Claiming that the fact that Maria Sharapova earns more money through endorsement contracts (note, NOT prize winnings) than Serena Williams is in any way racial discrimination is absurd. Commercial contracts are strongly influenced by personality, popularity, physical appearance and sportsmanship of the player. Maria Sharapova is not just a beauty queen, she is a tennis ambassador and a very positive example of sportsmanship and mental strength. Serena Williams, on the other hand, often acts over dramatically negative on court and is known to be a sore looser, attributing opponent's success to luck rather than skill. Compare this to the commercial earnings of Marion Bartoli, a former top 10 player who even won Wimbledon, and yet was the only top ranked female player without endorsements. In an interview, Bartoli claimed she "still had to buy shoes in a store, like any other person". According to this logic, if she were black, it would be racism. Except it wasn't: she was just not seen by the companies as someone who can move product, though I personally was always rooting for her. Racial discrimination is a serious subject but we cannot create a society where any negative emotion toward a black person or negative opinion of a black person is automatically attributed to racism.
If black students wish to mature and receive an education in an environment free of racist episodes and micro aggressions, why not attend an HBCU instead of a majority-white institution? I am serious. A lot of these children do not appear ready to leave their parents' homes and fend for themselves in a not yet post-racial world. Attending an integrated high school (which pretty much everyone does) is not the same as going to college and living with people from different races/cultures. These student might feel more comfortable at a Howard, Spelman, Benedict, Bethune Cookman et al and not feel the need for safe spaces, well racial safe spaces.
2
I think it's interesting that many dissenting comments about this article focus on the opening - the Sharapova and Williams example. Yes, there are plenty of reasons why these two woman might have different endorsement deals. But to suggest that race isn't one of them is putting one's head in the sand. Surely it has some bearing if only linked to percentages of the population of whites vs blacks with enough disposable income and inclination that buy the things being endorsed. Introducing the notion that something such as beauty is culturally grounded can only be for the good of these students. What matters in this article is it tells the story of a university setting aside the time and space to bring people together to discuss issues of race. This country lacks the language, history and practice of dealing with difference especially as it relates to race. It's just a fact and it's lead to far too many abuses and much misery. However awkward, fumbling or transcendent the efforts may be, this work is to be applauded. We need it across all sectors of our civil society. To deny this - well I think it's racist.
Too often it's how we relegate segments of the population to specific roles in society. Major universities often have a high percentage of it's black student body accepted as athletes. The general student population accepts this, and strongly supports it especially if their athletic teams succeed. Finding minorities in unfamiliar roles is another matter, and one not easily accepted. Our current president learned just how intrenched the matter of accepted roles played out over the past seven years.
Why is Misti Copeland probably the most popular ballerina in the US right now even though the majority of ballerinas are white? She's black, muscular, and beautiful and is making lots of money outside of her ballet career. How many other ballerinas can say that? Her success in gaining the attention of advertisers and the public would seem to be a counter example to the one about the tennis stars presented to the students.
7
While Dr. Brooks's and his colleagues' campaign to raise awareness about the factors that contribute to racism is sorely needed, his claim that different standards of beauty are responsible for the difference between Maria Sharapova's and Serena Williams' endorsement incomes is way off the mark. What standards of beauty? Where are they documented and are they officially binding? If there are standards of beauty, I'm not aware of them and neither is 99.999% of the rest of the world. We all know that "beauty is in the eye of the beholder" and when I see a woman who is beautiful I don't make any distinctions based on race. It's a gut feeling and the woman that I deem beautiful either is or isn't, regardless of race. Dr. Brooks' example is purely academic and has nothing to do with the real world.
BTW, I think Serena Williams is very attractive - butt and muscles included.
BTW, I think Serena Williams is very attractive - butt and muscles included.
The author is wrong. It is not race. Tiger Woods was in the top 5 all time endorsed athletes of all time. Tiger Woods is Black. He was endorsed for two reasons: he was perhaps the greatest player ever and he is handsome. Serena Williams does not fit the standard definition of beauty, while Maria Sharipova looks like a model, tall, willowy, and "beautiful". Blame lookism if you want, but to say this is racism is ignorant.
8
Tiger Woods does not consider himself to be black; if I recall correctly, he described himself as "Cablinasian." Whether he is handsome or Sharapova or Williams is attractive is a matter of opinion. I have no idea what the "standard definition of beauty" is, can you elaborate? I don't believe you can without invoking cultural or racial nuances.
4
If they had the money, universities could offer some free meals where people are seated with strangers at small tables.
1
Complete and utter nonsense.
Forbes highest paid athletes for 2015 shows that in 2015, 5 blacks made the Top 10 list including #1 overall, Floyd Mayweather.
The Top American on the list is LeBron James coming in at #6. It might suggest that worldwide the sports and athletes Americans watch fanatically are not the same as abroad.
Maybe the $10MM more in endorsements that Sharapova snagged in 2015 has more to say about her brand, her agent or the markets she's in. Maybe its because Serena dedicates more time to other business ventures not included in pay/salary and endorsements, what we know it is 100% not about is race.
If I were forced to sit through this class I would be staging my own protest.
Forbes highest paid athletes for 2015 shows that in 2015, 5 blacks made the Top 10 list including #1 overall, Floyd Mayweather.
The Top American on the list is LeBron James coming in at #6. It might suggest that worldwide the sports and athletes Americans watch fanatically are not the same as abroad.
Maybe the $10MM more in endorsements that Sharapova snagged in 2015 has more to say about her brand, her agent or the markets she's in. Maybe its because Serena dedicates more time to other business ventures not included in pay/salary and endorsements, what we know it is 100% not about is race.
If I were forced to sit through this class I would be staging my own protest.
12
Although i do not agree with your assessment that it is 100% not about race, i do agree there are other factors involved as well. Men are paid more than woman as a general example, and blond white females are paid more than non blond white females in media as well. On the other hand brunette females are attributed as being smarter than blond females, taller people are better leaders than short people, etc. We humans all have bias and we should recognize them at least and not say something is 100% not about race or sex or etc....
1
Why did (and does) Michael Jordan make far more in endorsement money than Barry Bonds?
Mr. Jordan was (and is) handsome, photogenic and incredibly likable on camera. Mr. Bonds, on the other hand, did everything he could to make people in the media and advertising industry dislike him.
On the court Ms. Williams has made far more money than Ms. Sharapova because Ms. Williams is a far better tennis player. In print ads, Ms. Sharapova makes more money because she looks like a better fashion model.
There are actors all over America who are far better at their art than some of the pretty actors who have shelves full of awards and overflowing bank accounts. Why aren't these great artists rich? They aren't as pretty.
That which appears at first glance to be unfairness isn't always about race and when you make it only about race you do a tremendous disservice to all sorts of people.
Mr. Jordan was (and is) handsome, photogenic and incredibly likable on camera. Mr. Bonds, on the other hand, did everything he could to make people in the media and advertising industry dislike him.
On the court Ms. Williams has made far more money than Ms. Sharapova because Ms. Williams is a far better tennis player. In print ads, Ms. Sharapova makes more money because she looks like a better fashion model.
There are actors all over America who are far better at their art than some of the pretty actors who have shelves full of awards and overflowing bank accounts. Why aren't these great artists rich? They aren't as pretty.
That which appears at first glance to be unfairness isn't always about race and when you make it only about race you do a tremendous disservice to all sorts of people.
18
You make an excellent point that "pretty" is the defining point and I get that life is not always fair. But keeping with your pretty example, what does "pretty" mean? A tall thin blonde? Given that criteria then Ms. Williams is at a decided disadvantage because she cannot change to fit that criteria. I think that is the point. Everyone will not become a millionaire or be President but once one recognizes the hidden prejudices it brings us one step closer to a level playing field so the ones that will can reach their destiny.
On the flip side, I think blacks also need to understand that it is difficult to get a degree of understanding from another person when you start from a position of accusing. Yes, at times it can be a heavy burden to always have to explain, but it can be done... one person at a time.
On the flip side, I think blacks also need to understand that it is difficult to get a degree of understanding from another person when you start from a position of accusing. Yes, at times it can be a heavy burden to always have to explain, but it can be done... one person at a time.
2
The professor teaches: "Maria is considered a beauty queen, but by what standards of beauty? Some people might just say, ‘Oh, well, she’s just prettier.’ Well, according to whom? This spells out how we see beauty in terms of race, this idea of femininity. Serena is often spoofed for her big butt. She’s seen as too muscular.”
And we all thought the humanities couldn't be debased any further.
And we all thought the humanities couldn't be debased any further.
12
Try theater. During segregation days we always played the classics without regard to race -- Williams, Albee, Shakespeare, Miller, Inge, Ibsen -- we had to do so, because there were no whites around. We simply explored humanity in some of its complex guises in an effort to come as close as we could to the playwright's vision. In the crucible of the classroom, have white students play classic black roles -- Lena Younger and Walter Lee in "A Raisin in the Sun," or Troy Maxson in August Wilson's "Fences," or even King in his "King Hedley II." Have them explore the world of a black man or woman struggling for dignity in a world that despises them, and then let the discussions begin. What better way in a classroom to explore the nature of the human condition for those who are not like you? Perhaps we can then read of a setting in which these "race talks" actually get somewhere.
2
Get rid of affirmative action / diversity and white students will not assume that the black students on campus are dumber than they are. You can't fill up campuses with lesser qualified applicants and then demand that they be viewed in the same light as highly qualified applicants.
12
How about we also get rid of legacy applicants too? Wouldn't that also be merit-based? No Kapan test coaching either.
4
Thank you LMCA you heard my thoughts. The focus is on the black students but "C" legacy students like George Bush get a pass. We all know about someone's uncle, cousin, or friend who beat out better candidates, but it is only when the black guy shows up that "merit" becomes an issue.
6
Yes, but we all know that legacies bring in money that's used for campus upgrades and scholarships. So I'd keep some legacies in there.
1
Is racism a problem in society? On the U of MO campus? You wouldn’t believe so if you read only the first few paragraphs of this story. But read to the end, and it becomes more obvious that racism is driving a lot of irrational fear in people.
