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Shut Up and End Racism
By J.D. Porter
PUBLISHED OCTOBER 12, 2007
If you’ve been following the last few years of Columbia bias incidents, you’ve learned that racism is bad, and that we should do something about it. Unfortunately, even though we keep saying that, racism just doesn’t seem to be going away. More and more I’m beginning to suspect that we non-racists may have to abandon our empty rhetoric and form an actual plan.
The most recent spate of race incidents began with the discovery of racist graffiti in a School of International and Public Affairs bathroom. Despite being crude, offensive, and asinine, this was no ordinary bathroom stall message. Or rather, that’s exactly what it was, but it was on Columbia property, and we believe that a world-class university should have a greater level of intellectual discourse than you find on the walls over truck-stop urinals. Outraged, I looked to my student leaders, whoever they may be, and quickly learned that I had no choice but to start a dialogue. “How do you feel about racism in campus bathrooms?” I asked, and long conversations ensued. I felt that I was really opening channels of communication, forcing the administration to engage with student voices, and creating an atmosphere of open exchange where everyone could feel safe.
Unfortunately, just as the dialogue really seemed to be getting concrete results, someone hung a noose over Professor Madonna Constantine’s door, an actually newsworthy act of racism. Had all our talking about things really done so little?
Dismayed, I once again looked to our student leaders for guidance. Nearly every one of them agreed: we needed to band together and speak out. The speaking out was easy, since we had already started a dialogue. All we had to do was add signs and shouting. Banding together was a little trickier, since Columbians often follow the global trend of hanging out with people who are like themselves. Fortunately, when we sense a lack of diversity, we instinctively congregate near Low library to create it for a while. As a result, we united the hell out of ourselves, enabling us to achieve even greater volume as we spoke out. And then, at the very moment of our greatest banded togetherness, I read on Bwog that someone found anti-Semitic graffiti in a bathroom stall in Lewisohn. All that standing in the same place and saying things didn’t even prevent someone from writing things on a wall again.
My first reaction to the Lewisohn incident was to wonder why someone didn’t just erase the graffiti. Or, following typical bathroom writing protocol, we could have noted that the person who wrote it has a small penis. Either way, concern about the graffiti wasn’t going to help us do anything. We’ve been concerned about all kinds of race incidents over the past few years, but they just keep happening. This is largely because no one, student leader or otherwise, ever suggests anything substantive as a reaction. None of the rhetoric I’ve read this semester has included anything like an actual policy suggestion. Instead we call for dialogue and unity, which allows us to clarify our dislike of racism without actually having to do anything about it. It’s like starting a Facebook group about Darfur and calling it a day, because, after all, you’ve taken a stand.
A big part of the problem is that we keep treating the symptoms instead of the disease, and that’s not going to work. We already have policies against hate crimes, but criminals tend not to care what your policies say. As columnist Christien Tompkins ably pointed out yesterday, the real issue isn’t just graffiti or a noose: it’s a campus culture that allows them. We’re all a part of an institution that has Grinch-level hatred of the locals, except that instead of learning to love the Whos, we’re going to kick poor minorities out of their homes. We’ve also got a Core Curriculum that prioritizes all non-Western cultures as worthy of an A and B course; everything I know about India and China, I learned in classes about Latin American literature and Caribbean music. Until we can take care of this stuff, we’ve got bigger problems than idiots who take markers into the men’s room.
We might find it easier to solve those problems if we paid attention to them instead of constantly shouting empty rhetoric about pointless nonsense. We’ve spent years reacting to issues that, in the context of a noose hanging over a black professor’s door, seem kind of stupid. One of the biggest protests in recent history started because of a cartoon and a bake sale. Our outrage over real problems might be more convincing if we don’t waste so much of it talking about bathroom stalls.
