You made me proud black UCSD students. I just read in the LA Times where the planned teach-in on campus was disrupted by a walk out and rally. It was apparently kept quiet since the sudden exodus of students took the planners off guard.

The walk out was something along the lines I hoped would occur when I first read about the Compton Cook-Out and subsequent issues occurring on campus, but my fear was student would sit back and stay quiet while the administration worked to calm fears. The whole teach in situation smacked of pacification rather than truly addressing the issue at hand, which I might add has been occurring on campus for years.

The Thurgood Marshall College was a gesture made years ago to appease concerned individuals when another incident happened at the university. Yes, the racial tensions on campus aren’t a recent issue, and just like every other incident promises are made by the administration, people earnestly talk about changing the system, a gesture is made by naming something or a scholarship is set up to encourage diversity and in the end things slowly settle back to the status quo until another flare up occurs and the cycle starts again.

While I can say I’m proud of your actions, don’t limit this to a one-time event. Take it from someone who has been around the block on this. Changes have been promised for years and nothing appreciable has happened. A building here, a conference there yet the same attitude remains. Don’t think you don’t have the power just because you are students. Think of the tactics used by the slimy party promoters and the Koala staff to get noticed. The party planners used Facebook to promote the party, and apparently did such a good job the administration can’t trace them. The Koala, funded by the university, was able to broadcast their racist diatribe on the local network under the noses of the administration. They even had the ‘courtesy’ to leave a note behind. Show what is happening on campus and in th neighborhoods. You have the internet; you have YouTube, break out and document what is the real deal.

It has been depressing to read comments that have been left on newspaper sites. A sizable number of comments have suggested, much as the party goers thought, that the few black students attending UCSD should shut up and be grateful the university allowed such underprivileged students a chance to rise up over the crime and poverty in their communities. In their eyes you didn’t get there by merit, you got there because of liberal affirmative action. I don’t know if this attitude is based on simple ignorant racism or if some feel since we have a black President the sins of the past are magically washed away.

On a closing note I want to say something to the older generation, specifically those who I grew up with in San Diego. Do you remember when started the underground newspaper at school because of similar situations as faced by the UCSD students? We had to use copy machines and type setters, we had to distribute like we were passing out drugs but we got our message across.

When I heard about this story I thought about those times. On Facebook and Twitter I saw where a lot of you do messages about Haiti, abortion rights, animal cruelty and other social issues of our times. I sent a link to the article in the LA Times, asked that this be sent out and retweeted so others might know what was going on and recognize the students. It almost a week nothing has been done. There have been no retweets, no links, nothing. I have seen since then there have been other projects promoted, but not this one.

What has happened to us? Have we become so entrenched in our lives that we can only give remote assistance to global issues yet are unwilling or unable to assist the person down at our feet needing help. Have we become the caricature of the liberal elite conjured up in the Reagan Administration; the bleeding heart liberal who was willing to give millions to starving children in Swaziland but unwilling to offer a helping hand to the child down the street?

I feel like we are like Green Lantern in the classic issue Green Lantern 76 when confronted by the old black man.

“I been readin’ about you . . . how you work for the blue skins . . . and on a planet someplace you helped the orange skins . . .and you done considerable for the purple skins! Only there’s skins you never bother with . . . the black skins! I want to know how come?! Answer me that Green Lantern!”

The fight clearly isn’t over.

UPDATE: 2/26/2010 8:15 PM

It looks as though this issue is far from over. For the better part of the day I have been fielding questions from a few people who seemed unaware of what was happening on campus, trying to gather accurate information online and getting hold of someone who has contact with some of the students. I’m disappointed at the comments and commentary made by pundits on this issue. I just heard a radio program that has echoed the message I have heard many times. The black students should just shut up and be grateful for going to school. The white students just want attention and they should be ignored. Mind you, this was said AFTER it was learned there was a girl who left a noose hanging in library. The girl has been suspended but she is reported to have said she didn’t see what the big deal is. Seriously, local news has talked about the racial tension on campus, minority students are holding protests and you thought it was no big deal to hang a noose? I will be updating this story as I learn more information because I am ashamed and appalled that there is so little outrage about what is happening.



UPDATE: 2/27/2010 7:51 AM

Here are a few choice posts I saw on Friday from CNN and the San Diego Union of people commenting on the most recent incident at UCSD. Admittedly I found the ones that were extreme enough to strongly illustrate the point that people have either expressed their distain of spoiled black students or seem not to acknowledge racism still exists. Go to the sites themselves. Read the posts and you can see these examples are indicative of the sentiment being made. I left all the errors intact.

Oh before I forget, here’s a statement on a Facebook page that has been set up to DEFEND the party. So far there are 465 members.

UCSD's Compton Cookout party has become the focus of local media attention over the past few days-- but why? Has political correctness gone too far once again? I think so.

The fact that people believe that this party was initiated with pure racist intentions is completely ridiculous. It is common knowledge that people throw "White Trash" parties all the time, and no one seems to make a big deal about that.

