MSU'S BLACK GRADUATE STUDENTS' INVITE A SUCCESS!
Yes, indeed! It was titled, "The Awakening: Emerging Scholars Transforming Communities through Research, Collaboration, and Activism." It happened to be a dark, dreary day--but the auditorium of the Engineering Building was lit up by the sensitive, interesting keynote address delivered by Dr. Brenda Austin-Mills.
Using a power-point presentation, Dr. Austin-Mills gave a lively talk that boldly featured some of the most beautiful photographs I've ever seen of animals from all over the earth. She cleverly used the photos to discuss human traits and how we can and should communicate better as human beings. There was no doubt that her doctorate degree in Zoology led the way in her thoughtful presentation.
We stood out from the gathered students and staff from Michigan State University. All of us proudly wore our Denounce the "N" Word t-shirts. The "all of us" included myself, Maurice Hood, Erica, and Andrew (prefer not to use Erica's and Andrew's surnames until I obtain their permission; suffice to say all of the students are in my Sociology classes). I think we livened the place up, what with their youthful exhuberence!
Some of the scheduling was altered, but eventually we were given the opportunity to briefly explain our "N" word project to graduate students who made presentations before we were called to speak. We were moved to an alternative site, a classroom. There, we introduced ourselves and I informed the group gathered there about a DVD that had been sent to me by the Southern Poverty Law Center in Birmingham, Alabama. I made note of their very cerebral presentations and mentioned that what they were about to see would cause a definite visceral reaction. And the DVD did exactly that...it was disturbing and shocking to witness the terroristic nature of the United Klans of America and how they did what they did toward a young person of color.
The decision to use the DVD at the last minute was mine. I confided in my students and assured them the 7-minute DVD was a perfect addition to our presentation. As indicated above, it featured a legal case being pursued by the SPLC on behalf of the young man who had been almost beaten to death at a county fair near Brandenburg, Kentucky.
Members of a local group of white, racist thugs belonging to the United Klans of America descended on the victim and proceeded to beat him because, as they put it, he was a "spic." He was all of about 5' 3", weighing 145 pounds, while one of the Klan members was 6' 5" and weighed 340 pounds.
Lawyer Morris Dees, founder and chief advocate of the Southern Poverty Law Center, used secretly filmed sequences of UKA activities in Kentucky--outlining their hate-filled, racist meetings and songfests. The skinheads filmed were heard to utter and scream the "N" word and worse, in demeaning African Americans. Jewish people, gays, Latinos, and just about anyone who didn't fit in with their screams of Nordic superiority. The video footage was a horrifying example of rampant racism and hatred,
In the video, Dees made a point of informing viewers that the Southern Poverty Law Center, along with local lawyers in Kentucky, will be taking the UKA members to court in the Fall of this year. Even though members of the SPLC have received death threats, there is little doubt that their plan is to financially cripple the local branch of the UKA and in effect, put them "out of business." That same tactic has been used by the SPLC in breaking up hate groups from around the country, especially in northern Idaho. Interestingly, a map featured in the video identified a hate group centered in Traverse City, Michigan.
Anyway, our use of the DVD proved to be valuable in supporting our explaination for utilizing our Denounce the "N" Word Initiative as another tool in combating racism in America. The Southern Poverty Law Center recently identified over 850 hate groups in the United States, so that information alone seemed to highlight our presentation to the students present at the symposium that day.
After lunch, we were again asked to make a presentation...only this time it was given in the auditorium of the Engineering Building and there were many more students present. The use of the huge screen with the professional sound system, made the video even more powerful in showcasing hatred puncuated by the use of the "N" word. Maurice and the other students addressed the audience and fielded questions about their involvement in our project. When my turn came, I gave a brief history of how and why the project evolved to be what it is at this point. Ialso noted that I have been a member of the Southern Poverty Law Center since the year 2000.
All in all, the experience was even better than what we had anticipated it to be. I am very proud of the poised performance put forth by our students--they were just plain awesome in presenting to a college audience! We sold eight t-shirts too.
Important contacts were made and email addresses exchanged. We agreed that our presence at the symposium added much to the combined concurrent sessions offered by the graduate students present that day. We were honored to have been invited and I know we didn't disappoint anyone.
On the drive back to Flint, we basked in the knowledge that we did very well at the Black Scholars Symposium. It was billed as "The Awakening" and indeed it was for us and those MSU graduate students. Importantly, we felt as if we had awakened a college audience to our message of denouncing the use of the "N" word. We were very proud of that accomplishment, along with the fact that our goals were met and exceeded on that rainy, blustery Saturday!
