Duke students to protest fraternity’s ‘racist rager’

[cobrat]

<p>

It’s stereotypical of French people to like cheese, crepes, profiteroles. It’s stereotypical of white Americans to like white bread and mayonnaise. It’s stereotypical of African Americans to like fried chicken and watermelon. I’m trying to come up with reasons / distinctions why some of these feel more offensive than others.

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<p>Probably the fact that the African-Americans like fried chicken and watermelon stereotype was a stock one used to denigrate African-Americans since before the antebellum era when the vast majority were held as slaves and when educating them at all was considered a serious crime in many parts of the US…especially in the south.</p>

<p>This was stuff I recalled not only from historical documentaries on PBS, but also from my US history classes in high school.</p>

[Bay]

<p>

Of the hat isn’t racist, but its use amongst a bunch of disrespectful brats strips it, imo, of culture and makes it the brunt of some insensitive joke.

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<p>Also, did anyone else find this statement offensive? Is she implying that if the costumes were worn by anyone other than white, ostensibly higher-income college students at a party, it would be okay? That is how I took it. Wow.</p>

[Pizzagirl]

<p>

I’d be very interested in knowing if bad behavior by one Greek organization on campus typically, often, or ever results in negative consequences from other Greek organizations–and I mean real consequences, not just a “tut, tut.” Anybody have an example?

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<p>I can’t give you specifics, but sure, in my day, if members of a certain fraternity had thrown offensive parties or otherwise acted like jerks, yes, absolutely, the sororities would have declined to participate in mixers or in other activities (such as partnering for a philanthropic cause). Poetgrl is right - their currency is their reputation.</p>

[Pizzagirl]

<p>

Of the hat isn’t racist, but its use amongst a bunch of disrespectful brats strips it, imo, of culture and makes it the brunt of some insensitive joke. </p>

<p>Also, did anyone else find this statement offensive? Is she implying that if the costumes were worn by anyone other than white, ostensibly higher-income college students at a party, it would be okay? That is how I took it. Wow.

</p>

<p>I was struck by that as well, Bay. If only Asian students can wear those pointy, conical hats (sorry, I don’t know the name), does that mean that only those of French descent can wear berets?</p>

[Hunt]

<p>It’s all about intent. If you’re wearing the conical hat in order to mock Asians–pretty obviously the intent of this particular frat–it’s offensive, even if there might be non-offensive reasons to wear the hat (i.e., if you’re staging a Chinese opera).</p>

<p>And there’s an additional racial element when white frat guys are mocking Asians or Mexicans that wouldn’t be there if they were mocking the French. There’s no point in pretending that these are the same.</p>

[Bay]

<p>Would it be considered offensive for an Asian student fraternity to hold a “cowboy” party and wear cowboy hats and chaps?</p>

[Pizzagirl]

<p>I agree that you “know it when you see it.” I’m just interested in trying to codify that a little bit more, that’s all.</p>

[Hunt]

<p>

Would it be considered offensive for an Asian student fraternity to hold a “cowboy” party and wear cowboy hats and chaps?

My take on that would be that it’s not mocking any particular racial, ethnic or national group. I’d feel more uncomfortable if it were a “Redneck” party, even more uncomfortable if it were a “Southern Redneck” party, and more uncomfortable yet if were a “White Night” party. Line-drawing can be hard, but that shouldn’t give a free pass to a bunch of jerks who are clearly trying to be offensive.</p>

[alexissss]

<p>I said disrespectful brats.</p>

<p>You read race and class into that description. Not my problem.</p>

<p>I’m also shocked that so many adults seem helpless in determining what is and what is not offensive.
Gotta be kidding me.</p>

[Bay]

<p>

I’m just interested in trying to codify that a little bit more, that’s all.

