- 11,939
- 11
- Joined
- Apr 8, 2009
[h1]Letter sent to school newspaper by African-American student
[/h1][h1]Letter: Blackface displays lack of racial respect at NU[/h1]
Print this article
Share this article
Published: Monday, November 2, 2009
Updated: Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Northwestern community: It is time we realize the significance of our actions. It is time every person becomes conscious of the effects his or her behavior has on an entire community of people. I am writing about the incessant and continuous racialized demonstrations of authority and dominance presented by the entire NU community and our society at large.
The most recent incident, the cause for this letter, was on the night of Oct. 31, Halloween, when certain white members of the NU community dressed up as black people. In an attempt to resemble a black person, someone painted his entire body black.
If you do not know the history of these actions, all you need to know is one word to understand the disgusting behavior this person embodied - that word is blackface. Blackface has, surprisingly enough, been on this campus before. Two years ago, a very similar incident occurred, pointing to the lack of insight of the people in the NU community to make a conscious movement toward combating race problems.
In our modern era, the history of blackface continuously goes unnoticed and unchallenged, and I am taking this opportunity to bring it to light. It extends back to the roots of slavery when white actors would paint their faces black and lips red or white during minstrel shows to mock the physical appearance African Americans. The fact that blackface is still being used points to the lack of character of not only those that took part in the despicable behavior. It also points to those around them for their lack of agency, individuality and character to stand up against this person and tell them to remove his black paint.
We as a community must take the responsibility to defy the oppressive nature of our past if we are ever to move past notions of race. This act was not merely an act of discrimination or even racism; it highlights the severe need of a society to face demons of its past AND present to make a new journey.
Images like these not only serve to dehumanize all members of the black community at NU and abroad, but it points to the lack of respect for one's peers and illuminates a mentality held by a multitude of people at NU. The humor attempted by the situation is merely a facetious attempt to mask the underlying notions of race and packages the disgusting behavior into a loathing, satirical state of mind, exploiting the lack of a black student body on this campus while using the advantages privilege has given certain communities on campus.
The incident shows this person lacks the conviction and grounding to recognize there are other people at this University, and he also feels comfortable enough - meaning, more specifically, there would be no repercussions or consequences for his actions - to walk around and mock an entire population of people within the very closed, ignorant, arrogant, privileged world that NU seems to give to its community.
We must realize everything we do is a statement. Everyone in this community must recognize the inexcusable actions of our peers. Everyone must realize these acts cannot be dissociated from an oppressive, racist American past or from the seemingly benign racial state we live in. It is all connected.
We shouldn't forget a student last academic year felt the effects of (alleged) racial profiling by the NU Police Department; more importantly, that was this year, the year 2009. We shouldn't forget the fact that there have been many other unnoticed incidents of racial discrimination on this campus with not only black men, but also with black women, and Hispanic, Asian, Jewish, and Muslim peoples as well.
Everyone must take a collective stand, as progressions can't be made if we're separate forever.
-
Weinberg sophomore
Political action committee co-head
and graduate & alumni liaison, For Members Only
Member, Coalition of Colors
Members of the Northwestern community,
You are probably aware of the incident that took place this past weekend. While I fully support the principles of free expression, at the same time I am deeply disappointed to see any example of insensitivity that demeans a segment of our community. It is my hope that we can use this incident as a catalyst to reflect upon the values of inclusiveness and respect for others that are central to Northwestern's mission. Therefore I invite you to join me at a forum at Norris at 6 pm Thursday, Nov. 5, organized by ASG, the Coalition of Colors, and Student Affairs (an announcement from those groups follows).
I strongly encourage everyone -- students, faculty and staff -- to join me in attending this meeting. I realize that we are all busy and that many of us have prior commitments at that time. But to make this meeting really valuable, we need to have a range of perspectives represented in the room, and to make it a safe space for honest dialogue and reflection. I have cleared my calendar and I hope you will as well.
[color= rgb(153, 0, 204)]Morton Schapiro[/color]
[color= rgb(153, 0, 204)]Professor and President[/color]
A message from ASG: A public forum focusing on the issue of blackface - 6PM THURSDAY in Louis Room South (Norris)
Stemming from the recent blackface incident on Halloween, concerned students, staff, and administrators thought it would be important to setup a public forum/discussion on the issue of blackface at Northwestern. Obviously the issue of blackface is a very sensitive subject from every perspective, so the focus of this forum will not be to bash one group or the other and cause more disagreement. Instead, the discussion will focus on the history of blackface, education of the negative connotation of blackface, and most importantly, what action the Northwestern community can take to prevent incidents of this nature from happening again.
Cliffnotes:
Couple of white guys dress up for Halloween in blackface
Pics seen on Facebook or guys seen at party
Student sends letter to school paper demanding action against this
School president initiates a forum on Thursday
Topic is buzzing around school.
Also, last year there was an incident of racial profiling (against an African-American) last year at the business school
that initiated an action committee and a lot of response.
What do you guys think? I am not black so I can't say I have a legitimateopinion on this. Right now, I don't see what the fuss is about. More info to come I guess. Racial profiling I completely abhor but this seems like anoverreaction.
