Beaudreau: “By arguing some pretty trivial points about the Civil War (even if your facts are correct) I don’t think you are bolstering the message that Alabama welcomes minorities and embraces diversity. Like it or not, many people in the rest of the country do not know about Alabama’s racial progress. After all, George Wallace did not stand in the schoolhouse door at the University of Michigan (currently 4.1% African-American); it was the University of Alabama (currently 11.2% African-American).”
First of all, why would the facts I provided be seen as unwelcoming? Wouldn’t facts that undermine the demonization of the South make minorities more open to the South? Nothing that I posted justified slavery or any other abuse toward non Whites in the South. Someone brought up a quote from an Alabama parent who said that Colonel Reb was inappropriate. Well, I disagree with the parent and argue that people have such a negative view of the South partly because of the demonization of the South that was necessary to justify what was done to the South. I think it always bear repeating that the North almost completely destroyed our beloved university.
I want out of state students more than most. I love what is happening at UA. Yet I don’t want out of state students who are coming with closed minds and who are only willing to listen to anti Southern narratives.
Every society has had slavery, including White Northerners, Native Americans, and Africans, yet for some reason, the South is always the focus of scorn for that dreaded institution.
Also, 12.2 % of UA students are Black, a bit higher than what you cited.