What is the source of the white student’s fears? She was not a target of the die-in. She was not the target of a racial slur, yet she was “terrified” to leave the cafeteria? “Afraid” to get up from her seat? She “feared” she would be called “racist” if she did? She was in a very public place in the middle of the day, not alone at night.
Mr. Middleton attempts to equate her fears to those of black students: “We need to think through why she felt unsafe and understand that she did feel unsafe and deal with that. Just as we’re asking the white population to deal with the fear a black student has walking across campus.”
No, what we need to do is examine why irrational fear, fear rooted in prejudice, is acceptable and deserves validation when felt by whites but justifiable fear, fear rooted in experience, is characterized as an overreaction when felt by blacks. When whites feel justified in purchasing more guns because they irrationally believe a Black President is going to take their guns away any day now, that’s an irrational fear rooted in prejudice, not experience. When prejudice drives the fear rather than experience, that’s racism.
What is the source of the white student’s fears? She was not a target of the die-in. She was not the target of a racial slur, yet she was “terrified” to leave the cafeteria? “Afraid” to get up from her seat? She “feared” she would be called “racist” if she did? She was in a very public place in the middle of the day, not alone at night.
Mr. Middleton attempts to equate her fears to those of black students: “We need to think through why she felt unsafe and understand that she did feel unsafe and deal with that. Just as we’re asking the white population to deal with the fear a black student has walking across campus.”
No, what we need to do is examine why irrational fear, fear rooted in prejudice, is acceptable and deserves validation when felt by whites but justifiable fear, fear rooted in experience, is characterized as an overreaction when felt by blacks. When whites feel justified in purchasing more guns because they irrationally believe a Black President is going to take their guns away any day now, that’s an irrational fear rooted in prejudice, not experience. When prejudice drives the fear rather than experience, that’s racism.
8
What makes you think the women did not have experiences that justified her fear. I have gone to public schools with large African american populations as well as having sent my children to schools with the same. My experience as to who does the bullying and who is extremly physically aggressive would give me reason to fear.
4
There will never be equal numbers of whites and blacks since we do not have equal populations of whites (72%) and blacks (13%) in America.
There will never be equality as long as blacks have freedom of speech and whites do not. Black person can say something like "we need more blacks here" all day long at school or work without fear. White person whispers "we need more whites here" and they are fired or expelled immediately for racism.
There will never be equality as long as we have racist handouts for everything from jobs to schools to grants to housing and now awards. until everyone has to show the same achievements and education for different opportunities instead of skin color, we will always have a severe racial divide.
There will never be equality as long as we have hundreds of thousands of black only organizations to support blacks but zero organizations to support white kids. All it does it constantly reinforce that white people should be ashamed of their heritage-even though it was blacks who brought slavery to America!
There will never be equality as long as blacks have freedom of speech and whites do not. Black person can say something like "we need more blacks here" all day long at school or work without fear. White person whispers "we need more whites here" and they are fired or expelled immediately for racism.
There will never be equality as long as we have racist handouts for everything from jobs to schools to grants to housing and now awards. until everyone has to show the same achievements and education for different opportunities instead of skin color, we will always have a severe racial divide.
There will never be equality as long as we have hundreds of thousands of black only organizations to support blacks but zero organizations to support white kids. All it does it constantly reinforce that white people should be ashamed of their heritage-even though it was blacks who brought slavery to America!
12
Blunt conversation on race? Really? Let's start with the 'eye of the beholder' fixation re those two tennis stars. Who is most attractive in a global context? Since European white people represent only 13% of the world's population Serena should win in a beauty poll...Yeah sure! Sorry folks. There are some absolutes out there. Deal!
7
Actually, this isn't a 'blunt conversation' about race. It's the same sermon that's been looping half a century now. There was a lot of yap about changing standards of beauty in the '70s. Since it came from the same brilliant quarters that told us war could be eradicated from human experience in our lifetimes and lavish sex would cure our subjectively defined 'neuroses' - nothing came it. Standards of beauty aren't imposed on us by WASP superhonkies with siiiiinister Southern accents, burning midnight oil to cook up new ways of skinning our struggler class. Like human nature, our tendency to aggression, and cow dung's wonders with plant life, attractiveness simply IS.
14
Sharapova is much more attractive than Serena even if you make their skin color exactly the same... So we have to start analyzing why thin and pretty is some kind of racist stereotype? This is the classic case of good intentions gone awry...
9
I wonder if Scott Brooks looked at any measurements of brand appeal (e.g., the Q Score) when comparing Serena Willams and Maria Sharapova. If the earning differences are explained by how the two tennis players differ in how the public views them, then you have your answer. Without the data you are just guessing.
That being said, even if the Q Score explains the difference in how much they are paid by advertisers, it doesn't get to a possible underlying issue, which is how the public incorporates race into how much they "like" particular celebrities.
That being said, even if the Q Score explains the difference in how much they are paid by advertisers, it doesn't get to a possible underlying issue, which is how the public incorporates race into how much they "like" particular celebrities.
2
Well, there's an asymmetry to this that is being overlooked, probably because of a cognitive bias that an issue considered to have two perspectives is likely a 50/50 matter, which would be incorrect in this situation.
The asymmetry is there are way more white people than black people in this culture. And whatever group is much larger than another can effectively choose in its social relations to have limited dealings with the much smaller group, but it's not reciprocal - the much smaller group has a much harder time avoiding dealing with the much larger group. (That's built into almost all significant demographic differences that are not roughly equal in distribution.)
The asymmetry is there are way more white people than black people in this culture. And whatever group is much larger than another can effectively choose in its social relations to have limited dealings with the much smaller group, but it's not reciprocal - the much smaller group has a much harder time avoiding dealing with the much larger group. (That's built into almost all significant demographic differences that are not roughly equal in distribution.)
6
Sounds like less of a "discussion" and more of a polemic about how much they hate white people, and how they are justified in their hatred because a litany of imagined offenses or else things that never happened to the complainers.
Typical.
Typical.
14
So were in the room when they called for lynching white people? right? I didn't think so.
2
You don't have to call for lynching in order to hate someone. Honestly I don't really understand the lynching comment. It sounds like you're just trying to keep these white kids on the hook for something their ancestors may or may not have done.
5
In my child's Wesleyan freshman seminar on diversity, one African-American explained why he hated white people. It must be nice to be able to say exactly what you think.
24
imagine if a white child said this.
10
What this pointy headed left wing professor and the author are leaving out in the example is the obvious: Sharapova is a whole hell of a lot better looking and photogenic thus she has more earning power for these types of ads. Of course anyone with any common sense could figure that out but no one has probably accused either of having that. The example couldn't be a less accurate comparison or more biased in creating a narrative that's suits their purposes.
7
Actually both the professor and the author both mentioned that. The answer was "According to whom?"
5
Society at large, or more accurately the people who companies want to market their products towards. This should be common sense, and implied without needing to be explained. Most of all to a college professor and author.
You can't force people to find ugliness attractive, no matter how many marches and seminars you hold.
You can't force people to find ugliness attractive, no matter how many marches and seminars you hold.
9
Some excellent points on campus diversity by John Eligon. Many of these same issues apply to all organizations, including businesses and nonprofits. One point is vital:
Without inclusion, diversity efforts simply will not work. Diversity and Inclusion efforts are just good business, whatever your business is.
Without inclusion, diversity efforts simply will not work. Diversity and Inclusion efforts are just good business, whatever your business is.
2
The editorial policy of NYT comment section is much more diverse than the actual slant of the newspaper. Thank you.
9
If I was a student at UMinnesota, what would keep me from wanting to have an honest discussion of race? Might it be that I just don't feel like I have perspective as a white male? Might it be that there are simply just "token amounts" of minorities present on campus as the article author states?
Or might it be that if I do dare speak my mind I will be forced to go to a diversity workshop or have the wrath of the "Campus Climate Response Team" come down upon me for daring to have my own opinion.
Last I checked, colleges were supposed to be bastions of free expression and debate, not have the local sedition patrolling the halls and policing conversations.
Or might it be that if I do dare speak my mind I will be forced to go to a diversity workshop or have the wrath of the "Campus Climate Response Team" come down upon me for daring to have my own opinion.
Last I checked, colleges were supposed to be bastions of free expression and debate, not have the local sedition patrolling the halls and policing conversations.
25
You have misinterpreted the purpose and function of the Campus Climate Response Team. I've participated in gatherings... with quite heated conversations about race at times. It's not perfect, one solution isn't going to be that for the thousands of people who work and study here, but they are listening, identifying where we need to change to make this a more inclusive place, and striving to include voices across campus in directing change.
Dear Professor. Tiger Woods has more endorsements than Rory, yet Tiger can't make cuts let alone win majors.
Anna Kournikova never won a major, yet hauls in more than Maria. Racism? Oh, both are Slavs.
Could the lesson be any shallower? Or was that the professor's subversive point? A lampoon, perhaps?
Anna Kournikova never won a major, yet hauls in more than Maria. Racism? Oh, both are Slavs.
Could the lesson be any shallower? Or was that the professor's subversive point? A lampoon, perhaps?
14
Most endorsement money is tied to the performance of the sports figure as an actor and model not just their raw ranking. Sharapova is massively better than Williams on those key criteria. It is wrong to call this racism when it is not.
6
I'm white and my best friend at University of Michigan was black. We met freshman year in math class. I could tell he was super smart. One day I figured out a short cut to a problem and shared it with the class. Figuring that was my chance I asked to study with him. He accepted and we nerded out for the next 4 years together and remain friends to this day. Only difference is that he got even smarter! Never could understand those differential equations... even with his help.
5
The answer to the premise question is obvious - Sharapova is a model that plays tennis. She makes more money because she is beautiful. Race has nothing to do with it, I would guess Tom Brady's wife makes more than him and she has never even played in a Superbowl. False narratives make things worse.
17
There's no denying this country's horrendous treatment of African Americans but 7% representation in a state with a 12% representation doesn't necessarily suggest nefarious motives. Do we have to have an exact quota based on race and ethnicity to indicate fairness?
