UC San Diego Noose Incident Underscores Relevance of Freedom Center’s Lynching Exhibition
Students at the University of California-San Diego are aggressively protesting a series of racially charged campus incidents — including the display of a noose in the school’s main library– that has many observers questioning the school’s commitment to racial justice. For a time, protesters took over UCSD’s Chancellor’s office.
Among those appealing for calm was Freedom Center CEO and President Don Murphy, who was at his alma mater for a speaking appearance.
The incident in California reflects just the kind of racial insensitivity that is explored in the Freedom Center’s current exhibition, Without Sanctuary: Lynching Photography in America. It’s clear from new media accounts of the UCSD situation that the display of a noose, while considered innocuous by many, is for many others — especially African Americans — as a racially motivated hate crime.
What’s your opinion? What should UCSD’s Administration do to address the incident? Post your comments on the Freedom Blog.
It’s hard to say without more information. How long has the noose been in the library? If it’s been decades, than it probably was originally a racially charged display. Is it a recent exhibit, which may be intended to show historical injustices? Who is the person(s) who put it there? Please give us a full spectrum of details. Thanks and Love, Angela
Angela — The noose was displayed just in the past week, and apparently was one in a series of racially-tinged incidents on the UCSD campus. More information is in this article from the NY Times: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/27/education/27sandiego.html?hpw
Paul Bernish
The Freedom Center
The LA Times, among a host of other media, provide a good deal of readily accessible information about this incident making it patently clear the noose in the USCD Library was not part of an historical exhibit. Given that a noose is often used to hang people to death, it’s hard to see how anyone could see it as innocuous. But in the context of America’s history of lynchings, it’s impossible to imagine the placing of a noose in a public area is anything but a racially motivated act of hatred and intimidation aimed particularly at African Americans. I agree wholeheartedly that calm must prevail and have always subscribed to the nonviolence Dr. King advocated. But we must always be vigilant and unafraid to call it like it is. While the election of our first African American President is inspiring, we must not forget America is a long way from being “post-racial”. Acts such as this one at UCSD suggest how far we have to go. UCSD has made strong statements against such behavior and should punish the offenders. It should also consider working, e.g., with the Freedom Center to engage students in programs that will build mutual respect, understanding, and reconciliation. Eugenia
I was very confused by what I read above. I was thinking (hoping) it was a library authorized art exhibit. This is very saddening.
Instead of an apology there has been steady escalation and now the noose. So, what exactly will the excuses be for this cowardly act that brings up memories of the confederate KKK of the South in their attempts to keep slavery and the non-whites in fear? Is it that are uneducated, is it that their parents planted these seeds of hate, is it that they are live in fear because our President in the white house is not 100% white. This is what the republican party of “birthers, baggers and blowhards” have brought you. These kids follow what their dullard leaders say, they listen to Beck, Hedgecock, Hannity, O’Reilly, Rush and Savage and the rest of the Blowhards, they are young and dumb. Are you surprise at what they do when you know what they think?
Racism begins with our families, parents, brothers and sisters, aunts and uncles, grandparents, people we admire, respect and love.
However, as we grow and mature we come to the realization that what we were told by our family when we were children were slanted lies base on their prejudices. We realize that most people are like ourselves and not so different and want the same things, like a home, steady work, a Medicare plan and schools for our children (if you travel you will see this). We realize that most people are of good hearts and goodwill.
This reminds me of a parable from the good book where a Levite and Priest come upon a man who fell among thieves and they both individually passed by and didn’t stop to help him.
Finally a man of another race came by, he got down from his beast, decided not to be compassionate by proxy and got down with the injured man, administered first aid, and helped the man in need.
Jesus ended up saying, this was the good man, this was the great man, because he had the capacity to project the “I” into the “thou,” and to be concerned about his fellow man.
You see, the Levite and the Priest were afraid, they asked themselves, “If I stop to help this man, what will happen to me?”
But then the Good Samaritan came by. And he reversed the question: “If I do not stop to help this man, what will happen to him?”
That’s the question before us. The question is not, “If I stop to help our fellow man in need, what will happen to me?” The question is, “If I do not stop to help our fellow man, what will happen to him or her?” That’s the question.
This current climate of blaming, mocking and demeaning others for our own short comings, is not new, we have had this before and we have conquered it.
Remember “Evil flourishes when good men (and women) do nothing”. Raise your voices with those of us who believe we are equal and we can win this battle again.