Posted on 09/16/2017 9:27:37 AM PDT by rktman
A university president in Tennessee apologized Friday for hosting black students in his home, which displayed a cotton decoration.
Randy Lowry, president of Lipscomb University, apologized for showing centerpieces bearing cotton stalks while hosting black students at his home in an email sent to the school Friday and posted on Facebook.
“The content of the centerpieces was offensive, and I could have handled the situation with more sensitivity,” said Lowry. “I sincerely apologize for the discomfort, anger or disappointment we caused and solicit your forgiveness.”
The president reported that multiple students confided in him about the cotton decoration displayed during a Thursday dinner he hosted at his home for black students to share their experiences at Lipscomb with him.
“I have heard from a number of students who would like to spend more time together engaging in conversation,” said Lowry. “I am most pleased to do so either in small groups or individually.”
Other schools have taken action to try to redress the grievances of black students. The University of Missouri hosted segregated microaggression therapy sessions in August. (RELATED: Mizzou Offers ‘Microaggressions’ Therapy For Black Students ‘Surviving’ At ‘White Institution’)
The Daily Caller News Foundation reached out to Lowry and Lipscomb for comment, but received none in time for press.
(Excerpt) Read more at dailycaller.com ...
I’m only 5’7” tall now I can sue my City for building the sidewalks so close to my A$$.
I don’t know but I read that he invited hispanic students over and treated them to......Mexican food.
This guy is his own worst enemy.
They aren’t really offended; they feign outrage so people will keep paying them just to exist (rather than do something productive). 150 years after the Civil War ended, and far too many of them just can’t assimilate into a Western culture - even a liberal/secular one as diverse as that of today.
Pharmaceuticals are racist - you gotta get past whitey to get to the good stuff!
When I was growing up the blacks didn’t pick cotton because they got food stamps and government housing and stipends so they didn’t have to work. When our family picked our cotton there were no blacks anywhere to be found. The late 1950’s two of my Uncles learned how to maintain and repair cotton pickers and began to use the machines but there was still lots of cotton left in the fields to glean clean.We picked cotton until the summer of 69’ when the pickers became more efficient.
A 20" tall floral spray composed of both natural and synthetic materials. Faux cotton is attached to twelve real, dried outer calyxes and arranged on six wired, synthetic branches to resemble a cotton plant. Add a Southern flair to centerpieces, wreaths or floral arrangements.
psy·cho·sissīˈkōsəs/noun
"According to my opinion, and the opinions of many defectors of my caliber, only about 15% of time, money, and manpower is spent on espionage as such. The other 85% is a slow process which we call either ideological subversion, active measures, or psychological warfare. What it basically means is: to change the perception of reality of every American that despite of the abundance of information no one is able to come to sensible conclusions in the interest of defending themselves, their families, their community, and their country.It's a great brainwashing process which goes very slow and is divided into four basic stages.The first stage being "demoralization". It takes from 15 to 20 years to demoralize a nation. Why that many years? Because this is the minimum number of years required to educate one generation of students in the country of your enemy exposed to the ideology of [their] enemy. In other words, Marxism-Leninism ideology is being pumped into the soft heads of at least 3 generation of American students without being challenged or counterbalanced by the basic values of Americanism; American patriotism.Most of the activity of the department [KGB] was to compile huge amount / volume of information, on individuals who were instrumental in creating public opinion. Publisher, editors, journalists, uh actors, educationalists, professors of political science. Members of parliament, representatives of business circles.Most of these people were divided roughly into two groups: those who would tow the Soviet foreign policy, they would be promoted to positions of power through media and public manipulation; [and] those who refuse the Soviet influence in their own country would be character assassinated OR executed physically, come Revolution. "--KGB Defector Yuri Bezmenov--Soviet Subversion of the Free Press (Ideological subversion, Destabilization, CRISIS - and the KGB)
I bought some pussy willow branches for decoration this spring. Guess I should have been offended due to the sexist name.
I’ve actually seen quite a few cotton centerpieces this year. They look really cool. Never once did I think about slaves. Guess that’s my white privilege.
Black people probably shouldn’t wear cotton either.
I make my living in mass communications, and I see and manipulate symbols because they make people buy things. This "decoration" was a crass and superficial pigeonholing of a group of people into a small box—a painful symbolic association with a racist past—just as they are entering what they think will be the doorway to a much wider future. He chose stupidly.
Here’s a laugh. As I was reading the linked article, an ad showed up for Joe Cotton Ford in Carol Stream. I wonder if any blacks buy cars there.
100%
You’ve gotta be kidding. Cotton in the centerpiece is no comment on people who happen to view it, that is asinine. I’ve never looked at any centerpiece, anywhere, and thought it was supposed to somehow reflect upon ME as a guest or give some symbolic cultural message to ME as a guest. This is just silliness to the nth degree.
What I would have said: “I’m sorry, I don’t understand why you are offended by these pieces of plant that are in my house. I have all sorts of plants here and like having them. What exactly is it that you are saying? I don’t understand how you can be offended by a plant! In the other room I have pussy willows, are you going to f*cking tell me that they are sexist? In my fridge I have redskin potatoes, are you going to f*cking tell me they are offensive to Indians? I have pork roasts in there too, are you going to claim that I’m islamophobic? I have watermelon flavored ice cream and fried chicken too. Is that going to shock your fragile psyche too? In my pantry I have trans fats. Is that going to make transsexuals weep and cry?
