Panelists discussed whether racism can be accidental in an "xTalk" hosted by the Undergraduate Deans Office on Wednesday. Dean of the College Charlotte Johnson, English professor Jeff Sharlet, Robert Esnard '14 and Kamiar Coffey '16 used the recent Brad Paisley and LL Cool J song "Accidental Racist" as a jumping-off point for the discussion.
In the song, Paisley questions whether stereotyping people based on their physical appearance and clothing choices is acceptable.
While Paisley attempted to start a conversation, Sharlet said some of the symbols he chose to use in the lyrics were problematic, including a Lynyrd Skynyrd shirt with a Confederate flag and gold chains.
"The Confederate flag is a flattening symbol," Sharlet said. "The flag is not there to engage people in conversation. It is deadening."
Johnson critcized Paisley for equating a political symbol with a person's fashion choice.
"There is a difference between clothing and beliefs," Johnson said.
Esnard said he felt like the song was trying to avoid a more difficult conversation by ignoring the role that the past plays in current discussions about race relationships.
The panelists discussed how clothing can function as a symbol, both in the broader world and at Dartmouth specifically. Esnard said that people can use clothing to make a statement.
"Clothing can be used as a type of identity," he said.
Esnard used class jerseys as an example for how Dartmouth students can use clothing to display a sort of "nationalism" based on affiliation to the College. He said students can feel a lot of pressure to buy a jersey in order to be a "real" Dartmouth student.
The panelists also discussed whether it is possible for racism to be accidental or if it is always intentional.
Coffey said he thinks most people who say or do racist things tend not to be inherently racist.
"I think that most racism you see is a product of ignorance," he said. "I try to avoid calling people racist."
Many people may be conditioned to believe racist stereotypes are true or accidentally do something problematic, Esnard said.
Johnson said people who act in bigoted ways tend to have different levels of self-awareness, and those levels determine if they are truly racist.
She did say, however, that she believes there are people who are inherently racist.
"I believe there are racist individuals," Johnson said. "Those people do exist."
The panelists discussed ways students at the College can begin effective conversations about racism and other issues.
Esnard said people who start dialogues have to be aware that they have the privilege of defining what is normal within the conversation.
Sharlet, meanwhile, said people must be careful about what dialogues they choose to engage in and, in some cases, dialogue might not be the most effective strategy.
"Dialogue is not always possible," he said. "We can't hold it up as the only ideal."
Johnson said one of the best ways students can combat existing racism is by becoming an active bystander and making the choice to speak up when they see problematic behavior.
"Don't stand back," Johnson said. "Be active."
Coffey is a staff columnist for The Dartmouth.
