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There is no dispute that the image was racially insensitive, and clearly a string of oversights occurred that must be corrected. It is good that the trail of oversights was investigated and formal apologies issued.
On the other hand, the president of Samford also seemed bent on creating unnecessary drama – this is hardly a campus “crisis” that should ruin the experience of all AA students at Samford. If I even wondered about the president’s interest in milking the PR angle, I didn’t when I read this in his letter:
"A couple of weeks ago, an African-American male, a retired executive, sat in my office and cried as he recounted the reception at which he was honored as he received the highest promotion of his career. The reception featured watermelon. None of the white executives noticed, but the moment deprived this black executive, attaining the pinnacle of a lifetime, of the joy of his accomplishments. Years later, the hurt was still deep enough that he could not conceal his emotions."
I have to wonder if Samford will eliminate watermelon from campus, now that it has been identified as a racially insensitive food by the president.
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