During an African-American sorority’s Founders Day, atrocious comments and backlash were thrown around for celebrating in a common area. The initial comment — “The black sororities are making noise in Russell House. Someone shut them up. Black girls are annoying as f—-” — was made by a guy whose mother is apparently black. His girlfriend then interjected and began throwing more racial slurs and generalizations, tweeting, “I think black girls just get salty cause black men tend to like white women better.” I then discovered more tweets from other USC students and their thoughts.
I am deeply saddened to hear this. However, this an opportunity to reach out and let these people know that what they are saying is beneath them as members of the USC community.
Racial identity and stereotyping still exist on this campus, even as a campus recognized for the second time as one of the nation’s top universities for diversity and inclusivity. But that is quite contrary to the socialization of “racial” groups within our schools, who based on actions, assures that black students are made aware that they are unequal to white students.
There is a mass recognition of white sororities and fraternities on campus, and everyone is familiar with the school’s prestigious and historically white Greek organizations. There is an obvious systematic segregation in the school’s sorority and fraternity system. For instance, the Greek Village consists of only white Greek organizations. It reminds me of that old saying that the more things change, the more they remain the same. Anyone keeping abreast of the incidents I have witnessed on social media has to continually remind themselves that they are indeed living in 2014 not the 1960s.
This most recent and certainly unsurprising account of racial intolerance is a disgrace, and yet most people will probably say to themselves, “I guess we should then conclude that racially and physically harassing, demeaning, terrorizing and disrespecting NPHC (traditionally African-American) fraternities and sororities is merely being ‘satirical’ and ‘humorous’ as well.” Please, spare us.
For the individuals who made these unappetizing comments on Twitter — such as, “If you were unsure if its black sorority initiation week, stop by Russell House!” — we need to make these students accountable and have them apologize. Our African-American fraternities and sororities strive to live by Carolina Fraternity and Sorority Life’s four core values of scholarship, leadership, service and friendship. They do so with gracious professionalism and respect. They deserve to celebrate their Founders Day, without receiving harsh backlash as they received.
A worldview is essentially a way of thinking that organizes all aspects of one’s life. There are a variety of perspectives regarding the experiences and worldview of African-Americans, and I believe that if these students are going to judge us and our culture, they should at least be open to knowing them so that they can refrain from making incognizant statements.