TheGFG

High school D is running for class officer. Suddenly, the campaign has taken a racial/ethnic tone, which D finds annoying and slightly offensive. Several ethnic candidates have decided to run in a block in an obvious ethnic appeal. Another candidate running for the same position as D, just put up posters saying "Vote for me because I'm ___________." (Fill in the blank with the name of an ethnic group that is in the minority nationwide but extremely well represented at D's school.) D dislikes that tactic, and wouldn't want to try to counter it in kind. Besides, she couldn't do it even if she wanted to. D is quite certain that submitting for the required school appproval, a poster reading "Vote for me because I'm white" would get her in major hot water. At best, she'd be accused of being racist with all that would entail such as bad college recs. Also, doing so would get her off on the wrong foot with the advisor with whom she'd have to work next year if elected, since school people there are notoriously PC. At worst, D fears she'd get expelled for hate speech.

D is thinking she should probably just ignore the whole race thing. She is also considering trying to use this as a springboard for challenging the thinking that race matters in a school election. I had a blast last night coming up with great comeback posters, but D thought they were too complex for high school consumption. On one I put: Vote D, below that a photo of self-tanning products, then Skin Color: $12.99, Personality: Priceless. S suggested a photo of a saltine cracker, with the caption: "Vote D because she knows it doesn't matter that she's white." D did not like these or the others I came up with.

Thoughts anyone?

JEM

I agree with your D. Anything that she does that looks like a reaction to the other campaigns will work against her. It is a shame that racial polarization has entered the campaign, but she should not feed into it. Your suggested posters would come off as put-downs of the approach taken by her opposition. You don't want to do that; she needs to rise above it.
Just one opinion.

maea

"Vote for me because I know that the issues matter more than the color of my skin"? Or any other strongly issue-based posters might work (even if they don't put down the skin color approach) - I obviously don't know what, if any, issues are important in the election. However, if a person is choosing between someone of their own race and someone who clearly supports their views as a student, they would [hopefully] choose the latter.

Youdon'tsay

I'd ignore race but not necessarily the tactic. I could see posters that say "Vote for me because I'm the best choice" or "Vote for me because I know the issues."

IF the race of the opponent is AA, then I could see clever posters that tie in to Barack Obama. Even if the opponent is Hispanic, I think it would be a hoot for her to put up some "Si se puede" posters.

I'm assuming this is all good-natured campaigning.

TheGFG

One problem with school elections is that there really aren't any true issues, or at least nothing that anyone cares that much about. Isn't it generally about popularity? Also, the kids have very little power to do anything substantive if elected. They are mostly figureheads. This is why my S never ran when he was in hs and D was never interested before this year either. D did mention 2 issues that she cared about in her speech. Not sure either one would lend themselves well to a poster concept, though.

Edit: that's not to say the students don't do any work. They do. They just don't have a lot of decision-making ability. It seems they execute what the advisor wants done, which is usually what has been done in the past.

Youdon'tsay

Well, humor is always a good tactic. What's a hot topic on campus?How 'bout "Vote for me because" and then some kind of outrageous claim, like "I'll ensure three-hour lunches."

The guy who was elected our senior-class president was the class clown. All the very sincere candidates were shocked he won. You have to play to your audience, and our class wasn't terribly sincere.

TheGFG

You and our S agree, youdon'tsay. Based on the advice of her big brother, all of D's posters so far are funny or silly. D thinks the response to them was good and kids seem to like them. So it might not be wise to deviate from the humor tactic to address anything more serious. OTOH, if it becomes a tribal situation where kids think they need to make a selection based on race/ethnicity, D's at a disadvantage. Our last name puts D in one ethnic group which has almost nil representation in the school, while her appearance puts her in the Caucasian camp and she can't campaign on that.

2blue

Does the administration have to approve signs that are posted? At our school all campaign materials have to be approved.

TheGFG

Yes, the student activities office has to approve the posters.

2blue

Wow. I'm absolutely floored they would allow students to put up such posters. How sad.

I agree with JEM that she should rise above it, and with those posters advocating the use of humor in her campaign. Humor has always worked well at our school, as did the free hot dog barbeque one candidate threw at lunchtime. That was an awfully pricey campaign tactic, though.

StickerShock

I, too, am floored that such posters would be allowed. Unbelievable.

I'm curious as to why D wants to run, if there are no real issues & those elected have no power to do anything. The school sounds as if there are some nasty underlying racial/ethnic tensions, too. Is it really worth it?

TheGFG

D wants to push for better class trips and make sure the prom is affordable. The class trips the last 2 years have been unappealing and thus have had poor attendance. As a result, their class isn't as tight-knit as others. She might not be able to convince the advisor to allow change, but she's going to try.

Youdon'tsay

Oh, I don't think she could get away with it, but I'd love to see a poster that says: "GFGgirl: Making prom affordable so you can afford a real dress" with a pic of the girl who got kicked out of her prom for her scanty "gown."

Houston Teen Handcuffed For Skimpy Prom Dress

That would be funny but, perhaps, not well-received.

TheGFG

That would be hysterical!

lspf72

"Vote for me because I know that the issues matter more than the color of my skin"

I think that's the perfect poster and comeback, maea--