Using a power-point presentation, Dr. Austin-Mills gave a lively talk that boldly featured some of the most beautiful photographs I've ever seen of animals from all over the earth. She cleverly used the photos to discuss human traits and how we can and should communicate better as human beings. There was no doubt that her doctorate degree in Zoology led the way in her thoughtful presentation.
We stood out from the gathered students and staff from Michigan State University. All of us proudly wore our Denounce the "N" Word t-shirts. The "all of us" included myself, Maurice Hood, Erica, and Andrew (prefer not to use Erica's and Andrew's surnames until I obtain their permission; suffice to say all of the students are in my Sociology classes). I think we livened the place up, what with their youthful exhuberence!
Some of the scheduling was altered, but eventually we were given the opportunity to briefly explain our "N" word project to graduate students who made presentations before we were called to speak. We were moved to an alternative site, a classroom. There, we introduced ourselves and I informed the group gathered there about a DVD that had been sent to me by the Southern Poverty Law Center in Birmingham, Alabama. I made note of their very cerebral presentations and mentioned that what they were about to see would cause a definite visceral reaction. And the DVD did exactly that...it was disturbing and shocking to witness the terroristic nature of the United Klans of America and how they did what they did toward a young person of color.
The decision to use the DVD at the last minute was mine. I confided in my students and assured them the 7-minute DVD was a perfect addition to our presentation. As indicated above, it featured a legal case being pursued by the SPLC on behalf of the young man who had been almost beaten to death at a county fair near Brandenburg, Kentucky.
Members of a local group of white, racist thugs belonging to the United Klans of America descended on the victim and proceeded to beat him because, as they put it, he was a "spic." He was all of about 5' 3", weighing 145 pounds, while one of the Klan members was 6' 5" and weighed 340 pounds.
Lawyer Morris Dees, founder and chief advocate of the Southern Poverty Law Center, used secretly filmed sequences of UKA activities in Kentucky--outlining their hate-filled, racist meetings and songfests. The skinheads filmed were heard to utter and scream the "N" word and worse, in demeaning African Americans. Jewish people, gays, Latinos, and just about anyone who didn't fit in with their screams of Nordic superiority. The video footage was a horrifying example of rampant racism and hatred,
In the video, Dees made a point of informing viewers that the Southern Poverty Law Center, along with local lawyers in Kentucky, will be taking the UKA members to court in the Fall of this year. Even though members of the SPLC have received death threats, there is little doubt that their plan is to financially cripple the local branch of the UKA and in effect, put them "out of business." That same tactic has been used by the SPLC in breaking up hate groups from around the country, especially in northern Idaho. Interestingly, a map featured in the video identified a hate group centered in Traverse City, Michigan.
Anyway, our use of the DVD proved to be valuable in supporting our explaination for utilizing our Denounce the "N" Word Initiative as another tool in combating racism in America. The Southern Poverty Law Center recently identified over 850 hate groups in the United States, so that information alone seemed to highlight our presentation to the students present at the symposium that day.
After lunch, we were again asked to make a presentation...only this time it was given in the auditorium of the Engineering Building and there were many more students present. The use of the huge screen with the professional sound system, made the video even more powerful in showcasing hatred puncuated by the use of the "N" word. Maurice and the other students addressed the audience and fielded questions about their involvement in our project. When my turn came, I gave a brief history of how and why the project evolved to be what it is at this point. Ialso noted that I have been a member of the Southern Poverty Law Center since the year 2000.
All in all, the experience was even better than what we had anticipated it to be. I am very proud of the poised performance put forth by our students--they were just plain awesome in presenting to a college audience! We sold eight t-shirts too.
Important contacts were made and email addresses exchanged. We agreed that our presence at the symposium added much to the combined concurrent sessions offered by the graduate students present that day. We were honored to have been invited and I know we didn't disappoint anyone.
On the drive back to Flint, we basked in the knowledge that we did very well at the Black Scholars Symposium. It was billed as "The Awakening" and indeed it was for us and those MSU graduate students. Importantly, we felt as if we had awakened a college audience to our message of denouncing the use of the "N" word. We were very proud of that accomplishment, along with the fact that our goals were met and exceeded on that rainy, blustery Saturday!
posted by John Davidek, Fulbright South Africa-2006 @ 9:07 PM
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