Photo Reveals Racism
Dublin Core
Title
Photo Reveals Racism
Description
Transcription:
To the Editor: We speak on behalf of many of our fellow students, both black and white, who expressed the same displeasure that we did in regard to a segment in the 1991 Colonial Echo. We write this letter as one of gratitude to the staff of the Colonial Echo and fellow student Vivek Narasimha. As black students, we say thanks to these people for reviving memories of the Old South. We say thank you to Mr. Narasimha for dressing in black-face and insulting many of his fellow students. We say thank you to the Colonial Echo staff, more specifically Matt Todd ("Faces" Editor) and Robin Weatherholtz (Editor- in-Chief), for running a picture in the yearbook that is degrading and insulting to a race of people who have struggled to escape the “mammy figure” and a plethora of other negative images that have followed us throughout our history. Thank you. Colonial Echo. Thank you for reminding blacks that a time in our history—that represents pain, struggle, degradation, and suffering—has not been forgotten by you. Seeing that picture in the Colonial Echo gave us an even more acute sensitivity to the racial climate that pervades this campus. Racism exists everywhere. Sadly, this incident has driven home the point that ignorance and racist stereotypes continue to be tightly woven within the mental fabric of many students at William and Mary. We all know racism is not exclusive to William and Mary, but it is crucial that the type of insult and degradation that the Colonial Echo condoned by running the picture be pointed out to the college community as base and extremely ignorant. Blacks are not the only ones subject to abuse. College students from all ethnic backgrounds should not forget that all ethnic groups have at some time been victims of systematic oppression. We felt that the picture was a racial slur against blacks, but its message can apply to everyone. The picture on page 315 of the Colonial Echo with the so-appropriate caption—"Gone, but not forgotten"—tells the people of this community that it's okay to degrade others, it's okay to revive memories of a dark past for blacks, and it’s okay to reminisce about a time that represents memories blacks would like to put far behind them. The displeasure with this picture is not a cry for censorship, but since the yearbook is a campus publication that represents the college community, this photo is an example of poor representation and inappropriate editing. If nothing else, we hope this letter opens people's eyes to the realization that racism has not been adequately confronted on this campus. The fact that the photo appeared at all is evidence that we at the College have a long struggle ahead in completely stamping out the quiet monster of racism that exists on this campus.
To the Editor: We speak on behalf of many of our fellow students, both black and white, who expressed the same displeasure that we did in regard to a segment in the 1991 Colonial Echo. We write this letter as one of gratitude to the staff of the Colonial Echo and fellow student Vivek Narasimha. As black students, we say thanks to these people for reviving memories of the Old South. We say thank you to Mr. Narasimha for dressing in black-face and insulting many of his fellow students. We say thank you to the Colonial Echo staff, more specifically Matt Todd ("Faces" Editor) and Robin Weatherholtz (Editor- in-Chief), for running a picture in the yearbook that is degrading and insulting to a race of people who have struggled to escape the “mammy figure” and a plethora of other negative images that have followed us throughout our history. Thank you. Colonial Echo. Thank you for reminding blacks that a time in our history—that represents pain, struggle, degradation, and suffering—has not been forgotten by you. Seeing that picture in the Colonial Echo gave us an even more acute sensitivity to the racial climate that pervades this campus. Racism exists everywhere. Sadly, this incident has driven home the point that ignorance and racist stereotypes continue to be tightly woven within the mental fabric of many students at William and Mary. We all know racism is not exclusive to William and Mary, but it is crucial that the type of insult and degradation that the Colonial Echo condoned by running the picture be pointed out to the college community as base and extremely ignorant. Blacks are not the only ones subject to abuse. College students from all ethnic backgrounds should not forget that all ethnic groups have at some time been victims of systematic oppression. We felt that the picture was a racial slur against blacks, but its message can apply to everyone. The picture on page 315 of the Colonial Echo with the so-appropriate caption—"Gone, but not forgotten"—tells the people of this community that it's okay to degrade others, it's okay to revive memories of a dark past for blacks, and it’s okay to reminisce about a time that represents memories blacks would like to put far behind them. The displeasure with this picture is not a cry for censorship, but since the yearbook is a campus publication that represents the college community, this photo is an example of poor representation and inappropriate editing. If nothing else, we hope this letter opens people's eyes to the realization that racism has not been adequately confronted on this campus. The fact that the photo appeared at all is evidence that we at the College have a long struggle ahead in completely stamping out the quiet monster of racism that exists on this campus.
Creator
Swem Special Collections
Source
November 15, 1991 Flat Hat News
Publisher
The William and Mary Flat Hat
Date
November 19, 1991
Contributor
Edward Fortunato, Metadata, Transcription
Format
.pdf
Files
Citation
Swem Special Collections, “Photo Reveals Racism ,” The Lemon Project, accessed April 23, 2024, https://lemonlab.wm.edu/items/show/149.