editorial
Unlearning racism —
a continuing struggle
Racism is a disease that runs deep into the core of our
society. It manifests itself in many ways. In its most overt
forms it can be seen in the actions of such groups as the Ku
Klux Klan. In its subtlest forms it shows itself as parts of our
subconscious; the things we might say or do in a passing
moment without really thinking about it. Whatever form
racism takes, it is a danger to every aspect of society.
Racism in America didn’t end with abolition in the 19th
century and it didn’t end with the civil rights movement of
the 1960’s. It is alive today aftd thriving in virtually all facets
of American life. The only way to end racism, and the hatred
and violence it brings, is first to learn how to identify it.
On Friday, the Emerald ran a cartoon on its editorial
page that was interpreted by many people as being racist.
The criticisms of this cartoon are valid. The cartoon
depicted the figure of a white woman fleeing from the dark
night and a large black hand reaching out to grasp her.
Beneath this was another scene of two white women and a
white man walking happily under a bright light along a cam
pus walkway. The caption read, “Organize for a safe cam
pus.’’ The cartoon ran beside an editorial on the problem of
rape at the University. It was an attempt by a freelance
graphic artist to show the fear of rape on campus. Her idea
was to show that students need to “take back the night” by
organizing for better lighting on campus.
There are a number of reasons why this cartoon ended
up going to print. It was late at night, we were in a rush to
get the newspaper out for the next day, and staff members
were tired and eager to go home. Without considering all the
implications, the cartoon was carelessly allowed to go print.
None of the above reasons are justification for running
the cartoon. There is no excuse for racism. The implication
of the cartoon was that it is black men who are behind the
problem of rape at the University. Unquestionable social
damage has been done because of this. It has futhered the
myth of blacks being the source of trouble in our society, and
that black people should be feared. The Emerald editorial
staff deeply regret the terrible mistake it made in letting this
cartoon appear in the newspaper.
The matter, however, shouldn’t simply be put to rest
and forgotten. It should serve as an example of how deeply
racism has entrenched itself in our society. It shows the kind
of struggle we are up against in battling racism.
A person who thinks that they will not be racist simply
by saying “I will not be a racist” has much to learn. While
that is a start in the right direction, the struggle against
racism in our individual lives means taking a careful look at
who we are and how we act everyday.
Last February, on her 71st birthday, Rosa Parks told a
crowd who had gathered to hear her speak in the EMU
ballroom that she has spent most of her life trying to
‘‘unlearn racism.” She spoke about how, growing up in
American society, everyone is a victim of racism, and that
only through personal struggle and love could this disease
be eradicated.
The battle against racism is a long and hard one. It
means constant self-evaluation in trying to “unlearn” what
we have all been taught for so long. In some of our most
basic cultural concepts we continue to find the roots of
racism. For example, most people accept in a non
questioning manner the notion that darkness and “evil” are
linked together, just as they accept the notion that white and
“good” are linked together. On television, in the movies, in
the books we read and in the stories we tell our children, we
promote this belief of good and evil based upon color.
Steve Biko in South Africa and Malcolm X in the
United States both spoke of the need to raise black con
sciousness in order to counter the lack of self-esteem that
was rampant in black communities, due to years of racial
discrimination and indoctrination. Many whites felt
alienated by the black power movement that was influenced
by these individuals. In response, Biko and X told whites
that they needed to raise their own consciousness because
they too were victims of racism.
Fighting racism is more than championing the cause for
minority equality and freedom. It means raising our own
consciousness to a level that transcends any form of racism.
We at the Emerald learned an important lesson from the car
toon we ran on Friday. We hope others can also learn from
our mistake, and continue the struggle against racism with
renewed dedication.
m
the (jour-Taiier.
letters
Worst place
It seems to me that the worst
place for a marching band to
practice is fifty feet from the
library. I’m afraid if 1 hear the
James Bond theme song one
more time, I may destroy every
tuba and percussion instrument
on campus.
Patrick Sprenger
Eugene
Mundane topic
SHAVING. Now there’s a
topic mankind can relate to. It’s
“universal,” too. Don’t we all
have problems with the embar
rassing issue of nicks on our
faces? And who hasn’t had trou
ble finding the best, most
technologically advanced
razor? Ah. . . “the quest for the
great shave.”
I wanted to puke when I read
your Oct. 31 article on shaving,
which half the human race and
half the population of this
university couldn’t relate to,
even if they Wanted to. How
would you feel about giving
equal space to the latest in curl
ing irons or better yet, mascara
brushes? Now, there’s a mun
dane topic. You didn’t even
give women the lip service of
discussing leg or armpit shav
ing — which women do in an
effort to “please their men.”
I have always admired the
Emerald for its attention to and
coverage of political events and
other relevant topics concern
ing the university population. It
is unlike any university
newspaper I’ve ever read (this is
my third school) and it usually
r
goes above the trivia! bullshit
other school papers concern
themselves with. I’m afraid,
however, that you've hit an all
time low with this article and
have compromised the reputa
tion of the Kmerald. The article
is sexist, at best, as well as a
waste of paper.
Kari Rothi
Senior
Nothing wasted
The election showed that the
national pendulum is still at the
crest of its rightward swing. But
not one bit of the energy we
contributed to the defeat of the
arch-conservative was wasted.
When we got out and supported
Jesse Jackson, we forced the
arch-conservative to move some
blacks to the front. When we got
out and supported Walter Mon
dale and Geraldine Ferrero. we
forced the arch-conservative to
move some women to the front.
When we raged, we forced this
Ronald Wilson Reagan to recall
his CIA-assassination booklet.
And when we supported the
Nuclear Freeze, we forced this
arch-conservative to meet with
a Soviet diplomat.
The social revolution of the
GO’s went too fast for some peo
ple, and they just plain got
scared. So they flock to their
churches. So they try to knock
liberalism and cut money from
liberal-arts education. So they
build more and more missiles.
So they return to the pre-1960
macho-male/passive-female
role models. They won’t find
any answers there. Those were
the role models that caused the
problems in the first place.
Those were the rigid beliefs and
that was the mentality that
didn’t work the first time. And
whether anybody likes it or not,
those beliefs won’t work this
time either. And the pendulum
will begin its leftward swing,
further left this time than last
time. So nothing we did was
wasted. In fact, everything we
do counts a lot.
Keith Bowen
Eugene
Bleeding hearts
This is an open letter to
youthful Republicans
everywhere who thoughtlessly
categorize Leftists as “bleeding
hearts.” Have you ever asked
yourselves why our hearts bleed
so? In case you haven’t, 1 will
tell you precisely why: they
bleed because we are ashamed
of being Americans because our
government has. for the last
thirty-five years, subverted the
economies and governments of
countries such as Nicaragua.
Chile, Cuba, and Guatemala,
that are or once were struggling
to build a better society for their
miserable, oppressed in
habitants: they bleed for the
deadly escalation of the arms
race and the tremendous in
crease in Americans im
poverished under the Reagan
administration; they bleed for
the pillaging of the earth, that
ultimate rape; and finally, they
bleed for the most oppressed
class of all, our peers who have
become so thoroughly deluded
by the great lie of the American
Dream.
Brian Maffly
English
Oregon doily
emerald
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