Contrary to the common belief that racism is no longer a major issue in the United States, disturbing circumstances still surface that prove racism is far from dead.
Duke University made na- tional news last week when the university’s Eta Prime chapter of fraternity Kappa Sigma held a party deemed as racist by many individuals, angering both the Asian Students Association (ASA) and other members of the student population, reported The Chroni- cle, Duke’s student newspaper.
The scandal began with the email Kappa Sigma sent out to members of the student body, inviting them to their Feb. 1“Asia Prime” party, which included several racist “jokes” targeted toward people of Asian ethnicity. When word got out about the party invitation, Kappa Sigma renamed the party “International Relations” and referred to it as a “celebration of all cultures and the diversity of Duke.”
However, pictures of what some students have deemed the “#RacistRager” soon surfaced and revealed that the party did not seem to be celebrating diversity of any kind. Students distributed fliers around campus with photos of party attendants with their faces censored, wearing, according to The Washington Post, “traditional Asian garments such as conical sedge hats and sumo wrestler attire.”
According to The Chronicle, on Feb. 6, more than 250 individuals protested against Kappa Sigma’s party at a rally hosted by the Asian American Alliance with speakers from ASA and Blue Devils United, a group supporting LGBTQ students and their allies. The students called for “an apology of action.”
While the Kappa Sigma president apologized for the party, the fraternity’s parent organiza- tion suspended all of Kappa Sigma’s operations until a full investigation is conducted. The fraternity was previously off campus for about 10 years until it came back into operation in May 2012.
It is apparent that many are outraged by the party, and it is also likely that some people may think the incident has been blown out of pro- portion. I disagree with this second sentiment. While I think the fraternity was not purposely being hateful toward the Asian ethnicity, I do believe their actions were harmful.
What, exactly, does this issue have to do with the Farmville community, a state away from Duke? While I do not recollect an incident of this nature at Longwood University occurring recently, the extremely hateful riot at Hamp- den-Sydney College (H-SC) down the street does come to mind.
This past Election Day, a group of at least 40 H-SC students gathered outside of the col- lege’s Minority Student Union House after the announcement of President Barack Obama’s re-election and shot fireworks and threw beer bottles at the building. They also shouted racial slurs and other demeaning terms targeted toward African-Americans at the house. This lasted for about 45 minutes.
While Kappa Sigma’s “International Relations” party does not seem as harmful as the H-SC riot, I believe circumstances like the party can lead to more intrinsically hateful situations like the riot. I think of the party as a “gateway” to more violent racist behavior.
Once again, some may think public condem- nation of Kappa Sigma’s party as an overreaction or overly politically correct, but parties like that just aren’t okay. How is mocking an entire culture appropriate? Especially when the ethnicity is a minority in the United States?.
Look at it this way: hosting parties that make fun of the way of life of a culture or using de- rogatory words toward a race or even making culturally insensitive jokes does not lower the amount of racism in this world. It starts with these types of circumstances that say racism isn’t a big deal if it’s humorous, desensitizes people to these kinds of actions and eventually encourages hate.
Repeatedly acting in this fashion is not right in any way, shape or form. If you make these types of behaviors a way of life, you are encouraging prejudice against people who are different than you are.
Ultimately, it should be known that racism in not appropriate in any way, shape or form. Yes, our country has come a long way thanks to actions from both civil rights leaders and everyday citizens who stood against racial prejudices. Yes, it could be much worse, and it has been. But it can also be so much better.
*** This editorial is an opinion stated by the writer and does not represent the views of The Rotunda or Longwood University.
