November 5, 2024

16 thoughts on “Racism 101: How to Instill Anger

  1. The comment above me is the epitome of the reaction Africana supporters have displayed this week. This is actually out of control. It’s sad free speech requires us to hear the offensive speech those folks were spouting outside Day Hall. Why is this kind of racism allowed?

    Finally this article was written by someone with enough huevos to do it

  2. Cymone, the real joke here is that certain members of the minority community at Cornell are trying to find racism where, quite frankly, racism doesn’t exist. In fact, if you read some of the statements by members of the Africana Department, they are based off broad generalizations of the Administration based on their…race. Sound like racism to you? It sure does to me. This was no more than a business decision, and one that leaves the department with greater resources at its fingertips. Now, if the complaint is the exact way the administration handled the transfer, that is valid; but to treat this as an act of aggressive racism is at best foolish and at worst dangerous.

  3. The real solution to this is the immediate elimination of all departments that end with the word “studies.”

  4. So now its racist to call people out on their actions which can be perceived as racist. Then is this article racist for calling the racists racist for calling other racists out on their racism? I guess that would make me a racist for thinking this article is racist for so vehemently trying to disprove racism. I’m a black student and no I don’t see the racism with the move of the africana center and I have been repeatedly saying that this was ultimately an adminstrative/business move that is trying to do what is best for the university as a whole in order to keep it financially afloat. Unfortunately you guys must realize that a history of racism in this country and on this campus does not easily go away just because this is the 21st century and we have a black president and Clinton lives in Harlem and blah blah blah (so please no one yelling that racism was in the past). The fact of the matter is that the africana center was born out of a period where minority students had no voice and had to fight in order for it to be established. For those such as Glover who had to fight this racism during their academic years it is obvious that these actions would be viewed as racist, after all a major change was made with out the consultation of the people it effects. I whole heartedly do not believe this action was racially motivated (more economically. three cheers for a school that wants to stay in the black <<hey was that a pun?) but when you disregard those who formed a department of study on the basis of giving a voice to those who were disregarded due to their race, you kindof have to be expecting to be called a racist at some point or another.

  5. @Anon.

    Thanks for your comment. You are correct that we cannot view this situation outside of the context of the history of the africana center. It certainly seems like that history can explain some of the feelings being articulated at this time. That being said, does this context Justify the mischaracterization of the administration’s decision? (since you agree that it is mischaracterized). I certainly don’t think it does.

  6. The strange thing about this article is that its written from a point of view that sees racism as something that ‘getting better’ and if people like Glover would just stop bitching and ‘instilling’ anger then Cornell could be great.

    “Ken Glover’s racist comments and Robert Harris’s declarations of “systemic racism” are shameful remarks and a disgrace to minorities at Cornell who choose not to marginalize themselves by the color of their skin.”

    Translations: Minorities should be good and act white and definitely forget their past.

    This article was such a joke. I agree that race relations and race cards and all that can be sticky politicized business. The real solution is to try to move past the socially constructed racial categories. That does not mean forgetting history and being ignorant of harsh racial realities.
    It sounds to me like Glover was upset that he wasn’t being listened to…I wonder why…

  7. You’re pretty prickly for a Teddy bear, Artois.

    Nice translation of the text. While you’re at it how about you just translate everything into an entirely different article and analyze that one instead. Never did the author say minorities should be good and act white – that’s a gross misrepresentation of what is said. The whole “whites just want blacks and latinos and asians to be like white people” thing has been a curtain for race-card-players to hide behind whenever their ethnicity are critiqued.

    ‘Sticky politicized business?’ I’d say. More like cowardly politicized business. Guys like Glover and the other guy in the article. Regardless, that girl said she doesn’t want to “go into buildings with pictures of people who don’t look like her.” If the leaders of the community aren’t strong enough to discourage statements like that and evaluate their situation outside “institutionalized racism,” they shouldn’t be leaders.

    As an African American student in college, I think behavior like the kids and professors at the rally is an epidemic. Those quotes are messed up, I’d never say anything like that.

  8. As a minority myself, I just have to side with Glover.

    What’s wrong with that girl saying she doesn’t want to enter a building with pictures of people that don’t look like her?

    ^Not a rhetorical question. I think there may be some misconceptions about what racism is and why it exists that are at the root of all this nonsense.

  9. Ya Sick, I’m with Tedddy.

    I stay out of Ujamaa cause I can’t stand being in a building with pictures of black people. Ughh…sends shivers down my spine. That’s not racist.

  10. Above poster, your honestly is unprecedented and appreciated by Teddy.

    Teddy would like to add that the only reason he replied to this article in the first place is that he loves the Cornell Insider. He love the timely coverage of his school and simply wanted to point out an instance where the Insider missed the mark.

  11. I am a Latino American and I support progressive thinking whether it comes from an African American or Caucasian American.

    I feel that this move may be financial in nature. None-the-less, I also feel that in this country the affluent (who happen to be few and Caucasian) have always inherited the wealth (weather monetary, political, institutional, etc) of this country passed down through generations without ever wanting to inherit the truth of how that wealth was made and the social responsibility that now comes with that wealth. Reparations are in order, because no apology, or recognition of what happened over 145 years ago and till this very day still strikes at the psyche of the African American has ever been made by a department figure.
    Moreover, think of the psychological effect that mentality had on the African American or any one dark in skin for that matter.

    This is a reality that no matter how much you read on the subject someone of a lighter tonality who has never had to deal with the reality of racism will find hard to comprehend in a time when people are complaisant and don’t want to assume responsibility for their actions.

    If your mother were to pass away and had debts, believe it that you as a child of her would inherit her debts!

  12. Dear Dennis and Oliver,

    As a college educated Jamaican who is not ‘Black’ but clearly has African ancestry, I have to say that your article really does miss how institutionally racist its POV is. Not having the direct history of US racism on my back or that of my ancestors, and yet still having to bear the burden of that racism in my life time I am always amazed at the level of cognitive dissonance of Euro-Americans.

    Fortunately, there are Euro-Americans who have met the challenge of truly facing the very real privileges of being “White” in American society. I highly recommend you watch if you have any real desire to escape the racist and privileged perspective that your article indicates you hold.

    At the same time, I can’t say I find the actions of the minority individuals you are reporting on laudable, or even defensible. I don’t know of the facts to guess at the latter, but definitely not in the way you reported it.

    I’ve only taken the time to respond to this, as an outsider, because I do believe you both are making an attempt to get beyond your racism. If you are not really willing to look honestly at your personal and the US shadow, you never will. Although it is a challenge for us all facing our shadow is rich, rewarding and empowering when genuinely done.

    Happy Boxing Day and Blessings for the New Year!,

    Ishmael

  13. Sorry, I don’t get blog HTML which looks a little different than standard based on the hints, below.

    The video is titled “Mirrors of Privilege: Making Whiteness Visible” and the whole rest of my post was not meant to be a link, although it apparently still works correctly.

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