Back in another lifeless, pointless, and otherwise trivial Babson class. Suppose I’ll reflect on today’s demonstration in front of the library. So after class ended at 12:45 pm today, people started showing up out on the chilly plaza in front of the library’s entrance. Hip-Hop music was cued up and announcements of the demonstration and its cause we’re spoken through a bullhorn held by a good friend of mine, Nicholas Giobbi. Watch out though, he’s crazy. He might just grab your attention. Much Love Mr. Giobbi.

Aside from him though, was Alvin Wade, the speaker and master of ceremonies for today. The Black Student Union was out in force, distributing fliers basically of an excerpt from the email I posted earlier. Other members were around, passing out signs to be held, and the pledge stated in the email was bannered across the windows of the walkway connecting the Library to the Gerber Building. At approximately 1:00 pm, the speaking began. Alvin Wade did the right thing by giving out one official story of the incident, and detailed how and why it was offensive. The costume was indeed done with malicious, offensive, and racial intent. I still do not know the name of the individual who was in the blackface costume, but believe me if I did, I’d be sure to disclose him for public shame. In all honesty he should be the one we blaim for this incident. He did indeed know what the implications of blackface were, and that fact in conjunction with a facebook profile filled with racial and sexist harrassment, does constitute a need for attention to this subject.

On the other hand though, I feel that there is a ripple effect the Black Student Union may have not forseen. They may be feeling that they should unite, strengthen the power of their voices through demonstration, push for disciplinary action, and therefore be delivered a newfound level of respect and courtesy. But the intentions may cast a dangerous forecast. We all know that racism is a very sensitive issue. We cannot say it doesn’t exist even if there are no major incidents. Yet also, we have become so liberal in what we accept cross-culturaly, we feel hesitant to admit it does exist, because in some social situations, racial slurs may fly across the dialogues of multi-racial groups of friends, yet no one is offended.

I want to make it clear right here and now. I support zero tolerance towards prejudice behavior of any nature. But I feel as if the BSU may be overeacting a bit here. Generally, from the reactions I’ve already gathered on this whole matter come to say one thing. The Black Student’s here, at a highly diverse school where there is nor real majority in comparing whites to minorities, these black students still feel threatened. While they display their organizational strength, on this particular inicident, they also show their own personal weakness of integrity and resistance to such behavior. I fear now, that the backlash of their actions will be an overwhelming amount of Political Correctness. Please read the following excerpt from a facebook group responding to the email:

“Political Correctness at Babson has gotten way out of hand. To defeat the biased society that we live in we must choose education and other proactive methods to change the viewpoints of individuals that might commit distasteful acts. Furthermore, we must choose not to be offended by such acts of stupidity because to choose to take offense just fans the flames of these hateful causes. Uniting to support outrage is mob-like mentality, and it fosters the UNREAL circumstances that exist within the micro-chasm that is Babson. This is not the real world, and to impose upon the student body “a call to action” is disrespectful to the peaceful existence that we enjoy. This is private school, there are no fights here, there should be no fear of discrimination either as this fear is a choice of the individual, and our school policies disallow such perceived inequality. It is counterproductive to further segregate ourselves from the biased individual, it is our responsibility to respect his views and attempt to assimilate him to our equality based society.
Can we AGREE NOT TO PROTEST? Can’t we all just get along?” – http://babson.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2215482118&ref=nf

I’ve said my piece. Now you say yours.