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<p>I agree. I would not be surprised at all if most of the students at that party had no idea that their costumes were offensive to Asian Americans. I would not have known, because those hats and robes are sold by Chinese vendors all over SF’s Chinatown. Why would they sell racist symbols to tourists if they are so offensive? A logical assumption would be that they are not offensive.</p>

[Bay]

<p>

I said disrespectful brats.</p>

<p>You read race and class into that description. Not my problem.

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<p>Right…Funny how you didn’t see how your description could come across as offensive.</p>

[alexissss]

<p>Um, they’re brats and disrespectful? </p>

<p>Would you prefer I can them responsible angels?</p>

[Hunt]

<p>

I would not be surprised at all if most of the students at that party had no idea that their costumes were offensive to Asian Americans.

If that’s true, I would like to interest them in a structure in Brooklyn that I’m selling. I’ll give them a group rate.</p>

<p>It’s not the costume alone–it’s the mockery involved in a party like this.</p>

[poetgrl]

<p>they know it’s offensive. “You had me at Herrro” is offensive, and they know this. It is also a skit on television humor shows.</p>

<p>The question isn’t whether or not it is offensive. It’s what should or could be done about it.</p>

<p>that’s the question.</p>

<p>For example, in a thread earlier in the year, it was pointed out how offensively sexist certain t shirts were at an NSCAC school, which is generally well-respected. The administration was under pressure to respond to why they were allowing this. The pressure came from the students and the way they were using social media. This, to me, seems similar.</p>

<p>When the behavior becomes offensive, and the students respond, there is generally an action taken. This is good. It comes from the students. It is more legitimate.</p>

[alexissss]

<p>I remember in my senior year of hs when Halloween came and this kid dressed in black face, donned a huge afro wig and told everyone he was Kobe Bryant.
He then went about speaking in Ebonics.
The admin reassured myself and others that “he didn’t know it was offensive.”
I nearly lost it.</p>

[Bay]

<p>I stand by my position on the costumes. I’ve never seen an Asian-American dress in one of those hats and robes, so I don’t see how it is mocking Asian-Americans. I would feel differently if they were wearing short black wigs, glasses and pocket protectors, lab coats or something like that. That would clearly be mocking Asian-Americans. </p>

<p>I think a party mocking a country is different from a party mocking fellow Americans.</p>

[Pizzagirl]

<p>I wouldn’t know what Kobe Bryant looked like if I tripped over him, but would it ever be possible for a white person to dress up as Kobe Bryant for Halloween or a theme party of “come as your favorite sports hero” without it being seen as offensive? </p>

<p>What if it were Tim Tebow?</p>

[Hunt]

<p>A couple of updates: [Duke</a> Kappa Sigma party ignites firestorm of criticism | The Chronicle](<a href=“http://www.dukechronicle.com/article/duke-kappa-sigma-party-ignites-firestorm-criticism]Duke”>Duke Kappa Sigma party ignites firestorm of criticism - The Chronicle)
[Duke</a> student protestors demand ‘apology of action’ | The Chronicle](<a href=“http://www.dukechronicle.com/article/duke-student-protestors-demand-apology-action]Duke”>http://www.dukechronicle.com/article/duke-student-protestors-demand-apology-action)</p>

<p>The fraternity was suspended by its national.</p>

[Hunt]

<p>

I wouldn’t know what Kobe Bryant looked like if I tripped over him, but would it ever be possible for a white person to dress up as Kobe Bryant for Halloween or a theme party of “come as your favorite sports hero” without it being seen as offensive?

It would be difficult. There is a great deal of sensitivity to blackface, so there’s going to be offense taken when a white person darkens his face to portray a black person. I think if it can be done without blackface, perhaps it can be done without offense–I saw a bunch of people dressed as Antoine Dodson a couple of years ago at my son’s college, for example, and I didn’t hear of any backlash against that. No blackface, though.</p>

[ucbalumnus]

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@Hunt

if there might be non-offensive reasons to wear the hat (i.e., if you’re staging a Chinese opera).

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<p>Farming and other activities out in the tropical sun of southeast Asia are the usual uses of such a hat.</p>