16
A young Jewish woman at (I believe) the University of Southern California, was castigated by black students who called her belief and practicing of Judaism an obstacle to participating in a student council because as a Jewess, her views about Israel and the Palestinians would be skewed toward the nation of Israel. The black students wanted to black ball this young Jewish woman and keep her from participating in student government. It was a very disgusting and disturbing moment. Fortunately a student advisor put an end to the discussion before any vote could be held and the young woman, deeply affected by the vehemence of the blacks, was hurt and outraged.
The blacks failed, absolutely failed to understand that they were practicing overt anti-Semitism. They were ignorant and oblivious of how they sound and certainly oblivious and ignorant as to the effect on the young Jewish, female student. They couldn't understand her outrage and her feeling of being loathed by the blacks.
If there are going to be blunt discussions on campus about racism then it needs to be about more than diversity. It must be about more than racism.
The discussion must be about religious tolerance and the ability to separate political views from racist, fascist views and personal bigotry and bias. No black student should make the ridiculous assertion that because a student is Jewish they will hold political views that blacks oppose and therefore not be allowed to participate in student government.
The blacks failed, absolutely failed to understand that they were practicing overt anti-Semitism. They were ignorant and oblivious of how they sound and certainly oblivious and ignorant as to the effect on the young Jewish, female student. They couldn't understand her outrage and her feeling of being loathed by the blacks.
If there are going to be blunt discussions on campus about racism then it needs to be about more than diversity. It must be about more than racism.
The discussion must be about religious tolerance and the ability to separate political views from racist, fascist views and personal bigotry and bias. No black student should make the ridiculous assertion that because a student is Jewish they will hold political views that blacks oppose and therefore not be allowed to participate in student government.
21
Man are your facts all wrong!
It was UCLA and the students who questioned here were not BLACK. The questioning was UNFAIR but to just get the fact totally wrong and blame black people says more about you Jay than her experience.
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/06/us/debate-on-a-jewish-student-at-ucla....
Man, just put on the shirt "I'm sick of black people" and be done with it instead of rationalizing, please.
It was UCLA and the students who questioned here were not BLACK. The questioning was UNFAIR but to just get the fact totally wrong and blame black people says more about you Jay than her experience.
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/06/us/debate-on-a-jewish-student-at-ucla....
Man, just put on the shirt "I'm sick of black people" and be done with it instead of rationalizing, please.
2
No, you are wrong! It was a young black woman who began the assault on the Jewish student. Get your facts straight! And that black woman clearly did not understand her assault upon a fellow student and how disparaging and despicable it was.
I don't need a shirt that says "I'm sick of black people". I'm not. I'm sick of racists, bigots and anti-Semites. Read my other comments. I want to see blacks succeed and participate in the American dream. I didn't take dream away or put obstacles in the way of blacks. But others do and I've railed against that. Keep your shirt.
I don't need a shirt that says "I'm sick of black people". I'm not. I'm sick of racists, bigots and anti-Semites. Read my other comments. I want to see blacks succeed and participate in the American dream. I didn't take dream away or put obstacles in the way of blacks. But others do and I've railed against that. Keep your shirt.
3
My apologies! I was indeed wrong! Very wrong! I confused this affair with another and misstated the facts. I regret that and sincerely apologize for my error. I will check my facts more thoroughly before writing in haste.
3
Or maybe Ms. Sharapova earns more in endorsements for products appealing to women because her body looks less distorted by male hormones?
13
I'm a graduate student at a university in the midwest (Purdue), and our student gym is a pretty diverse mix of people. On the basketball courts especially we're all colors and all nationalities. Granted most of us are guys, but the point is we're all generally okay with each other, and if you can play, people are happy to have you on the team. I'm not sure what my point is, other than the fact that inclusion does occur on campuses, and in the case of the gym, you have to get off the internet to experience it.
8
Before anyone concludes a solution is self-evident let alone simple, consider yesterday's article in the Times, "Sacramento Kings Pull ‘Year of the Monkey’ Shirts From Seats."
The Kings, to honor the Chinese New Year, were going to give out to fans free T-shirts emblazoned with a monkey graphic and referencing that this was the "Year of the Monkey", the designation on the Chinese cyclical calendar. Some Black players objected, (at least partly) because it was the first day of Black History Month, and the shirts were pulled back before the fans were let in to the game.
As I see it, the only clear thing is that some of the shirts will mysteriously make their way onto e-bay, where they will make the sellers lots of money.
The Kings, to honor the Chinese New Year, were going to give out to fans free T-shirts emblazoned with a monkey graphic and referencing that this was the "Year of the Monkey", the designation on the Chinese cyclical calendar. Some Black players objected, (at least partly) because it was the first day of Black History Month, and the shirts were pulled back before the fans were let in to the game.
As I see it, the only clear thing is that some of the shirts will mysteriously make their way onto e-bay, where they will make the sellers lots of money.
9
Ouch! Now that is moving toward 'blunt conversation'. Anybody want to go there??? Holder was right. We are gutless!
2
Taking just the first example, Sharapova -- she earns more in endorsements -- if that be true -- because she's both an accomplished tennis player and a model, blonde, thin, etc., and the overwhelming number of people buying tennis equipment are white.
Is that "racist" or just dumb? I'd be far more receptive to Venus or Serena's views on equipment if I were a tennis player and if I thought celebrity endorsements a valid source of information. I don't do either.
Is that "racist" or just dumb? I'd be far more receptive to Venus or Serena's views on equipment if I were a tennis player and if I thought celebrity endorsements a valid source of information. I don't do either.
5
Maybe Serena gets fewer endorsements because of her behavior. Serena threatened a lineswoman for making a call against her.
15
The bogus assertion that Serena doesn't get endorsements because of race makes Dr. Brooks an intellectual lightweight, an professor that does not believe in gathering and examining data. Personally, I think the discussion on discrimination on campus is way off base - anybody ever ask poor whites or poor Asian immigrants if they feel like they fit in? What about folks who don't like campus sports? That have too much money? You get the picture, feelings and social interactions are very different from active discrimination, like failing students because they are black (never heard of that one).
The conversation here moves to a place that avoids talking about how people of all races and backgrounds can join together and battle for respect and equal rights -- too bad.
The conversation here moves to a place that avoids talking about how people of all races and backgrounds can join together and battle for respect and equal rights -- too bad.
12
The professor conducting these sessions is having a "conversation" with the students in the same manner that say a CEO has with a group of employees. No one is going to point out the fallacies in the professor's arguments for fear of retribution or public humiliation. This is a just an indoctrination session.
27
Wake me up when we get to homicides, rapes and assaults. Then we'll be having a blunt conversation.
19
Meanwhile LeBron scored the biggest lifetime deal in the history of one of the biggest sport companies in the world buts that's not mentioned because it does not fit the narrative of these lifetime race baiters:
http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/14314807/lebron-james-signs-life-deal-...
I'm not going to even debate the stupidity of the argument but one thing I know, the colleges that cave in to these demands will at the end perish. First, you can never appease these protesters because that would actually require them go back to class and study which obvious to me is that they are trying to avoid ( whatever the reason is).
Second, I would never, ever either attend, or let me kids attend, or donate to colleges where precious studying time is wasted on 'micro aggressions' while you are paying thousands of dollars to study what actually matters.
Finally, some asked why Asians are not demonstrating against proven discrimination against them due to affirmative action - that's because they know you can't fix stupid and and they are busy studying STEM. They will get their revenge later on in high paying jobs and rightfully so.
http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/14314807/lebron-james-signs-life-deal-...
I'm not going to even debate the stupidity of the argument but one thing I know, the colleges that cave in to these demands will at the end perish. First, you can never appease these protesters because that would actually require them go back to class and study which obvious to me is that they are trying to avoid ( whatever the reason is).
Second, I would never, ever either attend, or let me kids attend, or donate to colleges where precious studying time is wasted on 'micro aggressions' while you are paying thousands of dollars to study what actually matters.
Finally, some asked why Asians are not demonstrating against proven discrimination against them due to affirmative action - that's because they know you can't fix stupid and and they are busy studying STEM. They will get their revenge later on in high paying jobs and rightfully so.
30
I hope that the next time I make an ass of myself in class that there is not a NYTimes guy there to report it. I see that hundreds of commenters have taken their time to explain Dr, Brooks' error with regard to Ms. Williams earnings. And others have kindly explained that Officer Wilson was not prosecuted for shooting Mr. Brown because no one could prove that Wilson's actions were unjustified. That includes the DOJ.
Does all that mean that Black Lives Matter does not have a point to make about police violence? Does it mean that the studies demonstrating bias in hiring and housing (different responses to identical resumes and rental applications with "white sounding" and "black sounding" names) are not significant indicators of real racial issues? And those issues are not microaggressions, they can determine where people live and whether they can get work.
The claim that the University of Missouri may have overreached is advanced by this reporting. The conclusion that there are no racial problems to talk about or that the real problem is black entitlement is simply wrong. There is lots of data showing concrete results of racism and discrimination. Those are not the only things going on and are not the only things that merit study.
But Dr. Brooks has a class to teach. I suggest that he pick better examples.
Universities are engaged in several important discussions: cost, sexual violence, access, pluralism, and yes, knowledge. We know lots and teach lots.
Does all that mean that Black Lives Matter does not have a point to make about police violence? Does it mean that the studies demonstrating bias in hiring and housing (different responses to identical resumes and rental applications with "white sounding" and "black sounding" names) are not significant indicators of real racial issues? And those issues are not microaggressions, they can determine where people live and whether they can get work.
The claim that the University of Missouri may have overreached is advanced by this reporting. The conclusion that there are no racial problems to talk about or that the real problem is black entitlement is simply wrong. There is lots of data showing concrete results of racism and discrimination. Those are not the only things going on and are not the only things that merit study.
But Dr. Brooks has a class to teach. I suggest that he pick better examples.
Universities are engaged in several important discussions: cost, sexual violence, access, pluralism, and yes, knowledge. We know lots and teach lots.