[/h1][h1]Letter: Blackface displays lack of racial respect at NU[/h1]
Print this article
Share this article
Published: Monday, November 2, 2009
Updated: Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Northwestern community: It is time we realize the significance of our actions. It is time every person becomes conscious of the effects his or her behavior has on an entire community of people. I am writing about the incessant and continuous racialized demonstrations of authority and dominance presented by the entire NU community and our society at large.
The most recent incident, the cause for this letter, was on the night of Oct. 31, Halloween, when certain white members of the NU community dressed up as black people. In an attempt to resemble a black person, someone painted his entire body black.
If you do not know the history of these actions, all you need to know is one word to understand the disgusting behavior this person embodied - that word is blackface. Blackface has, surprisingly enough, been on this campus before. Two years ago, a very similar incident occurred, pointing to the lack of insight of the people in the NU community to make a conscious movement toward combating race problems.
In our modern era, the history of blackface continuously goes unnoticed and unchallenged, and I am taking this opportunity to bring it to light. It extends back to the roots of slavery when white actors would paint their faces black and lips red or white during minstrel shows to mock the physical appearance African Americans. The fact that blackface is still being used points to the lack of character of not only those that took part in the despicable behavior. It also points to those around them for their lack of agency, individuality and character to stand up against this person and tell them to remove his black paint.
We as a community must take the responsibility to defy the oppressive nature of our past if we are ever to move past notions of race. This act was not merely an act of discrimination or even racism; it highlights the severe need of a society to face demons of its past AND present to make a new journey.
Images like these not only serve to dehumanize all members of the black community at NU and abroad, but it points to the lack of respect for one's peers and illuminates a mentality held by a multitude of people at NU. The humor attempted by the situation is merely a facetious attempt to mask the underlying notions of race and packages the disgusting behavior into a loathing, satirical state of mind, exploiting the lack of a black student body on this campus while using the advantages privilege has given certain communities on campus.
The incident shows this person lacks the conviction and grounding to recognize there are other people at this University, and he also feels comfortable enough - meaning, more specifically, there would be no repercussions or consequences for his actions - to walk around and mock an entire population of people within the very closed, ignorant, arrogant, privileged world that NU seems to give to its community.
We must realize everything we do is a statement. Everyone in this community must recognize the inexcusable actions of our peers. Everyone must realize these acts cannot be dissociated from an oppressive, racist American past or from the seemingly benign racial state we live in. It is all connected.
We shouldn't forget a student last academic year felt the effects of (alleged) racial profiling by the NU Police Department; more importantly, that was this year, the year 2009. We shouldn't forget the fact that there have been many other unnoticed incidents of racial discrimination on this campus with not only black men, but also with black women, and Hispanic, Asian, Jewish, and Muslim peoples as well.
Everyone must take a collective stand, as progressions can't be made if we're separate forever.
-
Weinberg sophomore
Political action committee co-head
and graduate & alumni liaison, For Members Only
Member, Coalition of Colors
Members of the Northwestern community,
You are probably aware of the incident that took place this past weekend. While I fully support the principles of free expression, at the same time I am deeply disappointed to see any example of insensitivity that demeans a segment of our community. It is my hope that we can use this incident as a catalyst to reflect upon the values of inclusiveness and respect for others that are central to Northwestern's mission. Therefore I invite you to join me at a forum at Norris at 6 pm Thursday, Nov. 5, organized by ASG, the Coalition of Colors, and Student Affairs (an announcement from those groups follows).
I strongly encourage everyone -- students, faculty and staff -- to join me in attending this meeting. I realize that we are all busy and that many of us have prior commitments at that time. But to make this meeting really valuable, we need to have a range of perspectives represented in the room, and to make it a safe space for honest dialogue and reflection. I have cleared my calendar and I hope you will as well.
[color= rgb(153, 0, 204)]Morton Schapiro[/color]
[color= rgb(153, 0, 204)]Professor and President[/color]
A message from ASG: A public forum focusing on the issue of blackface - 6PM THURSDAY in Louis Room South (Norris)
Stemming from the recent blackface incident on Halloween, concerned students, staff, and administrators thought it would be important to setup a public forum/discussion on the issue of blackface at Northwestern. Obviously the issue of blackface is a very sensitive subject from every perspective, so the focus of this forum will not be to bash one group or the other and cause more disagreement. Instead, the discussion will focus on the history of blackface, education of the negative connotation of blackface, and most importantly, what action the Northwestern community can take to prevent incidents of this nature from happening again.
Cliffnotes:
Couple of white guys dress up for Halloween in blackface
Pics seen on Facebook or guys seen at party
Student sends letter to school paper demanding action against this
School president initiates a forum on Thursday
Topic is buzzing around school.
Also, last year there was an incident of racial profiling (against an African-American) last year at the business school
that initiated an action committee and a lot of response.
What do you guys think? I am not black so I can't say I have a legitimateopinion on this. Right now, I don't see what the fuss is about. More info to come I guess. Racial profiling I completely abhor but this seems like anoverreaction.