I can’t begin to imagine what it’s like for a minority student to encounter idiocy and hate in any form, cartoon or otherwise, and solving Columbia’s broader racial problems is going to take more than the minimal discipline we’ll need to pick our battles. But, and here’s one substantive suggestion, we can start by acknowledging that the noose is not just part of some continuum of Columbia racism. It’s different and it’s worse, and it’s stupid to pretend that some idiot in a bathroom is comparable.
From there, I don’t have the expertise to say what we should do, but many of our angriest protesters do. As examples, try suggesting specific courses to add to the Core (American Racial History seems like a viable title), or specific ways to deal with expansion (adding a Columbia-run school for community children, maybe), or ways to make our demographics better reflect America’s (better financial aid for the poorest students is a start). Numerous smart students go to Columbia, many of whom know a lot more about this stuff than I do, and we need to be hearing more of their voices. The administration has learned to wait out our dialogues and solidarity circles. Let’s take advantage of their embarrassment to make them do something. And let’s make sure we know beforehand what that is.
J.D. Porter is a Columbia College senior majoring in English.
The Lion’s Roar runs alternate Fridays.
Specopinion@columbia.edu
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I hope that the comment below is not meant to imply that Columbia has to lower admissions standards in order to admit minorities...... hell from what I've noticed if Columbia didn't lower its admissions standards there would be a heck of a lot more international students at Columbia.
for the record, the columbia college has the same percentage of black people that the USA has. SEAS and CC both have more asians than USA. columbia makes a big sacrifice (lowering admissions standards) to accomplish this. so forget the "better reflect america" proposal, unless you demand greater than proportionate representation, or are demanding more minorities in SEAS or something.
as for changing the core, I don't think you understand its purpose. The purpose is to get a feeling for the deep, foundational roots of WESTERN civilization. If you don't think this is a worthwhile endeavor, you chose the wrong school. If you do, stop complaining; we already can't fit enough into the short course. I'm sorry, but James Baldwin is not FOUNDATIONAL for western civilization. It just isn't. It's enormously important for a different reason.
As for financial aid, the poorest students already get an essentially free ride. My friend freshman year had parents making like 10-20k and i believe she paid literally nothing.
In sum, columbia is already doing two of your proposals [money for poor people and lowering standards to get closer to proportionate representation] and the third is a legitimate proposal, but most CU students chose columbia specifically FOR the core, and your proposal defeats its purpose.
I'm an African-American women. Columbia Univ.? Racist? No way! You can see with your own eyes how diverse the student/worker population is at Columbia Univ. Now if we can only build a wall so we don't have to see African-Americans, tear down their homes and businesses and build more space for campus use and not hire anyone from the Harlem community. Columbia Univ. is great for the Harlem community! I should know, I've seen the prices go sky high, wages go down, homes destroyed, jobs lost, illegal immigrates taking American jobs. New slogan: Columbia University like the corporations we just don't care!
"David Horowitz's many infiltrators at Columbia?" Oh, really? Who are they? Substantiate your outlandish statement, because that' s about one of the most birdbrain outright lies I've ever read. You remind me of Goebbels with his 100% lying propaganda, designed to demonize Jews.
It is unfortunately true that the wolf-crying about racism hiding under every single rock logically leads one to wonder whether the "noose" was a self-inflicted PR stunt, and just as equally, whether the "yarmulke and swastika" graffito was not the work of one of David Horowitz's many infiltrators at Columbia (OMG, the blacks are getting more attention than the Jews as victims at Columbia this week!).
The problem is the victim mentality. If you are at Columbia, you are privileged. Get over it.
Oh hier Doctor Madonna....It seems as though you fit the profile of someone who is so self absorbed with "the cause" that you yourself might, possibly, maybe be suspect....one has to wonder. I can't wait for those DNA tests on "the noose"....The racial "rainbow" of multi - ethnic world of Colombia's Teacher's College has been a joke in Acadamia for years....What a waste at such a fine institution....we need sollutions not the tired dogma of ethnic multi-cultural division (derision). Do something useful for the children of NY....Not this namby-pamby racial diversion that sucks our tax dollars down the drain. How's about a study centers in Harlem, Bronx, Brooklyn on Saturdays and weeknights with manditory attendance ! The rest of "real" America is ashamed and embarressed with this "street theater"..........a real educator !
ways to make our demographics better reflect America’s (better financial aid for the poorest students is a start).