8
James, remember the paper published about antisemitism persisting in Germans exposed as children to Nazi propaganda? These are the kinds of people who could've smelled the crematoriums, saw the barbed wire around camps and still deny the extent of the Holocaust and rationalize genocide. Same mentality here with the bordering on vitriol in the comments. It's also telling how riled up the negative commentators are, more like an ax to grind, than a rational, level headed critique of ideas. Notice also the wholesale denial of any discussion that isn't detailing white suffering, a defense mechanism to dilute the reality of living while Black in America. I think some people think that once 1964 Civil Rights was passed that POC should've just shut up. They've thrown POC the proverbial bone, never mind the mental effects of intergenerational poverty and segregation laws to retard progress along with the drug war. But we should do nothing because magically these issues will disappear on their own, like anti Semitism did. Oops, it hasn't...
5
". . . Officer Wilson was not prosecuted for shooting Mr. Brown because no one could prove that Wilson's actions were unjustified. That includes the DOJ."
James Wilson uses THREE negatives, "not", "no", and "un", to try to confuse readers, but the TRUTH is that the Justice Department's report proved that Officer Darren Wilson's actions WERE justified.
Does James Wilson think Darren Wilson should have sacrificed his life to the "gentle giant"?
Sad that apologists for Michael Brown cannot admit the truth. See why "blunt discussion" is impossible?
James Wilson uses THREE negatives, "not", "no", and "un", to try to confuse readers, but the TRUTH is that the Justice Department's report proved that Officer Darren Wilson's actions WERE justified.
Does James Wilson think Darren Wilson should have sacrificed his life to the "gentle giant"?
Sad that apologists for Michael Brown cannot admit the truth. See why "blunt discussion" is impossible?
13
What a destructive waste. These kids should be learning while they're in college, but instead they're attending these Orwellian indoctrination sessions. They are not learning about biology, or physics or math - instead they are being turned into politically correct robots who will emerge from the halls of "higher" education whining about "safe spaces" and "trigger warnings." An entire generation, at least, has now been taught to be frightened of mere words.
These universities have become a breeding ground for a brand new incarnation of racism in America - one that utterly smashes the ideals espoused by MLK. One need only look at the recent news out of UConn, which is building a dorm exclusively for black students. That's right - racial problems in America have progressed so far that we are now full circle - segregation is back!
As a more practical matter, who is going to employ these newly minted and degreed automatons, who have spent their college years not in the calm, mature pursuit of an education, but in a state of juvenile hysteria, screaming and issuing childish demands that one would expect to find not on university campuses, but rather in kindergarten classes.
Are the universities who have coddled these children and encouraged this behavior aware of how degraded their degrees have become? I know a number of employers who won't even look at a Mizzou grad any more, and new red flags are being added all the time.
A mind is a terrible thing to waste, indeed.
These universities have become a breeding ground for a brand new incarnation of racism in America - one that utterly smashes the ideals espoused by MLK. One need only look at the recent news out of UConn, which is building a dorm exclusively for black students. That's right - racial problems in America have progressed so far that we are now full circle - segregation is back!
As a more practical matter, who is going to employ these newly minted and degreed automatons, who have spent their college years not in the calm, mature pursuit of an education, but in a state of juvenile hysteria, screaming and issuing childish demands that one would expect to find not on university campuses, but rather in kindergarten classes.
Are the universities who have coddled these children and encouraged this behavior aware of how degraded their degrees have become? I know a number of employers who won't even look at a Mizzou grad any more, and new red flags are being added all the time.
A mind is a terrible thing to waste, indeed.
35
And now, rather than "mere" diversity, the demand is for Inclusion, i.e., guaranteed success. No more equality of access; we must have equality of outcome.
12
Yes, is it any surprise that more and more "racism", "sexism", etc., is detected on campus? Colleges spend so much time and money telling students what to look for, where it is and why it's so bad.
What if they held sessions, instead, on personal responsibility?
What if they held sessions, instead, on personal responsibility?
5
some professors need to explain that, in their classes, learning the relevant material (i.e., history, mathematics, physics, etc.) is of relevance, not finding "racism or sexism".
5
There's a question of fact waiting to be answered: who is better looking and by what standards?
Standards for beauty do differ by race, but there are more commonalities than differences. So it is possible that black men, asked to rate a number of athletes for looks, might rate Sharapova above Williams. It is also possible that they would not. To know the answer, one must ask the question.
Standards for beauty do differ by race, but there are more commonalities than differences. So it is possible that black men, asked to rate a number of athletes for looks, might rate Sharapova above Williams. It is also possible that they would not. To know the answer, one must ask the question.
5
I don't think Serena Williams will be selling pencils on the corner any time soon so maybe her endorsement deficit was not the place to start with these discussions. I do think discussions about different experiences may be helpful to get people to understand each other but I don't think things are going to change ever. People self-segregate in life in general so why wouldn't that be the case on campus? I attended college in Boston and recall self-segregation among blacks, whites, religious groups, wealthy Iranians, Asians, etc. I recall outright racism and "microagressions," but I didn't allow them to derail my goals or progress. My parents sat me down before I left NY and explained what to expect and how to act in "mixed settings," their advice was on the money and I am entirely grateful to them for that (and many other things). I have no idea what black parents say to their children these days about surviving and thriving at college. Regardless of what the media tells us, life in America is not post-racial.
4
I agree. That was a silly question. Our entire media industry is geared to the blonde, white princess as the standard of beauty and desirability. Is that racism? Or does it reflect numbers or preferences?
The campus is a real conundrum these days. Demands for inclusion generally include separation; efforts by non-POC to learn about POC are denigrated as microaggressions; the races self-segregate.
The campus is a real conundrum these days. Demands for inclusion generally include separation; efforts by non-POC to learn about POC are denigrated as microaggressions; the races self-segregate.
4
Regarding Tennis stars...It's about Sex. It's always about sex. It always will be about sex.
Maria is just better looking to the people who are paying money, that's all there is to it.
Maria is just better looking to the people who are paying money, that's all there is to it.
14
Maria also earns more endorsement money than the four white women tennis players who are ranked above her.
24
At Mizzou there was one alleged incident of anti-black racism and one of anti-Jewish racism. The anti-Jewish incident was completely ignored, uncondemned, unadvocated for. No teach-ins about the need to fight against anti-Semitism while anti-black sentiment and even Islamaphobia is obsessed about. Why doesn't Mr Brook's notice that discrepancy like he noticed the one between those two tennis players?
We saw the same thing over the outrage over the Oscar Awards. After the outrage The Economist published a graph that showed over the past 20 years blacks were only slightly underrepresented in nominees and actually were slightly overrepresented in wins. Other minorities were vastly underrepresented in both. But almost 100% of the articles condemning the lack of diversity in the Oscars focused almost entirely on blacks.
There is an irony in both examples I gave. Seems the anti-racists might be even more racist then the people they accuse. The fact is that "diversity" means "black". If people want to clean up "systemic racism" lets start with the race, equality, and social justice lobby. Systemic bias seems far more the norm and accepted there then in mainstream society. The irony seems to go over everyone's head.
We saw the same thing over the outrage over the Oscar Awards. After the outrage The Economist published a graph that showed over the past 20 years blacks were only slightly underrepresented in nominees and actually were slightly overrepresented in wins. Other minorities were vastly underrepresented in both. But almost 100% of the articles condemning the lack of diversity in the Oscars focused almost entirely on blacks.
There is an irony in both examples I gave. Seems the anti-racists might be even more racist then the people they accuse. The fact is that "diversity" means "black". If people want to clean up "systemic racism" lets start with the race, equality, and social justice lobby. Systemic bias seems far more the norm and accepted there then in mainstream society. The irony seems to go over everyone's head.
19
"The Economist published a graph that showed over the past 20 years blacks were only slightly underrepresented in nominees and actually were slightly overrepresented in wins. "
Blacks will complain about any competition, such as the Oscars, in which they do not win at least 13%, but say nothing about those, such as professional sports, in which they win much more than 13%.
Blacks will complain about any competition, such as the Oscars, in which they do not win at least 13%, but say nothing about those, such as professional sports, in which they win much more than 13%.
20
A university alone cannot address these issues. By the time they recognize the problem, all the students who are attending have come from segregated neighborhoods, many never really engaging with minorities. These same students have watched television and movies where minorities are mostly junkies, pushers, pimps, or they are not shown at all. While we all joke that in many movies the Black actor is the first to die--especially in horror movies-the message is that minorities are expendable. You have students in segregated communities who like listening to rap, but hate the artists who produce that rap. You have policemen who see "red" like a bull does, when they see a minority out of the boundaries where he or she should stay within. When they don't, and don't "yes sir" someone winds up in jail or dead. Efforts at inclusion should start when children are young. It's hard to change mindsets once the student is in college. What is amazing to me is that college was a place where one could explore differences and ask questions, and open one's mind---they were not apprenticeship institutions to fill a company's employee requirements. When you go to college simply because you want a better job, you may not fully appreciate the opportunity to make discoveries. You are locked up in your own limited experiences and that becomes the way you look at others. Explore in college; don't close your dorm door to those you only fear. Maybe that is a first step.
3
Not surprised one bit at these comments. The NYT readership loves to pat themselves on the back for how progressive, worldly and open-minded they are, and yet whenever the topic turns to race, their true colors come forth.
NEWS FLASH to all of you lamenting how "tired" you are of these necessary conversations on race, of the """PC Police""", of BLM and the "privileged, coddled college students making a stink over perceived slights", deriding the concept (and huge, cumulative negative impacts) of microaggressions, of myopically focussing on black-on-black violence (while remaining willfully ignorant of the historical context that yields such violence), and most ironically of all, those of you who wish to co-opt MLK's whitewashed legacy to paternalistically disparage the current generation of activists as being "too divisive" and "hurting their movement" by driving sympathetic whites away from the movement:
YOU are on the wrong side of history. You are employing the same rhetoric and wishy-washy, faux concern that "moderate" (read: tacitly racist) whites did during the previous civil rights movement.
"I must confess that over the last few years I have been gravely disappointed with the white moderate ... who constantly says 'I agree with you in the goal you seek, but I can't agree with your methods of direct action'"
I strongly encourage you to read MLK's "Letters From a Birmingham Jail" (quoted above) for a more comprehensive explication of this fact.