Everybody who’s offended by innoffensive things - go to f*cking hell!”
It's a good thing he didn't have a banana peel hanging in his tree.
LOLOL!!! wonder if he served these suckholes chitlins and fried chicken or insulted them with traditional white fare like steak and potatoes... the horror, the horror
For anyone who cares to see, I picked out some of the more “interesting” comments on the university’s Facebook page that are criticizing the critics.... i.e., there are lots of comments saying how this is ridiculous, but here are some comments which try to “explain” why this is supposed to be such a serious issue. I don’t think these snowflakes make the case any better, but it is fun to see them try:
Juan Munoz:
If you don’t see why this apology was necessary and instead are ridiculing students for their concerns, then you are part of the problem.
Bryan Stephenson:
The majority of these comments serve as a tangible reminder that white people love telling POC how they are supposed to feel.
Paula Harrington:
Friends, the proper response is, “I’m so sorry you were offended. What can I do to help you or make this better for you?” (We’ll grow better together.)
Cedric Duncan:
This was not right and extremely offensive in many aspects, but as a black Alum that worked for the Lipscomb setup team I know that the Lowry’s probably had nothing to do with this. The catering team handles the food and the events/decorations team handles the centerpieces on tables; sometimes they don’t even co-ordinate the mix. I applaud Randy Lowry for apologizing and taking 100% of the blame. He could have slightly passed off some of the blame to catering or events but he didn’t. He took all of it, like a good leader should (I think the leader of a certain country could learn from him). This doesn’t mean the administration should get a pass but we need to pick our battles and aim them at the real problem and educate people on why this really is a messed up situation. Everybody in these comments that doesn’t understand why this is an extremely offensive and racist really needs to get some perspective. I suggest reading an american history book from the Beaman Library.
Kiandra Hawkins:
As a black student who was present at this dinner, I would like to say that we did not ask for an apology to be broadcoasted out on every social media platform. This situation is about more than cotton centerpieces even though these were completely racially insensitive. There were other problems that occurred at the dinner that are not mentioned in this “apology”. We came to his house after being told that we would get to share our experiences as a black student and to have a question and answer session with President Lowry. Instead, we heard his life story, his wife’s, and the life story of David Lipscomb (with an emphasis on all the good things he did for slaves and African Americans). We did not get a chance to voice any of our questions like we were promised. Therefore, we are upset about other things aside from these poorly chosen cotton centerpieces. And we are also upset by how our university president chose to go about addressing this whole situation. We simply asked to talk to him face to face and instead we received an apology that was put on social media and even local channel 4 news. This is not what we asked for and this is not how we wanted this situation to be handled.
Shuntricia Almond Eyes Addison:
If it doesn’t affect you then you don’t have to criticize the ones who are affected by it. Have any of you been to a black family’s home? Have any of you ever seen cotton decor in our homes? We don’t honor cotton because of what we experienced harvesting it. Trauma is not only direct but transgenerational and historical. It is simply decor to you, it is not for us. As a soon to be alumna I am very displeased by these comments.
No need to respond... I said what I have to say. And any questions to gain genuine or condescending understanding can be directed to a minority student willing to have that conversation in person, especially one who has studied African American history or Africana studies...
Monica Carnell:
Pure ignorance!! I seriously can’t believe the comments I just read. President Lowry “chose” to apologize to the African-American students that were offended. President Lowry “chose” to take full responsibility. I applaud him for doing such but this should not have been posted. There are too many insensitive people in this world and Christian or not, there will always be disagreement and disappointment when speaking on race related topics in an open environment as Facebook. Whether cotton is used as a decoration around the world or not, some of those students were offended. Bottom Line!!! Not because they have been picking cotton all day but because their ancestors did. The decor was placed for this event, not by President Lowry or his wife. However, there wasn’t enough thought put into what was appropriate and what could be considered hurtful. Why, because there’s not enough diversity amongst the management staff. I will agree that it is hard to please everyone but “most” African-Americans would have said let’s use something other than the cotton if they were part of the decision making. Who knows, someone could have felt some type of way because of the menu selection. That’s their right to express how they feel. So they can discuss these types of things openly and hope that they can understand why this happened and the other person can understand why they were hurt. Some of you are clearly oblivious to other people’s feelings. Expression and communication is much needed everywhere!! Not oppression and anger as some of you are “Angry” that this apology was sent. How dare you compare a cotton shirt or cotton in a package to being invited to a dinner to discuss issues (as such) and having the trials and tribulations of your ancestors placed right in front of your face. This is the reason the dinner was needed and the comments I read are the reason more has to be done to reach everyone. Thanks President Lowry
“This situation is about more than cotton centerpieces even though these were completely racially insensitive.”
Imagine hiring this stupid POS? I pity his future supervisors if he ever bothers to get a job...
Open up a new bottle of aspirin and show 'em what's on top.
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