In addition, the Compton Cookout was created by a black man, Jigga Jones; so to say that this was a "racist" event is discredited. Jigga Jones is not racist against himself, and his sole intent was to throw a party and have a good time, not to degrade blacks or individuals of low socio-economic status.

Life is short, and people who want to spend their time and effort making a huge deal out of a college party are absurd. And to those of you who were "offended" by the Cookout, I have to ask: have you ever laughed at a Tyler Perry movie or The Dave Chappelle Show? Do you listen to rap or hip-hop music? If you do, then I think you are automatically disqualified from being "outraged" by the Cookout, and you should refocus your attention on some REAL racial/political issues.

CNN

Doodad
Personally, I don't see how a hangman's noose is racist.
In the 19th century the law abiding citizens used a hangman's noose right in the middle of town to hang gunslingers, cattle rustlers and other law breakers.
I just think people are being overly sensitive !

cobaltblue
Doodad, you think everyone is being overly sensitive until its something that hits home with you. Its no secret what a noose symbolizes in this country and any bastard that would intentionally hang a noose up somewhere is intentionally sending one and only one message. Don't insult our intelligence by pretending like you don't know what that is.

leftyd
Discriminate ? Against who...the Bloods or the Crips, MS13, or any of the HUNDREDS of other minority RACIST gangs that are WELL KNOWN and allowed, but not skinheads? Minorities MUST be welcomed into all areas, but they are NOT required to extend the same courtesy. They can have their own magazines, TV channels, award shows, etc. Caucasians are NOT allowed them. We can't use the racial words, they can, about themselves and us,..but that rule is different for them? Their comedians can mock us and say things that if reversed would cause Rev Al & Jessie to protest in their streets. Even though they are less in numbers, they seem MORE racist. As Chris Rock said,..."whites attack minority = hate crime. Minority attack white = Tuesday". The way things are going, the noose may well have been meant for US,..not THEM.

Texan2112
leftyd.... I agree 100%. And lets not forget about affirmative action. That's the biggest joke. Why should a company have to hire a minority even though he/she is not qualified for the job...???And lets not talk about the NAACP. That's ok for them to have that organization, but if there were an NAAWP,... well that would be a racist organization and would be shut down rather quickly.

leftyd
Lizzypoop,
The name calling, like pulling the race card won't change anything. The old days that are LONG gone, will always be an excuse of how today's people, who were not born yet, were wronged by the dead of the past. If you have a problem with the dead, dig em up and see if that helps you. I bet since the "OLD DAYS" more white's have been strangled / murdered by minorities. Does that count as a noose ? Racism and reverse racism are the same, and wrong is still wrong. Right ?

Tfinch
I don't support racism. However, perhaps hanging the noose in the library was her form of protest. She is protected in doing so just as those people walking down campus are protected in their protest.

kanebrake
I don't see what the problem is. Whatever happened to the freedom simply not to like other folks for whatever reason? Ignorant, yes, but how dare these freaks of nature march around chanting as if they have a right to be offended.

mab91c
Ahhhh...to be back in school again, wasting my parents money, walking out on classes, not bettering....wait a minute, I didn't do that at all. My mom (Dad died when I was 2) didn't have the money to send me to school so I worked a 40 hour week at Ford while going to school full time for four years, got a few scholorships along the way, graduated, and became a productive member of society, all while Vietnam was going on. Gee, go figure.

People, there will always be assholes and idiots in this world. Deal with them, blame them, not everyone else.
As to all the "White / Black" BS going on here, it's very easy to explain...infantile minds need others to blame, so they do.

Union Tribune

b2sando
It was just a party. It didn't hahppen on campus. It wasn't linked to the college because it wasn't a college event a weekend one. Big deal.
It was party it was hillarious because someone dared to make fun of someone else's history month.
so for the people who are protesting... go get your joints, your beer or whatever you need and just chill.

b2sando
The noose wasn't just used in American History. It was used further back than that.

It also didn't start with the first hanging of a black man.

So you're just breeding hate with an intent to make lil one lined quips to do what? Poke the bear so you feel better about yourself?

Get other people upset so they can feel victimized like you? Or are you just on here because you so deseparately are looking for an answer you aren't going to find?

Puke
The students/protesters That are making all this disruption should go back home and work for wal mart or 7-11 this is going too far and they will not stop until they have all the attention and poor me I am a miority ! this is getting lame This is a bunch of kids that have nothing better to do but use there parents hard earned money or I am a miroity scholership to play a race card .If I was in control of the campus I would just shut down and clear house and focus on who is here to learn and who wants to be a fool and kick all these little protesters out and tell them to go elsewhere to Get the higher learning I bet alot of kids would love to just go yo school to learn not be a distraction.

Puke
Oh and this is a mostly Asian attendee school so why are the whites targeted and why is the school being targeted TO ALL YOU PROTESTORS GO BACK TO STUDYING And quit crying or go home to mommie and daddy or go to Haiti and help some people that need it.