2008 Woodie Awards
Hate crimes shock students
Nick Jones
Issue date: 4/15/08 Section: Opinion
On the night of April 10, a culprit vandalized many of Derek Pierre's signs, as well as co-candidate Jonathan T. White. That morning of April 11, I was working at the Advising Career and EOP (ACE) office from 9 a.m. - 10 a.m. I remember leaving our morning meeting, and walking to the laminating machine. A co-worker was going to train us on how to use it. Not knowing, not expecting, and not assuming that my Friday morning would result in such a derogatory and negative experience.
On our way to the laminating machine I walked right past the candidate signs, they were lying on the floor. My manager looked down and said, "Who did this to Derek, this is terrible?"
The other members of the office looked down with disgusted faces, and I walked back to the location of the signs. I looked down, and there were Derek's signs lying there with spray paint sprawled across his name. The one on top said, "Nigg," it looked like they ran out of room to right the entire word. I glanced at the sign underneath that one; it said, "White Power." I turned it over and as plain as day, I saw, "Nigger," spray painted across Derek's name. I was so shocked, numb, and in disbelief, that I could not even get mad.
The strangest thing about it is that it was Derek of all people. I know the history of the word. Its true meaning is an ignorant, miserly, and lazy individual; a 2nd class citizen - the exact opposite of Derek Pierre. It meant to me that Dr. MLK's assassination 40 years ago in April of 1968 meant nothing. That spray paint to me meant, that it does not matter how educated, how accomplished, or how much contribution a black man makes to this country; he is still a "nigger". To some people in America, Obama, no matter how smart, intelligent, and well spoken, is still a "nigger." It is sad to see that even at the premiere Liberal Arts School in the CSU System, these things still happen.
My problem is that these events are not minute ones. These events are serious. Because when racial slurs and epithets are used with the intent to hurt, emotions and perceptions change. The emotions brought out by a word like this could be so strong that a rational black man may do something vastly out of character because of the anger he feels; this could lead to his own detriment. Comments such as these create rage in some people that it cannot be controlled, and sometimes they act out of justified rage, which may lead to them doing illegal acts - myself included.
In this SSU incident, I reacted in a negative manner, and I apologize if my angry rampage frightened anyone, but I do not think I was wrong for being mad, simply wrong for the way I handled my anger. If we continue to not react and accept actions as these, simply sweeping them under the rug, it will continue to happen, and happen more frequently to a larger collection of individuals. Not only was Derek Pierre attacked, but the culprit attacked Jonathan White's dignity as well, by writing "White Power" on one of his signs.
This issue is being addressed by several student leaders from various aspects of life. Student Interns from the CCGS, ASI Candidates, cultural club members including: BSU, Mecha, FASSU, QSA. It has even been addressed by President Arminana, the SSU Police, and the Star Newspaper. It is a tragedy to see that something like this happens, however, it is exciting to see that so many people have come together to alleviate the problem.
On our way to the laminating machine I walked right past the candidate signs, they were lying on the floor. My manager looked down and said, "Who did this to Derek, this is terrible?"
The other members of the office looked down with disgusted faces, and I walked back to the location of the signs. I looked down, and there were Derek's signs lying there with spray paint sprawled across his name. The one on top said, "Nigg," it looked like they ran out of room to right the entire word. I glanced at the sign underneath that one; it said, "White Power." I turned it over and as plain as day, I saw, "Nigger," spray painted across Derek's name. I was so shocked, numb, and in disbelief, that I could not even get mad.
The strangest thing about it is that it was Derek of all people. I know the history of the word. Its true meaning is an ignorant, miserly, and lazy individual; a 2nd class citizen - the exact opposite of Derek Pierre. It meant to me that Dr. MLK's assassination 40 years ago in April of 1968 meant nothing. That spray paint to me meant, that it does not matter how educated, how accomplished, or how much contribution a black man makes to this country; he is still a "nigger". To some people in America, Obama, no matter how smart, intelligent, and well spoken, is still a "nigger." It is sad to see that even at the premiere Liberal Arts School in the CSU System, these things still happen.
My problem is that these events are not minute ones. These events are serious. Because when racial slurs and epithets are used with the intent to hurt, emotions and perceptions change. The emotions brought out by a word like this could be so strong that a rational black man may do something vastly out of character because of the anger he feels; this could lead to his own detriment. Comments such as these create rage in some people that it cannot be controlled, and sometimes they act out of justified rage, which may lead to them doing illegal acts - myself included.
In this SSU incident, I reacted in a negative manner, and I apologize if my angry rampage frightened anyone, but I do not think I was wrong for being mad, simply wrong for the way I handled my anger. If we continue to not react and accept actions as these, simply sweeping them under the rug, it will continue to happen, and happen more frequently to a larger collection of individuals. Not only was Derek Pierre attacked, but the culprit attacked Jonathan White's dignity as well, by writing "White Power" on one of his signs.
This issue is being addressed by several student leaders from various aspects of life. Student Interns from the CCGS, ASI Candidates, cultural club members including: BSU, Mecha, FASSU, QSA. It has even been addressed by President Arminana, the SSU Police, and the Star Newspaper. It is a tragedy to see that something like this happens, however, it is exciting to see that so many people have come together to alleviate the problem.
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