Please don't be so glib, comrade Porter.
Certianly racist & populistic finishes deserve the light of day.
Martin Luther King Jr. said he looked forward to the day when his children would be judged according to the quality of their character rather than the color of their skin. Instead for 40 years, the limousine liberals encourage judging people on the basis of the color of their skin, their sexual preference and their gender. They prohibit white racism and encourage black racism. They ban homophobia but encourage hate toward heterosexuals, and ban male sexism but approve of demonizing men. Recently they promote special privileges for illegal aliens over citizens, provoking more discord. Until their priorities are altered this will only get worse.
How do we stop the hate? By firing professors who hang nooses on their own doors!
How about Maoist style "Re-education Camps". Oops, sorry, that already describes most American universities!
Anonymous - it doesn't have to do with stupid "guilt" (what's there to feel guilty for - we feed the world and send aid for tsumanis - hello?) , it has to do with stupid Limousine Liberal MoonBat Political Correctness. Total hypocrisy, as the Limousine Liberals are all dining out tonight at 4 Star restaurants while they bemoan the poverty of the poor! And John Edwards is getting his regular $500.00 haircut!
Oh, they all protest against racism - but none live around black or Hispanic folks! Hypocrites. Total and complete hypocrites.
More and more I’m beginning to suspect that we non-racists may have to abandon our empty rhetoric and form an actual plan.
But you're empty rhetoric was working so well.
Despite being crude, offensive, and asinine, this was no ordinary bathroom stall message. Or rather, that’s exactly what it was, but it was on Columbia property,
?? Make up your mind dude.
Outraged, I looked to my student leaders, whoever they may be,
I still don't know who they are!
“How do you feel about racism in campus bathrooms?” I asked
Why, I love it! Doesn't everyone?
The speaking out was easy, since we had already started a dialogue. All we had to do was add signs and shouting.
1! 2! 3! 4! Don't put nooses on the door!
We’ve spent years reacting to issues that, in the context of a noose hanging over a black professor’s door, seem kind of stupid.
Starvation, genocide, nuclear conflict- nothing can compare to the enormity of a staged racism hoax.
I can’t begin to imagine what it’s like for a minority student to encounter idiocy and hate in any form,
...however I do know what it's like to confront the world with my own idiocy.
Your points are varyingly: badly written (#1, dude check for typos next time you publish), unimportant and insubstantial (#2), irrelevant (#3), almost funny (#4 & 5), ignorant (#6), and embarrassingly hypocritical (#7).
your. happy now?
Yes. Granted, my criticism of your typos was rather petty, but I was only stooping to your level to reach out to you.
I would suggest you read the more substantial response by that other dude below, and try respond to that, if you can.
The author made some insightful points. Your points seem reasonable; however I would say they are somewhat narrow-minded. Nonetheless they demonstrate the problem we are dealing with here precisely.
The problem is that your position is reasonable, but could be wrong, and cannot be tested (i.e. an unfalsifiable hypothesis). For the sake of arguments, let's say there may or may not be a racism problem on campus. If you were wrong, and it turned out that Columbia DID have a racism problem, you would never know. You would dismiss the claims as nonsense. You would not demonstrate the open-mindedness of this reporter in self-evaluating and really challenging your beliefs and values. Look, it may well turn out that there is no racism problem on campus, but at least let's not just assume that 's the case with nothing more than a cursory and insincere moment of self-criticism.
My worry is that because your position seems reasonable and even attractive to many amongst us, it may end up delegitimizing a very legitimate concern on campus, and we will never know.
