Blackfaces again?

A fraternity at the University of Tennessee has been suspended for having members attend a party dressed as the Jackson Five with their faces painted black.

My first thought was simply one word, idiots. I'm not necessarily talking about the guys that dressed up in the costumes either. From the UT-Knoxville article:

"Last week's appearance of Kappa Sigma members in blackface was insensitive and offensive to those who work tirelessly to improve the climate of understanding and diversity on campus. This incident is particularly distressing to the members of the University administration because all fraternities and sororities participated in a workshop a year ago to address a similar situation at another institution." - Vice President and Provost Loren Crabtree

So, dressing up in a Halloween costume is offensive. It's not like previous incidents at other schools where individuals showed up with blackfaces and a noose around their neck (which is disgusting). Of course, it's not insensitive or offensive for blacks to paint their faces white. I saw quite a few of this very thing tonight out of the trick-or-treaters AND their parents that came to my door tonight.

On another note, I find it slightly amusing that John Shumaker just can't get away from these type of incidents. He was President at the University of Louisville last year when a fraternity had an OFF-CAMPUS party with two members dressed up as black rappers and a black student dressed as a member of the KKK. Of course, the people that protested this incident didn't even attend the party and at least the group didn't get kicked off campus, though I hardly think they deserved the punishment they received. And in the midst of the incident on our campus last year, I doubt many took the time to think about how the fraternity here had black members.

At least we can take comfort in that Shumaker is keeping with his appease and retreat policy that he had at UofL in his new job as President at UT.

"We made commitments earlier this year to increase funding for the African and African-American Studies program. This will enable us to hire new faculty and offer additional courses. More than a year ago, the University began making plans to launch Africa Semester in January 2003. The semester-long program will celebrate Africa’s cultural, entertainment and educational contributions to non-African cultures around the world. A student-peer training program on race and diversity will be initiated this spring, and a special session on race and diversity will be added to the summer orientation program for new students.

"There is much to be done, but President John Shumaker and I, in concert with the University community, are committed to a climate of civility and multicultural understanding. We seek the involvement of the campus community and public at large in this endeavor." - Vice President and Provost Loren Crabtree

Maybe they should think about teaching people to understand that they may have the right to say almost anything they want, but they do not have the right to not be offended. Especially when it's something that doesn't even warrant a second thought.

Posted by Chris Short at October 31, 2002 08:43 PM