NEWS FLASH to all of you lamenting how "tired" you are of these necessary conversations on race, of the """PC Police""", of BLM and the "privileged, coddled college students making a stink over perceived slights", deriding the concept (and huge, cumulative negative impacts) of microaggressions, of myopically focussing on black-on-black violence (while remaining willfully ignorant of the historical context that yields such violence), and most ironically of all, those of you who wish to co-opt MLK's whitewashed legacy to paternalistically disparage the current generation of activists as being "too divisive" and "hurting their movement" by driving sympathetic whites away from the movement:
YOU are on the wrong side of history. You are employing the same rhetoric and wishy-washy, faux concern that "moderate" (read: tacitly racist) whites did during the previous civil rights movement.
"I must confess that over the last few years I have been gravely disappointed with the white moderate ... who constantly says 'I agree with you in the goal you seek, but I can't agree with your methods of direct action'"
I strongly encourage you to read MLK's "Letters From a Birmingham Jail" (quoted above) for a more comprehensive explication of this fact.
5
I needed a good laugh.
12
Read the history and tell me I'm wrong
2
I am so tired of that "wrong side of history" cliche. Can we call it a day with that already....please?
5
As a Black attorney with a degree in American History, who grew up in a Black community poorer than Ferguson or Baltimore in terms of what my family went without, I am appalled by this nonsense.
The students on the Missouri campus have parlayed an event involving a truck and people who actually weren't even students driving around near the campus into a way to hold the biggest land grant university in Missouri hostage.
This isn't about equality, it's about Black students demanding things like TV show appearances, preferential treatment, valets and reduced tuition, and if they don't get it, then all White people are racist. This is the Obama Era, where it's never your fault, racism is the excuse, all White people are inherently evil and America must pay slavery reparations to Blacks who are less likely from a familial standpoint to be descendants of slaves here in America than many Southern Whites who have deeper blood ties to slaves than some of us do.
This nonsense has to stop.
Dr. King, I am so relieved you aren't here to see your dream being trashed this way.
The students on the Missouri campus have parlayed an event involving a truck and people who actually weren't even students driving around near the campus into a way to hold the biggest land grant university in Missouri hostage.
This isn't about equality, it's about Black students demanding things like TV show appearances, preferential treatment, valets and reduced tuition, and if they don't get it, then all White people are racist. This is the Obama Era, where it's never your fault, racism is the excuse, all White people are inherently evil and America must pay slavery reparations to Blacks who are less likely from a familial standpoint to be descendants of slaves here in America than many Southern Whites who have deeper blood ties to slaves than some of us do.
This nonsense has to stop.
Dr. King, I am so relieved you aren't here to see your dream being trashed this way.
38
Not sure if you're familiar with the recent Wesleyan University (CT) diversity dustup.
An Iraq War veteran wrote an op-ed expressing his view that the BLM cause was hurting itself by associating itself with violence. The students went ballistic and ultimately wanted to defund the school newspaper. (It should be noted that African-Americans have their own publication.)
The president, who bends over backwards to pursue diversity, basically said no voices would be censored. Period. It was surprising coming from the head of one of the most liberal colleges in the country. Reassuring, I would add.
The lesson: College administrators need to remain the grown ups.
An Iraq War veteran wrote an op-ed expressing his view that the BLM cause was hurting itself by associating itself with violence. The students went ballistic and ultimately wanted to defund the school newspaper. (It should be noted that African-Americans have their own publication.)
The president, who bends over backwards to pursue diversity, basically said no voices would be censored. Period. It was surprising coming from the head of one of the most liberal colleges in the country. Reassuring, I would add.
The lesson: College administrators need to remain the grown ups.
3
I went to university in the late 60s and early 70s when walking across campus you were in the middle of one big protest, cops, National Guard etc. In no way did this affect enrollment, plenty of new freshman every year. Rather than being a pain in the neck, and it could be some times when I was crawling over bodies to get into a classroom, I have found that all the chaos has informed my life and appreciate that there are a lot of people out there that I might not agree with on every issue. I also add that during the Ferguson situation, I regularly read the St Louis Post Dispatch on a regular basis. The newspaper actually closed down the comments section for a while because the comments were so vile. The state acknowledged that they had some work to do, and kudos to them, they are doing it.
2
Many people simply don't like Serena Williams' looks, I've heard her criticized for "looking like a man". Marketing people NEVER like people who aren't very good-looking. Any female athlete who is plain-looking will not have very many endorsements offered to them either. If Tyra Banks or Naomi Campbell had been tennis stars, they would have had at least as many endorsement deals as Sharapova or Anna Kournikova received. Good-looking people always get more job offers in any field.
12
But Brooks can't see that (also the fact that 4 higher than Sharapova ranked female tennis players earn LESS in endorsements than she does and they all all white).
What a "standard" of academic research and academic debate he uholds?
BTW: His book Black Men Can't Shoot sold ... 45 copies, 320 additional copies given free to universities and libraries.
What a "standard" of academic research and academic debate he uholds?
BTW: His book Black Men Can't Shoot sold ... 45 copies, 320 additional copies given free to universities and libraries.
5
Here we go, the forced "diversity" training. Sigh. SO BORING. "Diversity" in common parlance these days means "you had better love black people or we (university admins/media/etc) will punish you." Why even bother calling it "diversity" anymore?
The world is a rough place. People don't always like each other, nor do they have to. They do not have to accept you because of your color/gender/income/etc. Instead of producing students who are forced to make nice with everyone we should be producing students who can stand up for themselves and deal with difficult situations throughout life because it isn't going to get any easier.
The world is a rough place. People don't always like each other, nor do they have to. They do not have to accept you because of your color/gender/income/etc. Instead of producing students who are forced to make nice with everyone we should be producing students who can stand up for themselves and deal with difficult situations throughout life because it isn't going to get any easier.
20
I'm tired of hearing about my alleged privilege. As a second generation immigrant, I grew up in what Massachusetts now refers to as a "Gateway City" with my father working many overtime hours to assure his family the basics and an occasional treat. If I have privilege and I'm not conceding I have any, I would have earned it by doing well in high school and, then in college earning a degree in a field that pays well. I'm not going to apologize for that as nobody ran special summer or after school programs for me or my peers. When I got to college orientation, the welcoming dean stated the hard reality associated with the major I'd chosen indicating a good number of the freshman sitting there wouldn't be there in January. I didn't run looking for a "safe space" or complain about a micro-agression that made me question my choice of major. Instead, I made sure I did my problem sets and took every available class so I was able to graduate with not only a degree but one with honors. There is nothing stopping anyone else in this country from doing so if they apply themselves even if that means being ostracized by their peers for adopting the cultural norms of hard work and self-reliance of the European immigrants and their descendants that made this country great. I'm truly thankful I was able to attend college and focus on my major and humanities courses before humanities courses were taken over by the diversity cohort.
30
Perhaps if the Black community would return to the solutions offered by Dr. King and concentrated more in integration rather than neo-segregationism (i.e. multiculturalism) we would have less racial strife.
FYI: Maria Sharapova makes more money because in addition to be a very good tennis pro she is also very photogenic. Perhaps that is not fair but neither is life. Making her income into a racial issue is itself racist and does not lend itself to Dr. King's solution of integration.
(why do Blacks reject Dr. King's solution?)
FYI: Maria Sharapova makes more money because in addition to be a very good tennis pro she is also very photogenic. Perhaps that is not fair but neither is life. Making her income into a racial issue is itself racist and does not lend itself to Dr. King's solution of integration.
(why do Blacks reject Dr. King's solution?)
16
Don't assume that the New York Times provides an accurate or otherwise comprehensive picture of attitudes and opinions in the African-American community.
10
This is not about social change. What you have here is a power grab in our universities by the sons and daughters of affluent black families in the guise of racial justice so they can create a campus environment which caters to their bourgeois sensibilities. Forget about math and science. This means there'll be a big demand for ethnic studies professors like Dr. Brooks to placate the protesters. How will this help them find a job and help us stay competitive in the world stage? Sadly, this is all very self serving and self defeating. Already, white people in the belt way are turned off by the antics of these activists and tuning out their message. I'm sure the capitalists are sleeping better at night knowing that the working class is divided over race and nobody is paying attention to the real injustice plaguing our country. The biggest losers in this whole drama are the people in our inner cities where unemployment and school dropout rates remain high. When it comes to tackling these age old issues, their leaders like these activists love to talk the talk, but don't walk the walk. In the end, it's each man for himself and nothing changes unless you're at the top.
16
"What you have here is a power grab in our universities by the sons and daughters of affluent black families in the guise of racial justice so they can create a campus environment which caters to their bourgeois sensibilities....This means there'll be a big demand for ethnic studies professors like Dr. Brooks to placate the protesters."
You spoke truth to power.
You spoke truth to power.
13
Racial tension in Missouri has everything to do with Ferguson. In other places, unarmed blacks were shot in the back multiple times, were stopped for trivial reasons, and were manhandled by the police. The Ferguson facts are unclear but a grand jury found no crime, unlike a number of grand juries elsewhere. The Justice Department backed up the grand jury and found no crime either. Evidence of racism in traffic ticketing was established, which falls far shy of racist police murder. Based on the facts, I have a hard time understanding why Missouri was treated so harshly compared to South Carolina, New York, Cleveland and others. I am guessing that if the Ferguson case had not been sensationalized, tension at Mizzou would be significantly less. I'm glad the Mizzou students are trying to address racism. But I am pretty sure that there are lots of schools with equal or more serious problems and that overreaction to Ferguson has needlessly made their problem worse.
2
This is why I read the NY Times. Thank you. Hopefully, down the track a bit, frank conversations will also explore and encourage indigenous Americans. I puzzle why they are so left out.
2
You won't hear a lot about the indigenous Americans because there is little they can do for the democratic party. So they and their plight are used as tokenism.
Blacks are the largest and most powerful minority in the country and vote almost 100% democrat. That is why they are obsessed and fawned all over by the left.
Blacks are the largest and most powerful minority in the country and vote almost 100% democrat. That is why they are obsessed and fawned all over by the left.
