’ll be up all night to get the last word. Now, carry on smartly.
Have to say - sounds just like a women!
One needn't “incorporate” it at all, because back history in the United States IS American history. From Crispus Attucks, to Frederick Douglas, to George Washington Carver, to Henry Flipper, to Booker T. Washington, to MLK and all the way to Obama, good or bad, it's All American.
....didn’t I tell you to carry on Deagle? I’m expecting you to march to bed an cuddle up in your snuggie and think of how you got owned!
Heh... I imagine that your husband figured that out long ago...and gave up, much like me...
Unfortunately, that is not how it is taught in schools. If that were the case, there would be no need for Black History Month.
You haven’t given up yet, but you will.
There’s much to be admired about Woodson, but his view that the history of Blacks in America is separate from American History is wrong.
He is right that during his lifetime the contributions and achievements of Blacks were either ignored or surpressed, but doesn’t there come a time to reconcile? When do we stop celebrating Black history month and incorporate Blacks into American history?
If it remains racial its purpose is to divide. Aren’t we both Americans? What difference does our skin color make to our love of country and opportunity to succeed? Hasn’t Dr. King’s dream become a reality? Shouldn’t we now move forward and just judge each other by the content of our character?
Black history month as an institution just becomes another wall between people, not a bridge uniting them. E pluribus unum means something to America. Socialists don’t like it. A divided population is easier to manipulate and manage.
AND cuddle up... get your English right. Okay, that was a bit low..heh.
Is that what they're calling it these days?
And I’m pretty sure the black students would not be up in arms and protesting black students having a “ghetto party”.
What about the Asian students. Tell me how you ruled them out using context clues.
No, really not interested in being the last post - heh. You have a good one (not that I don’t think you are a bit nuts) and enjoy your evening or night whichever comes first...
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