<p>I am an international student here at the University of Mississippi. Does racism exhist here? Yes. Are there racial divides here. Yes. I see it and I hear it. As one post stated, there are efforts being made. There has been the ban of the confederate flag, the ban of a song called “from Dixie With Love”, a song longing or having a desire for segregation and slavery. The original lyrics are a stereotypical mockery of black speech, during those dark times. There also has been an introduction of a new mascot but efforts are being made by organizers who want to reinstate the conferate flag, dixie with love and the former colonal rebel mascot. Generally, white fraternities and sorrities do not invite people of color (black, asians, etc) to social gatherings. You have a few who are but it is a facade in order not to be viewed as racist. I have been invited to these gatherings and I know what is said behind closed doors and withing private forums. I am none tolerant of racism and bigotry, no matter who the person is or what color he or she is. It is boring and outdated. I have researched a few of the numerous incidents that have happened at this institution. There was an incident involving a white fraternity, the Alpha Tau Omega, during a halloween party. Most of the pictures taken at an Alpha Tau Omega fraternity party at the University of Mississippi are silly and playful. However, one picture, however, stands out. It shows two students, both white men. One is in blackface, on his knees; he is picking cotton from a small bucket. The other, dressed as a policeman, is holding a gun to his head. Also, in an uncensored interview, a student was asked during game day in the popular campus grove; “How do you think today’s going to go when they play ‘from dixie with love’ in the grove”? His response, “I really dont care, **** those ■■■■■■■”. The words The South Shall Rise Again caused some people to feel that the song was supporting segregation. The University decided to stop the band from playing the song during football games.
In 2009, the ku klux klan lead a protest here on the campus. Here are a few links to give you some insite. Many Ole Miss students, in fact, say their school comes under unfair scrutiny because of its past. But in order to move forward and progress, you have to remove yourself from the past. When the ku klux klan appeared hidden during the 2008 presedential debate, they brought pamphlets and membership applications on hand for any audience members who happen to share the Klansmen’s views. Some examples of those views: Obama’s election “could be the destruction of America,” says one ku klux klan member, who states categorically that he would not vote for a black candidate. Says the Emperor of the Mississippi White Knights (the group’s ritual leader), who asked not to be identified: “Locally, every place that has come under black rule has declined, and has declined sharply.” He cited Jackson, Miss., and Washington, D.C., as examples. “Not all black people are particularly bad people,” the emperor adds. But leadership, he asserts, “is just not in their character … it’s just not in their ability.” Now being a native of Europe, an advid reader of world history and world economic politics, but every major falling empire were not under the leadership of a person of color nor did a person of color launch the majority of world and national wars. If you decide to attend this institution, just come prepared to deal with both opened and closed minded individuals. </p>
<p>Read more: [Unwelcome</a> Visitors at the Ole Miss Debate: The Ku Klux Klan - TIME](<a href=“http://www.time.com/time/politics/article/0,8599,1844872,00.html#ixzz1o6s329n0]Unwelcome”>http://www.time.com/time/politics/article/0,8599,1844872,00.html#ixzz1o6s329n0)</p>
<p>Read more: [Unwelcome</a> Visitors at the Ole Miss Debate: The Ku Klux Klan - TIME](<a href=“http://www.time.com/time/politics/article/0,8599,1844872,00.html#ixzz1o6rCNtCH]Unwelcome”>http://www.time.com/time/politics/article/0,8599,1844872,00.html#ixzz1o6rCNtCH)</p>
<p><a href=“Phi Gamma Delta”>Phi Gamma Delta;
<p>[Racism</a> is Alive & Kicking (STILL) at Ole Miss Black Girl Thinking](<a href=“http://blackgirlthinking.■■■■■■■■■■■■■/2009/11/19/ole-miss-students-suspended-after-racist-youtube-tantrum/]Racism”>Racism is Alive & Kicking (STILL) at Ole Miss – Black Girl Thinking)</p>
<p>[KKK</a> Rally At Ole MIss, November 21, 2009 - YouTube](<a href=“- YouTube”>- YouTube)</p>
<p>[Unwelcome</a> Visitors at the Ole Miss Debate: The Ku Klux Klan - TIME](<a href=“http://www.time.com/time/politics/article/0,8599,1844872,00.html]Unwelcome”>http://www.time.com/time/politics/article/0,8599,1844872,00.html)</p>
<p>The USA is the most diverse nation in the entire world and that can not be argued. However, I can not believe, people here in some areas, still think ignorantly, backwards and primitive.</p>