11
Maybe the problem is that the first question asked by the Black Professor was meant to put white students on the defensive. That is not the way to change someone's heart. It is the way to make a freshman who is already somewhat apprehensive about the whole process just shut down.
18
Same argument with "tolerance"; really pay attention to the language you've agreed to use.
You "tolerate" a rash, a cut, something that annoys you or that you're hostile to; you ACCEPT someone of a different color because they're human.
These semantics are at the core of the problem, in that the white male Anglo Saxon power structure in place is still looking for a way to accommodate minorities demanding fair treatment while still trying to keep their thumbs forcefully pressed down on us.
Most of the comments in this section point to that - white people feel threatened because they are losing their grip on maybe, MAYBE, 10% of this country and it's power structures. It's about time they learned to accept that they are a GLOBAL minority and their time has passed.
You "tolerate" a rash, a cut, something that annoys you or that you're hostile to; you ACCEPT someone of a different color because they're human.
These semantics are at the core of the problem, in that the white male Anglo Saxon power structure in place is still looking for a way to accommodate minorities demanding fair treatment while still trying to keep their thumbs forcefully pressed down on us.
Most of the comments in this section point to that - white people feel threatened because they are losing their grip on maybe, MAYBE, 10% of this country and it's power structures. It's about time they learned to accept that they are a GLOBAL minority and their time has passed.
3
Unfortunately, you may well be right that "their time has passed" but don't gloat too much as the United States devolves into something more resembling what is seen in the third world. The not too distant future majority-minority US will be surpassed by China economically, militarily and intellectually over the next five or decades. The US population with its emphasis on micro-aggressions, safe spaces, diversity and handouts at that time will have destroyed all of the material and intellectual patrimony accumulated by the Anglo-Saxon immigrants and their descendants that you hate over centuries of hard work. By the way, you won't see too much diversity in China, the new overlord of the 21st century. They won't care about US diversity either as they take over for pennies once great US companies hobbled by a leadership developed under the diversity mantra and one unable to understand how to compete on the world stage because competitors don't care about micro-aggressions, safe spaces, or diversity.
7
You sound like the kind of person that we should be glad to hand the baton to.
Whites have ALWAYS been a global minority. And yet look at the civilizations they have built. You live in one, have a subscription to this newspaper, and post your views here without censor. Not too bad, is it? Try that in China, or parts of Africa. No apologies are owed to you, or anyone.
7
Sometimes the shortest distance between two points (or the disparity in endorsements) is racism. People are willing to consider absolutely every possible alternative but the systemic racism that plagues this country.
4
Actually, it's just the easiest answer, requiring the least amount of thought. It's always simpler to blame others for your woes than to honestly confront your own problems.
7
Or it is explained by marketability.
2
People are risking their lives to tell the truth, which feels more suited to a communist dictatorship than to the United States of America.
It's extremely frustrating to see attacks on journalists and others expressing their First Amendment rights. Remember the professor (a White professor, mind you) who grabbed a journalist's camera at Mizzou and yelled at him to leave? Then a group of students (many White, too) formed a phalanx to push the videographer and photographer out. It's absolutely shameful.
It's extremely frustrating to see attacks on journalists and others expressing their First Amendment rights. Remember the professor (a White professor, mind you) who grabbed a journalist's camera at Mizzou and yelled at him to leave? Then a group of students (many White, too) formed a phalanx to push the videographer and photographer out. It's absolutely shameful.
11
Before anyone concludes a solution is self-evident let alone simple, consider yesterday's article in the Times, "Sacramento Kings Pull ‘Year of the Monkey’ Shirts From Seats."
The Kings, to honor the Chinese New Year, were going to give out to fans free T-shirts emblazoned with a monkey graphic and referencing that this was the "Year of the Monkey", the designation on the Chinese cyclical calendar. Some Black players objected, (at least partly) because it was the first day of Black History Month, and the shirts were pulled back before the fans were let in to the game.
As I see it, the only clear thing is that some of the shirts will mysteriously make their way onto e-bay, where they will make the sellers lots of money.
The Kings, to honor the Chinese New Year, were going to give out to fans free T-shirts emblazoned with a monkey graphic and referencing that this was the "Year of the Monkey", the designation on the Chinese cyclical calendar. Some Black players objected, (at least partly) because it was the first day of Black History Month, and the shirts were pulled back before the fans were let in to the game.
As I see it, the only clear thing is that some of the shirts will mysteriously make their way onto e-bay, where they will make the sellers lots of money.
5
Not much has changed in thirty years, which explains why Missouri is where it is today. My experience with "diversity training" years ago consisted of sitting around a table while moderators told us white participants that we had to come to blacks. No mention of blacks coming to whites was ever made. Everything was on us.
Nothing has changed, and whites are no more willing to attend "diversity training" sessions or to engage in such discussions today than we where thirty years ago. Does anyone wonder why?
Nothing has changed, and whites are no more willing to attend "diversity training" sessions or to engage in such discussions today than we where thirty years ago. Does anyone wonder why?
13
This article relates some accounts of indoctrination. Where are the discussions? Group-think is not discussion.
16
Discrimination is wonderful and natural !!!!
Otherwise we would be eating dung rather than food.
Or trying to breathe water rather than air.
Without discrimination, mankind would disappear from the planet.
Otherwise we would be eating dung rather than food.
Or trying to breathe water rather than air.
Without discrimination, mankind would disappear from the planet.
8
The person who wins the most should get the most endorsements? I think not. Danica Patrick and Sharapova get the big bucks because they are very good looking and talented, in that order.
16
EXACTLY! And that fact destroys the article's entire argument. Sharapova and Patrick are much better looking. That's the ONLY reason they get endorsements over Williams. If Williams looked like (my opinion :) )Halle Berry, Vivica Fox or a slew of other black women, they would get just as many endorsements.
8
The very first example, Serena Williams vs Maria Sharapova, shows what's wrong with this diversity propaganda. Yes, they are of different races and Serena Williams has the better win-loss record, but the main reason why Sharapova has more endorsements is because her appearance conforms to more classic attributes of beauty and more women aspire to her appearance body type than to Serena's massively muscular look.
12
Classic attributes of beauty tend to favor white. We have been unconsciously trained to believe that. Thus, it's a given. This is the point. We are challenged to examine our hidden assumptions.
1
Maria also earns more endorsement money than the four white female tennis players ranked above her. Serena wouldn't be considered beautiful among as group of black females, but Maria would be considered beautiful among a group of white females.
3
No, we are challenged to be intelligent enough to ignore the media driven "standards" and use our minds. For the tennis women, it's male sexual attraction. No accounting for that. I'd prefer to hear Serena opinion's on tennis myself. As for the big booty issue, I think the Kardashians and their ilk have proven that that's a positive these days, even if it's a couple pounds of silicone.
1
Vital conversation. Long overdue. Something that interests me: why is it that Afro-Caribbeans seem to make up such a large percentage of academics of African or African heritage? In my husband's department, all the black and Hispanic faculty are originally from the Caribbean or of Caribbean parentage, even if they grew up somewhat, mostly or completely in the U.S. Is this just an anecdote, or am I correct? Dos it vary by discipline (he is in the social sciences). If I am correct, why is this? What does it mean?
3
These Caribbean countries have no welfare system, no safety net. If you live there and don't work, you die. As a consequence, the people who live there learn how to work hard. When they come to the US, everything is easy, and they are highly successful.
2
My parents were from the Caribbean. It's a different thing when you grow up with people who look like you on the postage stamps.
You obviously know very little about the Caribbean. Try going outside Sandals next time you visit.
Education is free, up to and including university. Lots of people don't work in the Caribbean and lots of people go hungry.. They don't starve because they can cut up a potato and throw it in the earth and it will grow. Or they visit an auntie, grandparent, great-grandparent and get fed. The extended family is very important in the Caribbean.
The reason why West Indians and Africans and French people and Chinese people and Maltese people all want to move to the United States is because African-American sweat and toil built it into a place that people around the world want to go to.
Education is free, up to and including university. Lots of people don't work in the Caribbean and lots of people go hungry.. They don't starve because they can cut up a potato and throw it in the earth and it will grow. Or they visit an auntie, grandparent, great-grandparent and get fed. The extended family is very important in the Caribbean.
The reason why West Indians and Africans and French people and Chinese people and Maltese people all want to move to the United States is because African-American sweat and toil built it into a place that people around the world want to go to.
3
I'm totally sick of these racial discussions. There are all kinds of slights all of us encounter every day, and who knows why. It's part of being human. Mandatory "diversity" classes have the potential to breed backlash. Frankly it's insulting to our intelligence and assumes everyone is prejudiced. I'm offended!
45
So I start reading this and somebody's complaining because someone is pulling more work than Serena Williams and what do I see but a Chase ad featuring a photo of a black female tennis player poised to return the ball. Was she Serena Williams? I don't know, it was only there for a moment and I don't follow these things anyway, but I did see some irony in seeing that.
Does Williams get fewer endorsements because of her race, or are she and her management less aggressive in seeking work? Or is it because she is just flat out less appealing? I'm not really into her look, I don't think it's because I'm a racist, and I wouldn't be surprised if a lot of African-America men and women aren't into it either.
Does Williams get fewer endorsements because of her race, or are she and her management less aggressive in seeking work? Or is it because she is just flat out less appealing? I'm not really into her look, I don't think it's because I'm a racist, and I wouldn't be surprised if a lot of African-America men and women aren't into it either.
9
I disagree. For example if it wasn't for social discourse and activism, females in our society will still be stuck in the 1800's with regards with career opportunities, sexual harassment, voting, etc.. Sometimes we take things for granted and need to look back and see how things came about.
4
Dear Floyd Nightingale,
Just to confirm, it was Serena Williams, she has been a major spokesperson in a recent Chase campaign and I see her on their video ad pretty much every time I go into Chase banks.
Just to confirm, it was Serena Williams, she has been a major spokesperson in a recent Chase campaign and I see her on their video ad pretty much every time I go into Chase banks.
1
People like this professor dig under every nook and cranny to find any discrepancy that is not in favor of blacks and hold it up to the light for scrutiny.
