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Now black alumni of Harvard and Yale are mistaken as "gang bangers" outside of an exclusive New England club? There is obviously something suspicious in the whites-only water fountains in "Bahstahn."On Saturday evening, following the annual Harvard-Yale game, African American alumni of the two Ivy League institutions were waiting in line to enter a guest list-only event when they became the punchline of America's institutionalized racism immortalized by Malcolm X:
What does the white man call a black man with a Ph.D?
"A ni**er."
Despite being reassured by the event's organizers that strict guidelines were implemented when planning the highly anticipated gathering, the club owners demanded that the guests show student ID -- ridiculous considering they were alumni -- and then eventually shut down the entire club.
"Management called the owner to say that they saw individuals on line whom they recognized as 'local gang bangers,'" wrote event organizer and Harvard alum Micheal Beal. "We were perceived as a threat because of our skin color."
This is not the first time that black students have been profiled and stereotyped at the "Kremlin on the Charles." In May 2007, Harvard University police demanded that a gathering of black student organizations show identification on the campus green. While it is extremely disturbing that in the year 2010, African American students are still considered menaces on their own campus, it is far from surprising.
What is more disappointing is that it took a routine incident of racial profiling to remind Beal of his blackness, and yet he still leaves this experience with the belief that the club owner "is not a racist."
I do not share his belief.
I am also not so convinced of Beal's sensitivity to his black brothers and sisters who did not attend Harvard or Yale.
In an e-mail circulated by Beal on behalf of himself, Kwame Owusu-Kesse and Brandon Terry, founders of the Triumph organization, Beale speaks first of his annoyance as a "Harvard Business School student" at the financial loss he would incur due to the club's "rash decision."
Then he expresses his displeasure that his friends missed out on an opportunity to "reconnect with old friends."
Then, and only then, does he acknowledge that as a "black man" he is saddened that "our crowd representing the pinnacle of academic achievement as Harvard and Yale College alumni, Law, Medical, Business and Ph.D. students, were perceived as a threat because of our skin color."
He also expresses that they went to great lengths to ensure that "bad seeds" did not crash the party, such as those "local gang bangers" they were mistaken for.
He feels that being alumni and graduate students of Harvard or Yale should "speak for itself."
How sad.
How absolutely pathetic that an educated person feels he has so assimilated into Ivy League culture that he should never be confused for the "local gang bangers." He does not acknowledge the prejudice in just that statement alone.
Instead, he feeds into the racist perceptions of the club owners by agreeing that if black people were not on the esteemed Harvard-Yale guest list, they might indeed be criminals.
When will we learn that we are our brothers' keepers? When will we accept that an injustice anywhere, is a threat to justice everywhere -- and one doesn't need a degree to make it unfair.
W.E.B. Du Bois speaks of the importance of education in African American communities in 'The Talented Tenth':
"The Negro race, like all races, is going to be saved by its exceptional men. The problem of education, then, among Negroes must first of all deal with the Talented Tenth; it is the problem of developing the Best of this race that they may guide the Mass away from the contamination and death of the Worst."
Those of us who are college educated have a right and a responsibility to uplift and empower those in our communities who have not been fortunate enough, whether because of economical or environmental reasons, to attain a higher formal education. We should not fall into the trap of re-enforcing the potential of violence based on the color of a person's skin. Especially when it mirrors our own.
Ironically, it was Juan Williams, recently fired from NPR after his controversial statements on 'The O'Reilly Factor,' who crystallizes the form of racism exhibited by the club owners, though Beal disagrees:
"Racism is a lazy man's substitute for using good judgment. Common sense becomes racism when skin color becomes a formula for figuring out who is a danger to me."
At the end of George Orwell's classic novel 'Animal Farm,' there is a powerful moment when the animals on the farm look through the window of the farmer's house and see the pigs sitting around the table wearing clothes and walking on two legs, transformed into the human oppressors they promised they led the animals against.
Education and opportunity does strange things to people, and Harvard graduates are no exception. Beal states he "[learned lessons] and we will never make these mistakes again if we ever do another event."
I hope that if they do another event, they will choose to patronize an African American-owned venue instead of one where they are considered "gang bangers" by virtue of their birth.
Comments: (92)
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By: dre on 11/23/2010 11:06AM
Somehow, the pinnacle of higher academic achievement should elevate us above people of lesser intellectual pursuits. We're offended when a lesser educated business owner chooses to stand on his (or her) beliefs? Do our credentials automatically shield us from any behavior that we perceive as offensive? Or, do our egos somehow blind us from the reality of an imperfect world? If we're so quick to jump on the "I'm a victim" bandwagon, then it stands to reason that we are all dues-paying members of those organizations which tirelessly work to educate and improve the lives of all individuals, regardless of the titles and accolades we so proudly wear. I just happen to be an African American gentleman who has achieved the title of doctor but I do not blindly think that it will elevate me somehow above others. If there is any indication that I am not a welcome guest in an establishment, I will choose NOT to patronize it. Choose your battles, educate the masses and drop the victim mentality while you dust off your bruised egos.
