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Dr. Boyce Watkins; Arizona State University Students Wear Black Faces to a NCAA Football Game?

September 11, 2011 by  
Filed under News, Opinion, Sports, Weekly Columns

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(ThyBlackMan.com) Arizona, a state that is regularly accused of having a serious issue with people of color, received another stain to its reputation.  This week, four white female students at Arizona State University showed up to a football gamewearing black face.  The school asked students to wear all-black attire to celebrate the new uniforms in their game against the Missouri Tigers.  This is when a few students took it too far.

The game was televised on ESPN, so the entire world saw the action go down both on and off the field.  Thousands of people have expressed their anger at the students for their insensitivity.   But while many were outraged, some  found no reason to be offended.

One has to laugh at the irony that a school with students showing up to a game in black face also happens to be highly dependent upon African Americans to run and jump, thus bringing millions to the university in revenue each year.  The idea of black men working up a sweat for white folks in the stands wearing black face is beyond disturbing.

We also cannot forget that Arizona received national attention for being the only state that would not support the Martin Luther King holiday,  and also for some of the most Draconian immigration laws in the country.   Arizona State University made news itself for refusing to give an honorary degree to the nation’s first black president, even though they’d given a slew of these degrees out in the past.   Apparently, they don’t think that being the first black president in American history is all that big of a deal.

One thing we know about racism is that much of it is learned.  We also know that young people must also learn racial sensitivity.  In both cases, Arizona State University appears to have failed the test.  Students are a reflection of those who teach them, and it’s interesting that these four white women made the plan to wear black face, went out and bought the makeup, told their friends about their plan, put on the makeup and went to the game, without anyone even taking a second to realize that what they were doing would be incredibly offensive to millions of people.

That, my friends, is what happens when young people are not educated.  Arizona State University should be embarrassed for this behavior.  But given the racially-disgusting behavior of university officials in the past, they are probably quite proud.

Staff Writer; Dr. Boyce Watkins

Dr. Boyce Watkins is the founder of the Your Black World Coalition. For more information, please visit http://BoyceWatkins.com.

 


Comments

13 Responses to “Dr. Boyce Watkins; Arizona State University Students Wear Black Faces to a NCAA Football Game?”
  1. Sue says:

    Even if these girls were only participating in the blackout, it certainly shows what they are taught at ASU — it shows lack of sensitivity towards others. If one of these were my child, I would seriously reconsider sending her back to an university that promotes this insensitivity — that they were even allowed in the stadium speaks volumes. In the end the university might learn when a wave of HS seniors decide not to attend – again, I say might.

  2. coco loco says:

    i’m an asu alum, and i am african american and jewish, and i was totally bummed by the blackoutface women. and the point is, i would like to enjoy watching the game without the sting of racism. obviously, the sting is my problem. but why does it have to hurt to watch a football game? it only takes one person in blackoutface on the t.v. at some alumni wine mixer to make folks like me feel like The Negro in the room. it’s just uncalled for. poor judgment on the part of sundevil stadium officials, because it is an image that will stay with asu for a long time. and honestly, if i was a high school senior watching that game and thinking about applying to asu, i would reconsider the application. that’s a bummer. i for sure took the sticker off my car. i am ashamed at the gesture, even more so if those women were just too stupid to know what they were doing…and to one of the posters who suggests that one of those women is “black already”….uh, seriously? lol. right.

  3. Jim says:

    Arizona State University has declined to grant honorary degrees to many caucasians as well. President Obama is as caucasian as he is African American.

  4. Jim says:

    Thanks Nicholas! I bet there are members of the University of Arizona’s football team who’d like to transfer to another school, but I doubt it has anything to do with the topics discussed on this page *LOL*

  5. Nicholas says:

    Any University Of Arizona football player would only have to partition the NCAA for permission to transfer, based on the disrespectful and insensitive climate that prevails at that school. There are a number of schools that you can receive a quality education, get respect, appreciation and play football. See a list of those Universities below:
    1. South Carolina State
    2. Gramling State
    3. Albany State
    4. Tuskegee
    5. Bethune-Cookman
    6. Hampton
    7. Jackson State
    8. Winston-Salem State
    9. Morehouse
    10. Tennessee State
    12. St. Augustine’s
    13. Florida A&M
    14. Norfolk State
    15. Shaw
    16. Texas Southern
    Among others

  6. Nicholas says:

    Any University Of Arizona football player would only have to partition the NCAA for permission to transfer, based on the disrespectful and insensitive climate that prevails at that school. There are a number of schools that you can receive a quality education, get respect, appreciation and play football. See a list of those Universities below:
    1. South Carolina State
    2. Gramling State
    3. Albany State
    4. Tuskegee
    5. Bethune-Cookman
    6. Hampton
    7. Jackson State
    8. Winston-Salem State
    9. Morehouse
    10. Tennessee State
    12. St. Augustine’s
    13. Florida A&M
    14. Norfolk State
    15. Shaw
    16. Texas Southern

  7. Jeff says:

    WOW! Really? So everyone at Arizona State University is racist because 4 girls decided to wear black faces to a “blackout” football game? They couldn’t possibly just be showing school spirit. Did you bother to look at the picture and realize that one of the girls (second from the right) is actually African-American? Clearly she was making a racial statement!

  8. Jim says:

    I am an alumnus of Arizona State University. The girls pictured above likely don’t know what blackface is and I doubt their makeup was meant as a racial slight. As you noted, the game was referred to as a “Black Out” to celebrate the football team’s new black uniforms. Even if the pictured ASU fans meant to be provocative, why would you malign all those associated with one of the nation’s largest universities for the ignorance and/or racial insensitivity of a few? Can you really stand by the comment that some university officials are “probably quite proud” of the pictured spectators? I think you’re looking too hard for something to post about.

  9. Renee says:

    @Chris

    Either you must be white or an ignorant black person. Yeah, okay. So, if someone shows up in clothing or makeup that is historically offensive to Jews, Asians, and etc., then it’s okay right? Gotta love you people. It’s always no big deal when blacks are the target. It always black people being told to stop taking everything the wrong way and “let it go.” It’s always blacks being told to stop “clinging” to the past for imagery that is offensive to us. All other races are allow to honor their history and would never tolerate anything that is offensive to their people. Yet, I find it interesting how EVERYONE (regardless of race) are so quick to tell black people to stop manifesting this “insane” notion of racism in our minds. Sighs. Typical.

  10. Nicholas says:

    These young ladies did this to get attention, they were not trying to do harm. However,like the man who showed up at a political rally of a party he opposed, and the hate spewing talk show hosts broadcasting on radio and television daily, they feel comfortable due to the prevailing tone of the state and at the University. ASU does indeed depend on its football and basketball team to bring in money for the University. What does the schools atheletic recruirters say to prospects when they vist atheletes in their homes to convince parents to attend Arozona State University, to get the education needed to prepare them for life. There are plenty schools where they would be respected and appreciated. A traditionally black University in most cases whould be a better choice.

  11. Can’t say I care either way.

  12. Yeah_I_ said_ it!! says:

    @Chris

    That’s the same lame excuse many so-called TV pundits used to defend Tea Party members when paraded around in racist clothing and props. Many of these bigots were even interviewed on camera openly expressing their racist beliefs against black people and they were given every pass imaginable by media experts as if nothing bad happened.

  13. chris says:

    these girls were only supporting their football team! Nothing more guys! I find it really hard to believe that they were trying to do something harmful!!!

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