Category: Race

So what’s the alternative?

Not teach math? What rubbish:

White privilege bolstered by teaching math, university professor says

Instead of worrying about how those with math skills have an advantage (or “privilege”, as per the author) over others, let’s make teaching math our highest priority so that we all have sufficient math skills.

I don’t want to pull everyone down to the same level so that we can all fail together; I want to pull everyone up to that we can all prosper. That’s what a mathematics education can do for our citizens.

White toddler = racist propaganda

The ACLU has in the past posted pictures on their twitter feed of several babies wearing ACLU-sanctioned political messages about free speech, women’s rights, etc. with the caption “This is the future that ACLU members want”. However, when they posted a picture of a blonde-haired white toddler holding an American flag and wearing a “free speech” tee, all hell broke loose. Apparently, white = racist, even as a toddler.

It strikes me as strange that so many of those who are preaching for racial inclusivity are so insistent on exclusivity (examples here and here). Does anyone really believe that excluding any group will bring us together? Shouldn’t we be looking for ways to come together as a people – irrespective of race, gender, or religion – rather than identifying ways to divide us further?

The insidious nature of the claim that a child – or anyone, for that matter – represents racism solely as a result of the color of their skin should be alarming to all. It should be more alarming, however, that this premise has been accepted by so many.

“Racism cannot be fought with more racism”

Finally – something that makes sense.

According to a Washington Times article, Lisa Durden – an adjunct professor at Essex County College – has been fired after a heated discussion on the show “Tucker Carlson Tonight”.

In this discussion Ms. Durden defended a black-only “Black Lives Matter” event. When confronted by Tucker Carlson over the seemingly divisive nature of the event, Ms. Durden is alleged to have responded:

“Boo hoo hoo, you white people are angry because you couldn’t use your white privilege card to get invited to the Black Lives Matter’s all-black Memorial Day Celebration,” Ms. Durden told Mr. Carlson, who called her views “separatist” and divisive.

School President Anthony Munroe responded to Durden’s statement by saying:

“The character of this institution mandates that we embrace diversity, inclusion, and unity. Racism cannot be fought with more racism.”

Ms. Durden claims that her 1st amendment rights have been violated, but I disagree. She is free to say whatever she likes – clearly, no one stopped her – but having a right to speak does not free one from the consequences of such speech. Say something wildly offensive and you’ll likely pay the price.

Kudos to President Munroe for valuing inclusivity over divisiveness, and for placing the best interests of students over that of adjunct faculty.

The girls who cried wolf

False hate crime reporting is illegal. These two women from the University of Albany learned that lesson the hard way. Had there not been cameras installed on the bus, and also in the hands of other bus riders, their false accusations might well have resulted in long prison terms for their victims.

However, I don’t think the lesson was effective given the response of their lawyer Mark Mishler, who claimed:

“I think there’s no question that Ms. Agudio and Ms. Burwell were prosecuted, brought to trial and convicted, and now sentenced because they dared to say that they experienced a racial incident.”

Sorry, Mr. Mishler, but that is simply not true. They were not convicted because they said that they had “experienced a racial incident”; they were convicted for falsely reporting one.

Given the possible ramifications to their victims, I had hoped that Ms. Agudio and Ms. Burwell would have been given the sentences that their falsely-accused victims would have suffered had their false claims not been exposed. Instead, they received probation and community service (and, of course, they are appealing their convictions).

Lesson learned? Probably not.

The thought police

California students sue after being suspended for ‘liking’ racist posts

The school has overstepped its bounds when it attempts to limit free speech by punishing those who’ve listened. No matter how much you disagree with someone’s viewpoint, the answer is never to silence them by force. Rather, you should win them over with logic and reason;  only then will you have the opportunity for change.

Racism will not end racism

Biracial UT pageant winner slammed as ‘not black enough’ on Twitter

Diversity is not achieved by demanding segregation, or by the self-imposed isolation brought about by such restricted-race contests . This pageant, while ostensibly open to all, is racist on its face. It is particularly disturbing that the pageant had been provided a solid opportunity to bridge the racial divide by accepting the duly-awarded winner; instead, the results were called into question based on the winner’s race. How is this not to be seen as racist?

When events such as this race-specific pageant occur, ask yourself the following question: If you went through the description of the event and replaced the word “black” with “white”, or “African-American” with “Caucasian”, would you be offended by the result? If so, do you think that such events will encourage diversity, or foster racism?

More racism will only create more racists. Not a smart move if you truly want diversity…

 

About that picture….

There has been quite a ruckus about the student picture hung at the capital depicting police as some sort of warthog or pig [Fox News] [Eugene Volokh]. I agree that such a painting is inappropriate for the capital of our country, as it serves to divide rather than unify. However, the most important point is being missed: the people of this particular congressional district in Missouri are so disenchanted with their police departments that this is how they view their officers. Perhaps this, rather than where the painting hangs, is the more important issue to resolve.

Reverse desegregation

The California State University Los Angeles and the University of Connecticut have both established on-campus housing restricted for occupation by African-Americans only. At the CSULA, this is touted as a “safe space for [black students] to congregate” and avoid the “microaggressions” from their white classmates. At the University of Connecticut, the housing is restricted further to African-American males only.

This reverse desegregation (self-segregation?) is troublesome for me. I believe it will foster animosity rather than friendship and further the divide between people of all races. In addition, I believe that it will lead to calls for other “exclusive” living quarters, as evidenced by one University of Connecticut student’s comment: “What about black women and girls – what about us?” Any number of other race-based groups could demand similar accommodations.

Special accommodations based on race serve only to accentuate our differences rather than our similarities and provide fodder for racists. They should be discouraged whenever possible, and alternatives developed to promote inclusivity over segregation.