Why is this such a big deal?

[moonwick]

Why is this such a big deal? Does the world not have enough real problems to focus on that we have to go nuts over something as idiotic as an algebra test that mentions "Condoleeza" and "watermelon

Comments

[ghewgill]

I see a physics quiz. What's the issue?

[moonwick]

Sorry... just revised the post (and changed the URL to something more informative) so it actually has a point. :)

[ghewgill]

I don't get it. How is that considered racist? Just because the teacher used the name of a prominent African-American political figure in an example question?

[cowbert]

Because there used to be a semi-racist stereotype that black people only ever liked fried chicken and watermelon. Like the brouhaha over Tiger Woods being served collard greens at the country club.

[roseneko]

I'm sort of curious as to what the problem is, myself. Where's the "institutional racism"? Using the name "Condoleezza" in a fictional context has nothing to do with race, just like using "Professor Flunkem" isn't discriminatory against algebra teachers.

And the sheer fact that this has "caused an uproar" is, like you mentioned, sad. I mean, geez.

[goulo]

Except "Professor Flunkem" is obviously a fictional person, whereas "Condoleezza" at a Federal Building obviously relates to the real person.

Using the name "Condoleezza" per se wasn't what was considered racist; it was the link with the old stereotype of watermelons. Perhaps a clearer example of why one might regard the question as at least insensitive would be if it said "Condoleezza is picking cotton in the fields near the Federal Building at the rate of 5 plants per minute..." Or if the math problem said some famous Jewish name and linked it to a Jewish stereotype, e.g. "Yehuda is changing money at the temple and charging 20% interest..."

[roseneko]

Insensitive, maybe, but not racist. There's no discrimination being practiced here. And to be honest, I don't think this is any worse than (say) offering a black person fried chicken at a picnic when you're offering it to everyone else, too - a watermelon is just something big and heavy that's fun to watch go splat. :)

And I still think this is incredibly stupid for any kind of brouhaha, let alone this much.

[jasolater]

This is just dumb.

I watched a lady last night on TV sceaming about "institutionalized racism" in the context of the Katrina disaster.

The thing is, if they believe that this little incident is another example of that, is it even possible to convince them otherwise? If they're already convinced that this is a fact, then how do you change thier minds?

Sometimes the cries of "racism" are carried to the extreme, this bugs me.

[belleaire]

What I really want to know is -- how long WOULD it take for the watermelon to pass her?

The question was insensitive. It must have been a slow newsday.