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By: Caregiver 1 on 11/24/2010 12:02PM
Some of your responses are really hard to believe. Especially when taken in the context of those offered by the "doctor" and others stating the victims were the assuming that mantle unnecessarily. This situation speaks on the growing incidences of overt racism where whites feel empowered to yell "you're a liar" to a sitting president of the USA and wage a national election campaign with a slogan that extolls whites to "take their country back". It is utter ignorance on the "doctor's" and others parts to support those wronged people to "vote with their feet" and not patronize the establishment in the future. Those people were not patronizing that establishment in the first place. Those businesses were not depending on their (blacks) spending to survive and prosper currently. That is why they felt so comfortable calling the police and having the blacks rousted during an event that was "supposed" to be open to anyone that had the necessary credentials...namely a degree from those institutions. Would you also feel that a person that was injured trying to escape a fire should just pack his belongings and move when it was shown the fire was deliberately started by an arsonist? There should be some consequences to an act that seeks at it core, to disturb or create discord when none is warranted and that diminishes the common good. This incident was fueled by a short sighted, self-rightous bigot that has found an outside cause for their failings...the black man. Grow up and evolve. Peace
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By: AL on 11/28/2010 1:18PM
Interesting perspective dre.
As to the Mr Gates it was in fact his neighbor, not a random passerby, who called the police. When the police showed up he (Gates) began showing his ass and did not follow their instructions. Not even Obama's whitehouse lawn beer party could get the police Sgt. to apologize because he did nothing wrong.
As to the alumni they smelled like weed and were in fact sagging their pants. But all you hangers on didn't know that did you.
Get the entire story before you attempt leading others down your path of lies.
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By: dre on 11/28/2010 6:05PM
To Caregiver 1 and AL: To hell with supporting the individual. lease compare the history of our race to that of other races brutally maligned in practically every respect. Then, compare and contrast the progress (with racial cohesion) of the races. Pay particular attention to the level of family strength and attempts to educate each member financially. Where do we stand? Most establishments that are owned by racist pigs are in areas where our forefathers worked. Why do we not own establishments in those areas? Why should we support those establishments? Are you defending our non-ownership of institutions? Do we always have to patronize as opposed to owning? Please also consider the lack of investment or the insanely brief amount of time that money from a cashed paycheck stays in the black community. You want to support the ego? I suggest you support black families and education and financial empowerment collectively, not INDIVIDUALLY. Since the emancipation proclamation, have we prepared for the big test? You know, the one where rock solid support (educational, financial, familial) of a black president would not tolerate idiots yelling at him? That gentleman would know better, based on the constituency which financially supports his election. Check out the statistics on elected congressmen and women and the financial demographics which allow them to say and do what they want. They could care less about insulting us. They will always get away with it. Why? Because we suffer from a self-imposed POWERLESSNESS and we cry when we are called out of our names, when funding to our communities is cut or negative statistics are published. My point is about proactivity and ownership of OUR right to COLLECTIVELY exist and decisively chart our OWN path. Who cares about a national election campaign extolling whites to take their country back? This is OUR country, built on the backs of OUR forefathers. Why should we be worried about that crap? Why should we ALWAYS cry victim? We are NO LESS than any other race on this earth? We are an intelligent race of people that will no longer suffer the ravages of slavery or the injustices of indentured servitude. Why haven’t WE taken advantage of familial, educational and financial ownership of AMERICA? Why, why, why?
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By: Carla on 11/29/2010 7:48AM
Hello dre I am an African-American who have obtained a graduate degree and what you say is 100% correct blacks have learned nothing from the bus boycott plain and simple when a black people stop spending our money with establishments that disrespect us racism will end overnight. $585 billion dollars of wealth is in the hands of African-Americans making us the 10th wealth worth people in the world but we complain about being disrespected, when that type of money speaks for itself. Most of this wealth instead of staying in our hands annually go to other races.
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By: Tek_Knowledge on 11/29/2010 12:57PM
Carla,
I agree. If nonwhites did not economically participate in the system that would go a long way to ending this system of oppression.
I have a second suggestion though,
Not only is economics a large controlling force whites have over nonwhites, sexual intercourse is as well.
Establish your own businesses (and include whites in patronage and employment, unlike what they like to do)
Boycott white businesses who don't serve your interests
And most of all, no sex with white people until the system of White supremacy is resolved.
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By: summerfield01 on 11/23/2010 11:09AM
Stereotypes happen for a reason....obviously there was a precedent set by others before. Until we blacks can stop being racist ourselves against whites then I don't feel we should be pointing out their racism. We must first cast the stone out of our own eye before we can see clearly to cast the stone out of their eye. We have evolved to be more racist than whites and thats a fact. We hold grudges for something we never experienced. I don't see jewish people committing crimes and standing in welfare lines blaming the germans. We could possibly face our own demise if we continue down this road of hatred. I'm tired of blaming others for my own shortcomings....are you?
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By: girlking on 11/23/2010 12:43PM
Summerfield01, stop hiding and pretending that you're African-American. Have the courage to identify yourself for the white person that you are. Shame on you.
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By: clarke on 11/23/2010 2:46PM
YOU ARE RIGHT ON THE MONEY WITH THIS ONE girlking, ISN'T IF FUNNY HOW WHITE PEOPLE CLAIM THEY CAN'T SEE RACISM EVEN WHEN IT SMACKS THEIR DUMB ASSES RIGHT IN THE FACE. JUST LIKE THOSE ON THE OTHER ARTICLE ABOUT THE POSTAL WORKER ASKING "WHY DID HE VIDEOTAPE HER?", "WHY DIDN'T HE JUST LEAVE?". OH YEAH THEY MUST BE MAD CAUSE HE HAD WHATS CALLED EVIDENCE(SEE WE SPOSE TO BE STUPID) YOU KNOW HER ASS WOULD HAVE CALLED HIM ALL KIND OF BLACK LIES IF HE HADN'T HAD THAT TAPE, BUT SOME WANT TO ACT LIKE HE DID SOMETHING WRONG. THESE PEOPLE ARE FREAKING AMAZING.
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By: dell on 11/24/2010 8:31AM
Summerfield is Black Voices your life?? Can you stop repeating that same paragraph over and over again, nobody cares, LOL!!!
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