Another Black Face Incident, This Time at UVA

sigmagrrl · #1 11-20-2002, 09:30 AM

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...2002Nov19.html

I'm sorry, but I just don't understand how anyone can claim ignorance regarding mocking another race anymore! You got into college, YOU KNOW WHAT RACISM IS! And another thing, how many of these guys do you think listen to hip-hop? Probably a lot, I'm betting!

MoxieGrrl · #2 11-20-2002, 10:08 AM

Arrgg!!

This needs to stop!! Like you said, everyone should know this is racism by now! I showed this article to my fiance, who is a KA, and he just kind of shook his head and said, "You know, with all of the bad stereotypes that some people attach to my fraternity, you would think these guys would have been a little more careful in their behavior."

Shame on these guys.

Kevin · #3 11-20-2002, 10:12 AM

This is a duplicate thread (or maybe the other one is)..

Dionysus · #4 11-20-2002, 10:34 AM

It will probably get more replies in here.

adduncan · #5 11-20-2002, 10:55 AM

The dumbass-ness goes deeper than that.

The KA Order creed, from the article, demands "reverence to God....and gentlemanly conduct" from Order members.

Exactly HOW does this little stunt exemplify the Orders' ideals? Answer: it doesn't.

If KA National is smart, they'll start being more specific about what constitutes "gentlemanly" and what doesn't. Using this story as an example.

Adrienne (married to a KA brother [EP chapter] who was just as pissed about this incident as everyone else)

Dianne · #6 11-20-2002, 11:31 AM

First of all, those guys are idiots.

One thing, though, that ticked me off about the article is that it mentioned as (some) length how UVA is a southern school, most of its students are from the south, and how KA is a "southern" fraternity. Um, it's not like the only racist people on earth are from the south, or that everyone in the south is racist. I wish the actions of a few dumb individuals didn't reflect so poorly on the place I call home.

BookishBabe · #7 11-20-2002, 11:52 AM

You have a point, Dianne... but isn't it tradition with KA chapters in the South to have "Old South Days" or "Old South Parades" where they celebrate their so-called "southern" heritage? I don't know any KAs from any other part of the world -- I'm just going by what I've seen in my old hometown.

DeltAlum · #8 11-20-2002, 12:19 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Dianne
First of all, those guys are idiots.

Most eloquent. I couldn't agree more.

FuzzieAlum · #9 11-20-2002, 12:22 PM

I agree the Southern thing shouldn't be played up so big, but all the blackface incidents I can recall have occurred at Southern schools. I can see why a reporter, especially if he or she isn't from the South, would seize on that.

And I also agree they should get their charter pulled, but as far as I know no national has done that yet in response to a blackface incident.

Peaches-n-Cream · #10 11-20-2002, 01:05 PM

Dumbasses!

adduncan · #11 11-20-2002, 01:23 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by BookishBabe
You have a point, Dianne... but isn't it tradition with KA chapters in the South to have "Old South Days" or "Old South Parades" where they celebrate their so-called "southern" heritage? I don't know any KAs from any other part of the world -- I'm just going by what I've seen in my old hometown.

"Old South" is a cotillion at EP chapter. (Purdue U--way to the north of the Mason-Dixon line.) It had **nothing** to do with slavery, or African-Americans, or the mockery thereof.

Basically, everyone dressed according to the custom of the Antebellum period, and made a more specific effort to practice the gentille customs of chivalry that the KA code of conduct is supposed to be based on.

Adrienne (KA wife)

Betarulz! · #12 11-20-2002, 01:56 PM

This to me seems a little bit of a stretch that this was directed as a racial slur. However those guys are idoits for not thinking about what the possible reactions would be, that some people would be offended.

This is similar to the Auburn chapter of Beta Theta Pi last year. They were the ones who were in Black face with the Omega Psi Phi jerseys, not the Klan hoods.
As many of you know they were suspended almost immediatly, and I was one of the first to condemn them. However as the facts have come out, the picture we see is one entirely different than what was originally thought. It turns out that the chapters of Beta and Omega Psi Phi are actually on really good terms. The chapters had exchanged jerseys previously, and the Beta Chapter had actually sponsored the Omega Chapter for colonization. The act of dressing as another race was also frequent at Auburn. Now this doesn't mean it was a good idea, but it demonstrates that sometimes the facts get skewed...

Honeykiss1974 · #13 11-20-2002, 02:03 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Betarulz!
This to me seems a little bit of a stretch that this was directed as a racial slur. However those guys are idoits for not thinking about what the possible reactions would be, that some people would be offended.

This is similar to the Auburn chapter of Beta Theta Pi last year. They were the ones who were in Black face with the Omega Psi Phi jerseys, not the Klan hoods.
As many of you know they were suspended almost immediatly, and I was one of the first to condemn them. However as the facts have come out, the picture we see is one entirely different than what was originally thought. It turns out that the chapters of Beta and Omega Psi Phi are actually on really good terms. The chapters had exchanged jerseys previously, and the Beta Chapter had actually sponsored the Omega Chapter for colonization. The act of dressing as another race was also frequent at Auburn. Now this doesn't mean it was a good idea, but it demonstrates that sometimes the facts get skewed...

To Betarulz......

Within NPHC culture(and rules for some orgs), NO ONE WEARS ANOTHER ORGANIZATIONS LETTERS!!! That is unheard off!!

Not even an Omega Psi Phi's wife/sweetheart would wear the letters of her significant other. That is why I do not believe that story about the two orgs "exchanging jerseys".......

To all.....

Again, someone explain to me why is ir that when portraying someone of color, you must use darkened paint. WHY? WHY? WHY? I am sure that the darkened skinned did not make those men look anymore like Venus and Serena Williams. This mess sickens me, especially when some folks think we (AfAm) should be flattered.

Yeah, whatever!

DeltAlum · #14 11-20-2002, 02:08 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by FuzzieAlum
I agree the Southern thing shouldn't be played up so big, but all the blackface incidents I can recall have occurred at Southern schools.

Most have been, however there was at least one at Wisconsin Whitewater (I think it was the Whitewater campus, but not 100% sure) and I think at least one other Northern university.

MysticCat · #15 11-20-2002, 02:14 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by BookishBabe
You have a point, Dianne... but isn't it tradition with KA chapters in the South to have "Old South Days" or "Old South Parades" where they celebrate their so-called "southern" heritage? I don't know any KAs from any other part of the world -- I'm just going by what I've seen in my old hometown.

"Old South" is a tradition in some (mostly Southern) KA chapters. As adduncan said, it is a cotillion in ante-bellum (or, for the guys, Confederate soldier) attire.

There is no question that KA has both a history and a reputation as a "Southern" fraternity, in many senses of the word, which has led to stereotyping of the Order. (This is why the fraternity has forbidden the display of Confederate flags in chapter houses or at chapter functions, or in connection with the name Kappa Alpha.) That is all the more reason for these guys to have thought about their actions a little more.