South African college in 'blackface' scandal
Today we know that racism is not part of our social norm. People are suppose to accept one another equally, but in this article we know that racism still exists all around the world. At Stellenbosch University in South Africa two male students showed up to a party in 'black face' posing as Venus and Serena Williams. Their fellow classmate posted a picture of them on social media captioned, "Hanging out with the Williams sisters last night...Let's hope they don't kicked out the varsity for this one!" They all claim that they dressed up without "malicious or racist intent." They were removed from their residence, but not the university. Other students at Stellenbosch believe that these three students should be expelled from the university due to their actions. What do you believe is the best way to handle this situation? Should these three students be expelled? Are some people overreacting or are some people not taking this seriously?
While this could be deemed as racist and outrageous. There is a possiblity the student were ignorant when it came to this information. South Africa comes a long way from the United States where black face originated. It is possible the students did not know. If they claimed they did not have racist intent then it would be fair to give them another chance. It is not good to accept racism, but it is good to understand ignorancy and lack of historical knowledge.
ReplyDeleteIt was most likely an accident that they dressed up like black face. They might not even know what it meant. The classmate wrote "Let's hope they don't get kicked out the varsity for this one!" Which would make the classmate think those two did it as a joke. Expelling them from the University might be appropriate because nobody approves racism and this might be on the same level for being expelled for doing something wrong like getting drunk which might also have the same consequences. If a lot of people don't approve of their actions then they should be expelled.
ReplyDeleteThat's a good thought, I hadn't even thought of the situation like that. I'm not sure how sincere their statement is and if they really had no intension being racist showing up to this party. Maybe they were mocking racism..
DeleteI believe that these two students did not want to expand any racist views. They were most likely ignorant, and did not have any information of this action's historical ties in our society. They were just trying to fool around and they were just joking. I think in order to expel them from the University, their staff had to do more research on this misunderstood situation. On the other hand, I believe that banning them from their residence could be a helpful action for not only the students, but the others to see how serious racial jokes could be.
ReplyDeleteI think that the boys knew what they were doing when they dressed up in black face, however, I don't believe that they knew the connotation that black face carried. Because they didn't really know what they were doing, I don't think they should be expelled from the university. I do think that they should receive some sort of history lesson on the subject of black face and racial stereotypes in America in order to understand that while they may not have intended to have offensive intentions, their act was still wrong and it shouldn't be blown off like something that's not a big deal.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you Miranda, this is exactly how I feel about the situation. I do not think that these students understood the seriousness of the connotation that black face carried. Being expelled from the university might be too big of a punishment, but like you said we should not blow it off like it was no big deal.
DeleteRemoving these students from the school will be seen as a huge action. I feel that this will show people that racism is a serious topic and needs to be addressed in order to be stopped. However, most of the time these students are just trying to be funny around their friends and may not have been thinking straight. By taking these students out of the university, it would eternally hurt them in their education. Perhaps there could be another way to deal with situation and teach these students a lesson without kicking them out of the school.
ReplyDeleteI believe that this case is just another case of ignorance. They most likely did not understand the history of black face, and the horrible views of blacks that it caused. Something should be done as this is not acceptable, but expulsion takes it a step too far.
ReplyDeleteThey were probably ignorant of the historical significance blackface carries, but this does not excuse them from the fact that they were being racist. Expelling them from university seems extreme, as Ryan said, but I think that if they do it will get people to take racist acts more seriously and see that it's not something to be joked about or taken lightly. A good way to prevent things like this from happening in the future is educating those who don't know about the historical weight these acts carry.
ReplyDeleteI believe the best way to hand this situation would be to hold some sort of conference that informs students about social norms and what is usually acceptable and unacceptable. I don't think these students should be expelled seeing as this is another case of ignorance. But I do think there should be some form of a minor punishment. People are not overreacting, this is a major case of racism that should be dealt with accordingly.
ReplyDeleteI believe that these students were truthful when they said that their intentions weren't malicious or racist at all. I believe the student who posted the picture with that caption had a more racist intent. Expelling these students would be an extreme punishment for insensitivity or bad judgement. Racism is not the acknowlegment of differences in physical appearance, it is the connotation you attach to it.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Elyse. I would like to think that the students were just dressing up for fun. No raciest intent was there. But as their friend posted the picture, it came out as a raciest thing. Even though this was pretty raciest, I bet a lot of people don't know about "black face" and what it means so maybe their "joke" was intentional for it. But with all means, I feel like the do deserve some kind of punishment because either way, they were discriminating another race.