"If you’ve been following the last few years of Columbia bias incidents, you’ve learned that racism is bad,"
Wow. I never knew racism was bad.
"From there, I don’t have the expertise to say what we should do, but many of our angriest protesters do."
They're angry, you see. So that makes them experts.
"Numerous smart students go to Columbia,"
Unfortunately the author of this column isn't one of them.
You're being a moron. Read more smart columns written by this smart author and get the point.
Get a sense of humor.
Do we call for diversity in non-white cultures? Do we call for a diversification of curriculums at universities in non-white cultures? So why the FUCK can't we respect the fact that this is a WESTERN country therefore are entitled to be Western? Especially since the west is dying out so fast because of our stupid unearned guilt in the first goddamn place!!!!!!
First, who is "we"?
Second, you cannot call for diversity in non-white cultures if you aren't a part of the non-white culture (a/k/a the "who died and made you king?" defense).
Third, define "Western country".
Fourth and finally, "the west is dying out so fast because of our stupid unearned guilt"?? I've heard many ignorant statements this week (mainly from Ann Coulter) but I think this takes the cake.
But, speaking to the larger problem, of which the current spate of nooses and graffiti is merely a symptom: we must recognize that it is not a matter of Columbia having a "racism problem", but a matter of Columbia being an institution in a country that as a whole has a "racism problem". Defining a problem, and recognizing that a problem exists, is a good start towards solving it.
I'm slightly confused by the author's use of the term WE. When he says "why can't WE respect" something, he identifies himself with those who don't respect. Typical of hate-filled speech - it strikes out so generally that it often includes the speaker as a target of its venom!
Also, at one time this country was populated by non-western people. The author obviously belives that the right and might of conquest guarantees him eternal peace to enjoy his spoils. Another oversight. WE - those of us who were displaced - have every intention of taking our land back!
Also, how can guilt be unearned? Is the author simply a masochist?
Finally, it is a sign of health that the disease of western supremacy is dying out. Good riddance!
Thank you for saying what I've been thinking for the past month. Protests are all fine and good, and they make you feel like you've done something, but in the end...they really accomplish nothing. Why not put that effort towards something constructive - or in this case, towards coming up with something constructive to do?
How does anyone pretend to know why the noose was hung? Has anyone even considered the possibility that someone did it just to get a rise out of people like the author of this stupid editorial? Seems like it's working to perfection. If you are trying to provide airtime to idiots of all colors, you are doing an excellent job. Here's a crazy idea, why don't you ignore the idiots who do this stuff (whoever they might be) until some concrete evidence comes along. Instead of protesting something that you don't even fully understand, why not volunteer your time to do something positive for the people in your area, since you care about them so much? Are you afraid that no one will notice what a noble person you are?
"Character is what you do when you think no one is watching."
If you chill out and reread this editorial, you'll understand that its closely aligned with the points you're bringing up--the importance of actually making change happen instead of just standing around protesting.
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad should replace Bollinger as Pres. At least he's not in the Jews' pockets.
www.govnn.com
"At least he's not in the Jews' pockets"
Wow. You make me sad.
And for such a brazen person, I'm surprised you hide behind "anonymous."
Once again, sad to actually wrap my mind around the belief that you go to Columbia.
dont know why my name didn't show up
I do - you're a pathetic coward.
JD-
Your proposals are exactly what minority groups have been proposing since atleast 2003. Bollinger and Quigley heard all of these proposals (in addition to the op-ed board's suggestion of a standard procedure for dealing with all hate incidents) after the bake sale and cartoon, after ruggles and EC, and again this year. They didn't listen then. If they listen now, it'll expose them as dispassionate about hate issues, but it will still be for the betterment of Columbia's community. I urge you to talk with Bryan Mercer, who in 2006 actually yelled at Bollinger for getting up and walking out of the room while he was proposing these exact measures.
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