Here are some discrepancies these same people never explore:
There are 5 times more hate crimes against Jews than Muslims. Do Jews get the same amount of advocacy? Do the same people who denounce Islamaphobia and anti-black racist fight against anti-Jewish bigotry equally?
There are twice as many whites killed by blacks as visa versa and 68% of interracial violence has a black perpetrator. 3 times more whites are killed by the police then blacks. Does media coverage accurately reflect this?
Notice the racial code phrase "disputes between communities" is used almost exclusively for black on non-black violence and harassment.
Look the media coverage-both past and present- of the Crown Heights pogrom, Freddy's Fashion Mart Massacre, Sharpton's Korean boycott, and the targeting of Asian owned businesses from the 90's to Balitmore and Ferguson today. Are these framed the same way as if they were white on black? Or the victims were Muslim?
Do black activists treat bigotry by blacks the same as bigotry towards blacks?
I would love to give a similar seminar as Mr Brooks that questions the bias and attitudes of black activists and their leftist apologists but it would never see the light of day. These people have a plank in their own eye but are too busy trying to remove the speck in everyone elses to reflect on that.
Here are some discrepancies these same people never explore:
There are 5 times more hate crimes against Jews than Muslims. Do Jews get the same amount of advocacy? Do the same people who denounce Islamaphobia and anti-black racist fight against anti-Jewish bigotry equally?
There are twice as many whites killed by blacks as visa versa and 68% of interracial violence has a black perpetrator. 3 times more whites are killed by the police then blacks. Does media coverage accurately reflect this?
Notice the racial code phrase "disputes between communities" is used almost exclusively for black on non-black violence and harassment.
Look the media coverage-both past and present- of the Crown Heights pogrom, Freddy's Fashion Mart Massacre, Sharpton's Korean boycott, and the targeting of Asian owned businesses from the 90's to Balitmore and Ferguson today. Are these framed the same way as if they were white on black? Or the victims were Muslim?
Do black activists treat bigotry by blacks the same as bigotry towards blacks?
I would love to give a similar seminar as Mr Brooks that questions the bias and attitudes of black activists and their leftist apologists but it would never see the light of day. These people have a plank in their own eye but are too busy trying to remove the speck in everyone elses to reflect on that.
38
what a total waste of tuition money. All the 'diversity' talk is getting old.
25
It's easy to to dismiss the talk as getting old when you are have not experienced these types of incidents that have occurred recently. It may not be a problem for you, but there are plenty of people who can say otherwise. Understanding other perspectives helps to see a different point of view.
5
ironically, your comment is exactly the reason why we need the talk.
4
"“It’s sport. Simply, the best should earn the most money.”"
And Serena crushes Maria when it comes to income from playing the sport. As the "best" she does earn the most money. Endorsements have less to do with how great you are and more the image that you wish to present and who your market is or wish to get into. One could argue that NFL'ers like Tom Brady or JJ Watt (if you prefer defense) are the "best player" in the NFL, but they make less in endorsements than others. Danica Patrick is 3rd among NASCAR drivers, but it has less to do with her record and everything to do with the fact she is a woman in a male dominated sport. Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson haven't been "great" for several years now and both are still the highest endorsed golfers. The theory that the best athletes should get the most endorsements is absurd and the notion that Serena doesn't get as many simply because of her race is equally as absurd.
And Serena crushes Maria when it comes to income from playing the sport. As the "best" she does earn the most money. Endorsements have less to do with how great you are and more the image that you wish to present and who your market is or wish to get into. One could argue that NFL'ers like Tom Brady or JJ Watt (if you prefer defense) are the "best player" in the NFL, but they make less in endorsements than others. Danica Patrick is 3rd among NASCAR drivers, but it has less to do with her record and everything to do with the fact she is a woman in a male dominated sport. Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson haven't been "great" for several years now and both are still the highest endorsed golfers. The theory that the best athletes should get the most endorsements is absurd and the notion that Serena doesn't get as many simply because of her race is equally as absurd.
21
"Danica Patrick is 3rd among NASCAR drivers, but it has less to do with her record and everything to do with the fact she is a woman in a male dominated sport."
I am sure that the fact that Dancia Patrick is also a very good looking woman may also have something to do with her endorsement value.
I am sure that the fact that Dancia Patrick is also a very good looking woman may also have something to do with her endorsement value.
10
You are absolutely right: JJ Watt is *far*down the list of endorsement $, at... #5; Tom Brady truly suffers, at #7. You could certainly argue that that Tom Brady is better than #1, Peyton Manning... except only one of them is in the Superbowl, and it's not Brady. And the other QB in the Superbowl, y'know, the black one, isn't even in the top 10.
It's not all race by any means, but race plays a role in determining what we perceive as marketable, what we perceive as attractive, and even what communities we perceive (often incorrectly) as having sufficient purchasing power to market to. Studies have shown this over and over and over and over and over. Educate thyself.
It's not all race by any means, but race plays a role in determining what we perceive as marketable, what we perceive as attractive, and even what communities we perceive (often incorrectly) as having sufficient purchasing power to market to. Studies have shown this over and over and over and over and over. Educate thyself.
1
I will admit the gap is much wider than that when looking at a list of all athletes as compared to simply NFL'ers. I will fully admit that "far" down the list would be an overstatement based upon that. However, in terms of dollars, Watt sits at less than 60% of the top (Manning) and Brady at 50% of it....those numbers are far off.
I understand that perception will drive marketing. I understand that what one person sees as attractive, another will not and that it may be related to race. None of that changes the fact that race is not the pre-dominant factor in those decisions and therefore acting as if it does creates an even greater faulty perception. I am fully educated on the matter, but thanks for your concern ;).
I understand that perception will drive marketing. I understand that what one person sees as attractive, another will not and that it may be related to race. None of that changes the fact that race is not the pre-dominant factor in those decisions and therefore acting as if it does creates an even greater faulty perception. I am fully educated on the matter, but thanks for your concern ;).
Dr. Brooks cherry picks Ms. Williams to support his point, while ignoring that 5 of the top 10 highest paid athletes (male or female) in 2015 are African-American, including number 1. Also, number 2 on the female tennis list ahead of Ms.. Williams is Chinese - Li Na.
17
He was referring to commercial endorsements, which usually dwarfs tournament earnings.
1
It's not cherry-picking: it's a discussion, specifically, of endorsement money. You're talking about total earnings, including winnings and contract money; by that standard, yes, Floyd Mayweather, who earns $30+ million per fight for fighting *on pay-per-view*, earns the most, but if you took out his purse earnings, he'd be well down the list. The same applies to LeBron and Kevin Durant: their *contractual earnings* are huge, but only LeBron is really on par in endorsement money with, say, Roger Federer. And actually, in 2015 Li Na (who retired two years ago) doesn't even make the top 10 in earnings, so I'm not sure where you're going there. In any case, you've entirely misunderstood the discussion, and inadvertently proved the point: ONLY when looking at earnings directly from playing the sport do black athletes earn amounts commensurate to their performance. Outside of that direct meritocracy, they earn less.
2
Right. You are entitled to your own opinions, but not your own facts. Endorsements, Forbes list, 2015 rankings:
1. Sharapova: $23M
2. Na: $18M
3. Williams: $13M
Males, top endorsements 2015?
1. Woods: $65M
4. James $42M
5. Kobe $34M
Retired?
1. Michael Jordan: $75M
Clearly its race that explains Williams. Couldn't be anything else.
1. Sharapova: $23M
2. Na: $18M
3. Williams: $13M
Males, top endorsements 2015?
1. Woods: $65M
4. James $42M
5. Kobe $34M
Retired?
1. Michael Jordan: $75M
Clearly its race that explains Williams. Couldn't be anything else.
4
It is good to know that families can invest a lot of money, and students four years of their lives, pondering questions such as "Which tennis star is better looking?"
Let's hope that there are employers who are willing to pay top dollar for graduates who have an informed and carefully reasoned opinion on the subject!
Let's hope that there are employers who are willing to pay top dollar for graduates who have an informed and carefully reasoned opinion on the subject!
21
There is a big difference between crystalized intelligence and fluid intelligence. Your comment reflects a form of crystalized intelligence whereas employers pay more for fluid intelligence.
Well now.. this fits quite well with the article about the Sacramento Kings cancelling a celebration of the Year of the Monkey because a t-shirt with a monkey on it might be construed as offensive to black people given that.. wait for it... it is ALSO black history month. I don't often find the WSJ on point these days but when they compared these sort of people to "Little Robespierres" they were exactly right. This is what happened with Occupy Wall Street. What started out as a legitimate movement based on very real and important concerns quickly turned into a bunch of moralizing by faux-intellectuals. And now ears that were once sympathetic to the cause find your cries of intolerance specious and insulting.
20
When will there be an honest discussion asking black people to explore their own biases? If we are truly to live as equals, then BOTH white and black must be willing to take responsibility for their thoughts and actions. This problem cannot be solved by simply brow-beating white people over and over again.
Years ago, I belonged to a group called People Reaching Out for Unity & Diversity. It was created as a way to foster open dialogue and build bridges between the races. The problem was nearly every single meeting drew way more whites than blacks, and nearly every discussion devolved into "white shaming."
Yes, racism is a sad part of our history. But white mindsets have changed greatly in the past 50 years - perhaps more than black mindsets - and we're never going to heal and come together until both sides are held equally accountable. It IS possible for black people to be racist, no matter how much the grievance industry tries to distort the definition of that word.
Years ago, I belonged to a group called People Reaching Out for Unity & Diversity. It was created as a way to foster open dialogue and build bridges between the races. The problem was nearly every single meeting drew way more whites than blacks, and nearly every discussion devolved into "white shaming."
Yes, racism is a sad part of our history. But white mindsets have changed greatly in the past 50 years - perhaps more than black mindsets - and we're never going to heal and come together until both sides are held equally accountable. It IS possible for black people to be racist, no matter how much the grievance industry tries to distort the definition of that word.
