FReep the principal of Westside High School (re. suspension of "African-American" student)

http://www.westside66.org/hi/schools/index.html ^ | self

[calvin sun]

This high school suspended a student (who is from South Africa) because he was nominated as an outstanding African-American student.

What's the problem here?

Westside High School 87th & Pacific Street Omaha, Nebraska 68114-5298 (402) 343-2600 (402) 343-2608 fax

Principal is Dr. John Crook, jcrook@westside66.org

[TheBattman]

Why was he suspended? I don't see how being nominated for something could make you guilty of anything- much less bad enough to get suspended.....

[the_daug]

Here is the article on th Omah Worl Herald web site.


http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_np=0&u_pg=1640&u_sid=983292

[the_daug]

Westside twins say their posters lampooned race-based awards

[the_daug]

[sistergoldenhair]

.

[litany_of_lies]

Didn't know their posters were satire (in the sense that they KNEW the South African wouldn't even be considered).

The article referenced in your post shows the adults involved to be complete fools with politicially correct thin skins, and the students to be brilliant satirists.

[Colorado Doug]

Thanks for the link. Here is mine:

Racism is an ugly thing, no matter how it's packaged. Why punish a student because of the color of his skin? If he has not distinguished himself sufficiently to win the award, then fine, give it to someone else. But why have a racist award in the first place?

Instead of dividing your students into separate ethnic groups, why not encourage then to all be united, as Americans. I assume that you don't have Native American Student Awards, Korean American Student Awards or European American Student Awards, and you shouldn't. You shouldn't single out any race for a special award. You should single out special students.

It would have been a good time to encourage dialogue with all of the students involved. What could have been a great opportunity was lost. It was a legitimate grass roots effort, crying out at the inequality of the award. Stifling discussion, as you can see, only makes matters worse.

Dr. King fought against segregation and racism and now, thirty-six years later, we find ourselves dividing one another into separate ethnic groups when we should be celebrating the miracle of our unity and strengthening our society. Look at so called "multiculturalism" for what it is - segregation and divisiveness.

It is a delicious twist of irony that you have a student, a real "African American," if ever there was one, who just happens to be the "wrong" color. Drop the hyphenated American thing and teach unity, for that is what will make us all stronger, that is what Dr. King taught. It is about equality, not separate but equal-remember?

I suspect that you will be sued over this. Best of luck, although, I don't think you have a prayer of prevailing.

[NMFXSTC]

To ensure that things be decided without regard to race,
creed, color, sex, or national origin, we insist that nothing
be decided except according to race, creed, color....

[Principled]

I think it's relevant to point out that the award is for African Americans. The boy in question was born in Africa. He moved here 6 +/- years ago. That, in my mind, makes him "African American". Never has race been used to qualify candidates - only that they are African American.

The only argument the pricipal has is to argue that when he says, "African American" he doesn't mean "African American". He really means "non-white", or "black", or whatever he really does mean.

That the principal would punish students for his misuse of language boggles the mind.

Email sent.

[calvin sun]

Have we here an example of the Law of Unintended Consequences? LOL

[Principled]

They WERE finally forced to say they meant "black"? I didn't read that anywhere.... could you point me to it?

If that's the case, are the students still being punished?

[rickmichaels]

Unfortunately, you, like a few other Freepers, have missed my point. I agree that the student in question is African-American. My problem was with the original posting. It said:

This high school suspended a student (who is from South Africa) because he was nominated as an outstanding African-American student.

What's the problem here?

The problem here is that the posting only mentions that an African-American student from South Africa was suspendend because he was nominated as an outstanding African-American student. My response to that would be: "Why?"

Obviously, the student was suspended because he is white. The reason calvin sun posted his comment (IMHO) was to express outrage that the student was treated so unfairly because of his race, something not mentioned by calvin. I think that's crucial to understanding why calvin brought this whole matter to out attention. Therein lies my point about it being relevant that the student was white.

[Principled]

Yes, I understand your point and hereby echo it.

My post was meant to be along the same lines as yours. Perhaps my error was posting to you, rather than to all.

I agree that the crux is that the kid is not "black" and indeed IS African American....(and perhpas that he is white.)

I didn't miss your point, I agree with it.

[ladylib]

This story from opinionjournal tops the awards fiasco as far as I'm concerned. I think the principal of the school would probably agree with the property manager. Seems like they're both cut from the same cloth:

"France is of like mind with Mary Jane Fullam, a property manager in Boynton Beach, Fla. Orlando's WKMG-TV reports that Fullam is ordering a pair of renters to remove the flag they've hung in their window or hide it behind the blinds. "That's why we give them the blinds," says Fullam. "If we let them hang their flag, then someone else could say, 'Hey, the people at 6107 have a flag. I worship the devil, so I should be able to fly my devil flag.' "

[ladylib]

I would say that they're "infamous now."

[Major_Risktaker]

White settlers arrived in South Africa in the 17th century. Isn't that long enough for them to be considered Africans?

Your right!

One problem with the term African-American is that Africa is a Continent with multiple races and the term is reserved only for American citizen who ancestor are past slaves.

The term should be Sub-Saharan Africa-Americans for an almost accurate location of where they are from.

See Map URL: Map Of Sub-Saharan Africa Diaspora

White South African in America are more African than the so called African-Americans and it drives people crazy as you can see in this article how logic doesn't count.

In short they should drop the African-American title and go with "American" like most people do or pick a country in Sub-Saharan Africa.

[Dante3]

Well stated.

[Major_Risktaker]

Are America schools Balkanizing?

Principal Crook said "My role is to make sure we have a safe environment, physically and psychologically," he also said. "We can't allow that kind of thing to be hung up on our walls."

_______________________

Principal Crook is just like a Peacekeeper in the Balkans.

[Mr. Silverback]

Thank you, sir.

[rickmichaels]

Cool. Thanks for responding.