ReplyDeleteDespite how others might see the situation as to be blown out of proportion as being nothing more than of humorous intention, this situation as well as many others should be taken with some seriousness in mind. To expel the students for their actions like the previous 'blackfaced' university students had been before, will raise the awareness to the extent it truly is. Once people realize the consequence to such actions, it will open their eyes more to racism before it makes people go blind to such judgement and action against people of different races.
ReplyDeleteBryanna Mendoza
I believe that people aren’t overreacting and that they should take this situation seriously. I do believe that they deserve a punishment to learn their lesson but not to the extent of being kicked out of the University. Although they should have known better not to do such of a thing but then they also could not have been taught that it was wrong and simply did it for laughs with no intensions of racial difference (as Amber mentioned). I do agree with Tayden that they should hold an assembly to elaborate why it was wrong and to educate for those that don’t know.
ReplyDeleteI believe this is just another act of ignorance from those who do not have an understanding of the past. These kids clearly did not know the meaning behind black face and the racism that went along with it. I believe they should be punished, but not to the extent of expulsion. Agreeing with Tayden, there should be some type of educational punishment in where these kids will learn why what they did was wrong.
ReplyDeleteThe students should recognize now that coloring their face black is highly inappropriate and they probably tried to be "funny". Also, it is very likely that they did not know about black face that happened before the Civil War. I am sure they did not mean to be racist, so they do not deserve expulsion or any other serious punishments. People are overreacting because they are not used to seeing people coloring their face, especially on social media. Overall, I believe that they should not get punished for their actions because it is not racism. Like Elyse said, racism is the connotation you attach it to than a physical appearance.
ReplyDeleteYeah, thats true there is a chance that the way they were educated differently. The two students could have dressed up as the Williams' sisters for fun, but I do believe there is a greater chance that the student who posted the picture was more racist because it seemed like he was mocking them.
DeleteFirst of all, I can guarentee these college students are intelligent enough to know what they did was wrong. I do not think the school did the right thing in keeping them, or atleast should have come down a lot harder on them. I personally think these students should be either suspended, and have their scholarships taken away or expelled. We are in a world now that should know better than to do racist things like this.
ReplyDeleteI believe that the students should not be expelled. Becasue this incident just sounds like two college guys trying to be creative. They just thought dressing up like the Williams sister was a creative idea as nobody would probably do it. With no racism intended as I doubt the concept of blackface ever crossed there minds. By looking at the picture of the two it doesnt look they tried to imply an racial steryotes like big lips. As we saw in the films shown in class. However if the mojority of people on the campus believe that they should be expelled than I think it is only right to give the people what they want and expell them.
ReplyDeleteI believe these actions are socially unacceptable. Even if this were a joke this joke should not be taken lightly. This joke is offensive to many, and it is pretty ignorant for one to carry out these actions. In history, one used this concept of black face, and promoted degradation towards blacks. For one to bring this concept up again, whether it be a joke or not, is pretty insensitive and racist. I believe that the school should have had harder consequences.
ReplyDeleteI think this students were being disrespectful to the black face. They probably don't even know what it is and they are making fun of them. Like others said I think those student should be expelled for doing those kind of things. They need to grow up and not be racist.
ReplyDeleteI believe that the students do not see how what they did was racist. They only thought of it as a meaningless halloween costume while it was racist and disrespectful.
ReplyDeleteI believe they should have some sort of suspension because even if the intention were not bad their actions seemed like it. Everyone knows that it seems innocent but I believe that it is still too soon or will ever be behind us about what happened in the 60's. I understand why people would be offended by this since this was considered a racist act back then but they should know these students did not intend to disrespect anyone.
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion I think the students were being disrespectful, and what they did was wrong. Although I think this, it is possible they were ignorant, and they did not understand the meaning behind "black face" and the historical significance. They might not know that this was rude and a terrible thing to do, but I think that in some sense they knew that they were being a little racist. I believe that they should be banned from the school to show discipline to other students and how racism is not going to be tolerated, and it is not something to joke about.
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion bringing one of the many things whites used in the past to show that slavery was a "good" just shows how racism is still alive today! These men deserve time in the pen. This world is still filled up with Racism even with all the laws that have been passed for equal rights and yet still there's tons of them out there. Even though they think its a joke its still unacceptable and shouldn't be done ever AGAIN.
ReplyDeleteI think that the boys should have known better. Racism is and has been a huge problem in our country for many years. Black face is one of the results of this problem and is well known by many people. There is no way that the boys did not know what they are doing and even though it was a joke, they should take responsibility for their actions.
ReplyDeleteThe boys are young adults and knew what they were getting themselves in. Black faces are very rare today, but they still occur sadly. It sad how we still face racism today and even throughout college.
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