Ugliest/Most Horrible Paraphenalia you've ever seen?

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by DeltaBetaBaby

I've sent e-mails to a bunch of higher-ups, but it's really hard to explain why this is offensive to anyone who can't immediately see that it's offensive (given knowledge of Phi Mu and our mascot).

Serious questions and I am not trying to be a smartass:

Since this is an official "representation" of Phi Mu, do you see an issue with posting the picture and announcing this to GC? Are you trying to essentially shame the higher ups into understanding what is so offensive?

And why don't the higher ups understand why blackfacing the mascot would be offensive with and without the however-many-crowns-homeboy?

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by DrPhil

And why don't the higher ups understand why blackfacing the mascot would be offensive with and without the however-many-crowns-homeboy?

I will admit that the blackface didn't immediately jump out at me. My first thought with the crown and the style of the design was that it resembled a brass rubbing, where everything is black except the outline:

[AlphaFrog]

Originally Posted by MysticCat

I will admit that the blackface didn't immediately jump out at me. My first thought with the crown and the style of the design was that it resembled a brass rubbing, where everything is black except the outline:

I would have taken it that way too, except the "homeboy" thing and you could argue some of the features are exaggerated.

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by AlphaFrog

I would have taken it that way too, except the "homeboy" thing and you could argue some of the features are exaggerated.

Oh, I definitely see it, especially with the "homeboy." I'm just saying that my first reaction was that it's the style of brass rubbing, not blackface.

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by MysticCat

I will admit that the blackface didn't immediately jump out at me. My first thought with the crown and the style of the design was that it resembled a brass rubbing, where everything is black except the outline:

Same here. I kept staring at the photo and concluded that the only issue was the "homeboy."

Originally Posted by AlphaFrog

I would have taken it that way too, except the "homeboy" thing and you could argue some of the features are exaggerated.

I wonder if the Phi Mu representatives will say that it was mere coincidence--brass rubbing and "homeboy." It was an unintended consequence.

Originally Posted by PiAlphaGammaFM

would you feel different if the same design was in pink rather than black?

It would be a silly pink "mascot is my homeboy" shirt rather than a seemingly blackface "mascot is my homeboy" shirt. That would make it dumb rather than racially and ethnically offensive.

Originally Posted by PiAlphaGammaFM

i dont think its really worth getting so worked up over, but what do i know? *shrug*

You are kind of new to posting on Greekchat. There are two things that grate GCers' nerves:

1. Speaking for a council/conference and GLO other than your own

2. Responding to social and political discussions with "don't get worked up over this."

[DeltaBetaBaby]

Originally Posted by DrPhil

Serious questions and I am not trying to be a smartass:

Since this is an official "representation" of Phi Mu, do you see an issue with posting the picture and announcing this to GC? Are you trying to essentially shame the higher ups into understanding what is so offensive?

And why don't the higher ups understand why blackfacing the mascot would be offensive with and without the however-many-crowns-homeboy?

I am not trying to shame the higher ups. I really don't think that many people see stuff on GC. If I were trying to shame them, I'd send a tip to gawker or something like that. GC, while a public forum, is really a pretty small community, and I am, more than anything, expressing my own shock here.

Also, I am frustrated, as I said above, that I can't really explain why this offends me, and there are people I trust here who could say things like "whoa, calm down, you're making a big deal out of nothing" or "yeah, you're right, that could be taken the wrong way".

As I think about it further, even if it is not seen as "blackface", it is a misappropriation of minority culture by an organization with largely white, wealthy, elitist roots, and is just not worth the potential for causing offense.

[Mevara]

Originally Posted by DeltaBetaBaby

As I think about it further, even if it is not seen as "blackface", it is a misappropriation of minority culture by an organization with largely white, wealthy, elitist roots, and is just not worth the potential for causing offense.

So in the same line should any shirt that references minority culture by glo's be off limits? Such as these?

[DeltaBetaBaby]

Originally Posted by Mevara

So in the same line should any shirt that references minority culture by glo's be off limits? Such as these?

I think those are all problematic, but they aren't my GLO.

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by Mevara

So in the same line should any shirt that references minority culture by glo's be off limits? Such as these?

My eyesight may fail me but where is the reference to "minority culture" here? Is "homegirl" supposed to be "minority culture?" LOL.

If this horrible shirt is intended for DST, that is probably not from one our licensed vendors. I have never seen such ridiculous reference to Minerva on a Soror. And if it is supposed to be a DST jacket, that would be Black folks making a reference to "supposed Black folks culture" through a Roman goddess.

Oh yeah http://www.myspace.com/515757370/pho...2%3A3608901%7D