the past about the struggles experienced by African Americans in the deaf community.Now we learn that a group of white and Black students got "angry with each other" over the weekend on Gallaudet University campus. Six white students and one Black student -- all between the ages of 15 and 19 -- took a Black student into a dorm room and "held him there against his will." The seven bullies in this case used markers to write 'KKK' and draw swastikas on the Black student.
All seven of the teens engaged in the attack have been identified and expelled from school. They could face criminal charges with enhanced penalties because it is a hate crime. The school is a residential high school on the campus of Gallaudet University, a higher education facility for deaf and hard of hearing people.
Villagers, what do we need to do in order to have a safe and supportive learning enviornment for our children? The words of Jim Clingman are ringing loudly in my ears -- 'Here a Jena, There a Jena, Everywhere a Jena-Jena'.
I am left to wonder what we can do to protect our children from these overtly racist behaviors? And what was that Black child thinking when he wrote 'KKK' on one of his nubian classmates?
7 comments:
I’m very excited that this news is breaking out.
I see MSSD as a breeding ground of hate like a boot camp. Thats where future soldiers of American Sign Language (ASL) learn their tricks. Once they pass the ‘crucible’, through the Kappa Gamma fraternity, they learn how to export scourge and oppression upon deaf groups and people who do not use or embrace ASL.
Getting the spotlight on the recent MSSD incident is a very positive step toward eliminating this particular breeding ground that has farmed, sponsored, and encouraged hate toward people and groups who don't use or support ASL.
Richard Roehm
Richard - I see no reason to be excited or happy about the degradation of a young teenager. However, all of us have different ideas of what is good and what is evil.
In my studies of civil rights era racial violence in MS I have come across many disturbing and uncomfortable instances of Blacks who collaborated with white perpetrators. The reasons are complex and varied--ranging from opportunism and greed to fear, intimidation and powerlessness. In this modern day case, I can only speculate, but two possible explanations of the Black perpetrator's actions come to mind:
-sad ignorance of history
-a racially oppressive environment that needs further scrutiny because it's driving Black students to feel they need to participate in hate crimes in order to get by with white students
Ben - Thanks sharing your village voice with us on this sad topic. I appreciate your analysis of the situation. I think that the young Black man that helped to paint KKK and the swastika on the other victim will grow to become very ashamed of his behavior.
This article says it all. A black student participated in this mess! Where is his head and how bad did we fail him? This is where we have to step up and look at the messages we send as a community to the younger members of our society who have take refuge in self hate and have decided to take it a step further. It scares me to think that this future black man didnt or couldnt or wouldnt see himself in his black victim. We he does realize the significance of his actions I wonder where he will land....
If you get the chance please go to www.thepriceofsugar.com and view the trailer. I wrote a small entry on the upcoming documentary chronicling the modern day slavery of Haitians in the Dominican Republic on sugar plantations....just spread the word as much as you can...
Femigog - I'll head over to view your trailer this morning.
As for the Black youth that terrorized his classmate ... u hit the nail on the head, "Self-Hate".
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