News
Despite a warning from one organizer that attendees should "prepare to be offended," a discussion yesterday on how to deal with the unintentional use of racially offensive language featured not a single derogatory racial term.
Instead, the talk -- titled "Put Yo' Foot In Yo' Mouth" -- explored less clear-cut examples of offensive remarks, focusing on ownership issues and where to draw the line between colloquial and offensive use of racially-charged language.
In one segment of the discussion, Jared Alessandroni '03 showed the audience a website -- www.blackpeopleloveus.com -- which uses satire to criticize majority attitudes toward blacks.
Audience members, however, were divided over whether the website went too far to achieve its goal.
"I think it's meant to be a joke, but it's definitely not for everyone," one student said.
Even if the website were serious, and reflected the unintentionally racist attitudes of its creators, another student cautioned that ignorance "does not equal maliciousness," and that people can hold an inherently racist point of view without hateful intent.
Another speaker, Jonathan Hollander '03, who is white, read an excerpt from the work of Asian American comedian Margaret Cho.
The chosen selection, which included stereotypical views of Asians, took on new meaning when read by Hollander, according to some audience members.
"It sounds more racist" when read by a white person, one student said.
