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.
— Kellyn Lewis
Weinberg sophomore
Political action committee co-head
and graduate & alumni liaison, For Members Only
Member, Coalition of Colors
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Ultimately the point is get over yourself. Not everybody has to like everything. You are like Marge simpsons, who recently said on the simpsons in reference to MMA fighting "call me a kill joy but i think that because this is not to my taste, no one else should be able to enjoy it" Lot's of people think lots of different things are offensive, someone mentioned redneck stereotypes, i don't like communist symbols, other's don't like mother's breast feeding, or public displays of affection, or old men with young women, or any number of different things. Don't like it, don't do it, don't associate with people who do it, but if they aren't hurting you, then don't worry about it.
The history of FMO- it is a group that was created "way back when" when black students weren't permitted to join white student organizations. They created an organization that was just for them. The name has stayed with this organization throughout the years. This is not a name that was given to this group of students last weekend. It's not a new thing. Even within FMO there has been much debate as to whether or not the name should be changed. Some feel it's exclusive. Some feel that changing the name would ignore the important history that surrounds this name and this organization on NU's campus.So please. To everyone who claims "you are racist, you hate white people, blah blah" when they see FMO, do a little learning before you get busy pointing fingers. FMO in fact does not exclude anyone. You might know that if you bothered to check it out before having a panic attack about reverse racism. To the strange and unknown people who are quite certain black students aren't held to the same standards everyone else is....that is absolutely absurd. To the person who admitted they had never heard of blackface until this incident- I am embarrassed for you. Please go get an education and then come back. Just because it isn't your culture doesn't mean it isn't important. Especially when it is a subject that has shaped a nation so profoundly. It would be like saying "I'm not Jewish so I don't have to know about the Holocaust." Or "I'm not Filipino so it doesn't matter that they didn't get their independence from the US until 1946." Shame on you for saying that history doesn't matter. How else can we learn from our mistakes?
simply blame everything on racism would not improve the equality of races
OR, maybe this guy simply wanted to dress up as Bob Marley and thought his makeup provided an accurate representation of his chosen icon. Or maybe he ignorantly thought that making himself as "Black" as possible would be sufficient, and funny.Regardless of these individuals' motives, I think it's important for all of us to step back and realize that there is a HISTORY of gross racism in this country. I say history, but it's still here, people. To those of you that agree with the phrases "post-racial society" or "racism doesn't exist anymore," WAKE UP. Look around you.Racism has, and will always, exist. And it's not just racism against Black people. It's racism against black people, against yellow people, against brown people, yes, against WHITE people, and all the people who aren't of one specific "color". The stereotypes, the "ideal" images, the judgment and hatred toward one another, though it may be hidden in today's societies, it's all there.But the fact that we will never completely be able to get rid of it does NOT mean that we can be ignorant and insensitive of it.
We are a community of intelligent, young adults with enormous potential.
We need to stop pointing fingers and calling names out of our raw emotions.
We need to calm down, and address the fact that much of our generation is simply ignorant about our histories, the world's current events, and the implications of our individual actions.It's about education and awareness.
there have been white, asian and other ethnicities represented as not only members, but as members of the executive board.... so maybe do a little research?
Where were Bob Marley's dreds? where where signs of his music?
Wake-up we are not post-racial and no one has the right to tell someone else whether or not they should be offended. If someone is offended by a demeaning action they are offended. That is what Schapiro was trying to say and why people should attend the event tonight. Not to discuss blackface, not to discuss the action of these boys, but to discuss race issues at Northwestern. That will be the focused of the forum. All opinions are welcome and hope that everyone attends!