79
Does anyone ever ask themselves whether or not there is, at least to some degree, a self-initiated coming together of persons of any ethnic or racial persuasion when placed into a new and intimidating environment such as a large state university campus? Doesn't it make at least a modicum of sense that people with shared life experiences and cultural similarities actually feel more comfortable with one another than they do with people who are different? Or is this an inherently evil and racist notion in and of itself? Forming friendships and relationships with those similar to one's selves are natural and to forcibly interrupt that process is to simply ignore human nature.
Sometimes common sense reveals what may not be acceptable to those who live and work exclusively among like-minded intellectuals. Guess what? Not everyone with a properly functioning intellect agrees with you!
Sometimes common sense reveals what may not be acceptable to those who live and work exclusively among like-minded intellectuals. Guess what? Not everyone with a properly functioning intellect agrees with you!
1
Campus protests obscures the fact that the racial and ethnic disparity in college admissions is not nearly as great as most people imagine. White students are under-represented on college campuses nationwide, including many “flagship” public universities and elite private schools. According to a recent Pew Research survey, white students make up 59 percent of high school graduates and 58 percent of college students. Blacks make up 16 percent of high school graduates and 14 percent of college students. Hispanics make up 18 percent of high school graduates and 19 percent of college students. Asian make up 6 percent of college graduates and 7 percent of college graduates. Students categorized as “other” make up 1 percent of high school graduates and 2 percent of college students. Since non-Hispanic white students are under-represented nationwide, it’s not as if they are taking slots that should go to minorities. The racial and ethnic gap appears in the percentages of college graduates, not in college freshmen. Non-Hispanic whites make up 69 percent of college graduates, Hispanics make up 9 percent, blacks make up 9 percent and Asian make up 11 percent. Black students drop out of college at higher rates, but most dropouts are white students.
http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2014/04/24/more-hispanics-blacks-en...
http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2014/04/24/more-hispanics-blacks-en...
7
It is not race it is looks, if Williams looked like Imam she would have more endorsement.
The pretty girl or boy gets the most money and attention, I speak from experience, not that good looking, had more talent be looks matter.
New phrase looks don't matter
The pretty girl or boy gets the most money and attention, I speak from experience, not that good looking, had more talent be looks matter.
New phrase looks don't matter
15
I had the same reaction. Serena is pretty but not as pretty and advertisers will clearly go after the more attractive over the more talented. That an intelligent man would ask such a question makes me wonder if his own vision is not skewed by personal emotion. It makes every thing else he says dubious, driven by suppositions formed from his own bias.
18
I am ready and willing to accept and acknowledge that Maria Sharapova receives more endorsement offers than Serena Williams because of her race. (I am Euro-American, however, and I LOVE Serena!) But the presentation being covered by this article takes place at a university. So, I want to see the evidence base for Prof. Brooks's assertion. A scholar cannot be allowed to get away with the implicit argument of "Isn't the reason obvious?" We once thought it was obvious that the world was flat. So, what are the numbers of offers Sharapova has had versus those that come Serena's way? What is the monetary value of those offers? Without evidence (I suspect he actually has it), Prof. Brooks's remarks are just more opinion based on emotion.
Now, this is nitpicking about scholarship. Is race, racialism, racism, race-based-you-name-it deeply embedded in US culture? Yah.
Now, this is nitpicking about scholarship. Is race, racialism, racism, race-based-you-name-it deeply embedded in US culture? Yah.
13
Wow, the comments here are bizarre. I'm white and I'm disturbed by the white people making these comments. These classes are just about talking. Why can't you handle talking about these issues? What's the big deal?
So many people here seem to be freaked out by the mere discussion of differences and how it feels to be treated different ways. I don't get it. If you have nothing to be guilty about, why be so defensive?
So many people here seem to be freaked out by the mere discussion of differences and how it feels to be treated different ways. I don't get it. If you have nothing to be guilty about, why be so defensive?
13
Thanks for setting yourself up in judgment over your fellow commenters. I think one objection is that it is mandatory. Liberals object when pregnant women are given talks about adoption, why should students be forced to sit through these sessions?
18
sfdphd,
most of us are paying hard earned money to learn, not to listen to racist nonsense. If other students have time and money to waste, fine by me. But there is no reason I need to waste it.
most of us are paying hard earned money to learn, not to listen to racist nonsense. If other students have time and money to waste, fine by me. But there is no reason I need to waste it.
13
I'd wager there are rules about what topics and opinions the white students are allowed to express.
3
So I went and did some digging. It appears admissions into the University of Missouri is pretty straightforward. If a student's composite score is 24 or above on the ACT and he/she has completed the core curriculum with satisfactory grades they're guaranteed admission.
http://admissions.missouri.edu/apply/freshmen/requirements/high-school-c...
According to the most recent state level ACT score report for Missouri, blacks made up 12% of the Class of '15 test takers. Whites made up 75% of the class of '15 test takers.
The black average composite score was 17.3, the average composite score of whites was 22.6. Even though the standard deviation is not listed it's safe to assume only a fraction of black test takers scored above a 24. So only a fraction of a minority can reach the standard whereas a little less than half of the majority can reach the standard.
Unless Mizzou drastically reduces standards it can never replicate the black population of the state at Mizzou, unless it goes out of state or even the country to find them. Even that would be a long shot since Missouri isn't an outlier in terms of ACT scores by race.
The so called lack of diversity at Mizzou is the result of basic statistics, something I'm assuming is being taught at Mizzou.
https://www.act.org/newsroom/data/2015/pdf/profile/Missouri.pdf
http://admissions.missouri.edu/apply/freshmen/requirements/high-school-c...
According to the most recent state level ACT score report for Missouri, blacks made up 12% of the Class of '15 test takers. Whites made up 75% of the class of '15 test takers.
The black average composite score was 17.3, the average composite score of whites was 22.6. Even though the standard deviation is not listed it's safe to assume only a fraction of black test takers scored above a 24. So only a fraction of a minority can reach the standard whereas a little less than half of the majority can reach the standard.
Unless Mizzou drastically reduces standards it can never replicate the black population of the state at Mizzou, unless it goes out of state or even the country to find them. Even that would be a long shot since Missouri isn't an outlier in terms of ACT scores by race.
The so called lack of diversity at Mizzou is the result of basic statistics, something I'm assuming is being taught at Mizzou.
https://www.act.org/newsroom/data/2015/pdf/profile/Missouri.pdf
42
Wow, someone else finally gets it! My daughter is a white student at Mizzou. While in high school, the school counselor told her not to even apply to MU because of the eligibility requirements. She busted her butt through high school, and achieved a 28 on the ACT, and a great GPA finishing near the top of her class. If they want more diversity at the school, then they need to put pressure on their younger peers to to better in high school and apply themselves to earn the grades needed to attend the university. It's as simple as that.
12
Since you want to be so specific regarding statistics theory; without knowing exactly the number of black students taking the act exam it is impossible to know if the number of black students that scored above 24 on the act can be recruited to achieve a more proportionate student population. The average reported score is of limited value.
@kk - It seems highly unlikely. If a black guy in Missouri scored 28 on his ACT, a helicopter would land on his lawn, and the president of Harvard would jump out and grab him.
6
On the so-called profiling as one black student tries protect himself by "(One student pulls into the nearest gas station when he sees the police behind him.)"
Would S. Brook, in his academic abilities, admit that profiling aimed at white men is a standard, nationwide applied practice by a police of any color.
I, a a professional at retirement age with white hair, am subjected to profiling every day.
When there is a scene where police arrives, do policemen look at women or children as possible culprit of any violence?
No, they first look closely at men (of any color), they look at me.
I can tell you and any "activists" and academia many situations when I, with zero of even the smallest record, have been profiled, feeling humiliated, etc. only because I am a male.
When I walk on a street, especially at night, females seem to start holding on their purses more tightly, speeding up their walk, in general, acting more alertly and in "stranger-danger" way.
Even i elevator I am subjected from females all degrees of "uneasiness".
And at home? If a police might be notified that a pan or a cup was thrown there ... are they going to look first at me or at my wife?
So, why are no activists etc. in the streets, why they don't protest, burn a couple of city blocks? Why US DOJ is not launching inquiry into systemic profiling of (all) men?
Might this profiling something to do with the fact that we, males, are 9-times more likely to commit violent crimes? So I suffer for that.
Would S. Brook, in his academic abilities, admit that profiling aimed at white men is a standard, nationwide applied practice by a police of any color.
I, a a professional at retirement age with white hair, am subjected to profiling every day.
When there is a scene where police arrives, do policemen look at women or children as possible culprit of any violence?
No, they first look closely at men (of any color), they look at me.
I can tell you and any "activists" and academia many situations when I, with zero of even the smallest record, have been profiled, feeling humiliated, etc. only because I am a male.
When I walk on a street, especially at night, females seem to start holding on their purses more tightly, speeding up their walk, in general, acting more alertly and in "stranger-danger" way.
Even i elevator I am subjected from females all degrees of "uneasiness".
And at home? If a police might be notified that a pan or a cup was thrown there ... are they going to look first at me or at my wife?
So, why are no activists etc. in the streets, why they don't protest, burn a couple of city blocks? Why US DOJ is not launching inquiry into systemic profiling of (all) men?
Might this profiling something to do with the fact that we, males, are 9-times more likely to commit violent crimes? So I suffer for that.
12
Why wouldn't we fear? For the most part, men are stronger than women, and we live in a society where far too many men expect women to subjugate themselves to men's desires. Women walk down a random street and complete strangers feel the need to comment on her appearance. If a compliment is given and not welcomed, the woman is often immediately subjected to verbal abuse, as though she were obligated to want and appreciate catcalls. Domestic violence perpetrators are primarily men, and their victims are primarily women. Yes, I know the opposite occurs, as do same-gender violence, but the majority is male violence towards women. Rape victims are blamed for their own attacks - her clothes were too slutty, she asked for it, if she were really a good girl she wouldn't have gotten herself in that situation, etc., etc. You dislike our unease? We dislike the risk to our bodies and our lives. I'd love to live in a world where unsafe parts of town for me are always more numerous than that for men. I'd love to live in a world where male high school athletes don't gangrape an unconscious female peer and videotape the assault, and the town rallies around the athletes because boys will be boys and why'd she put herself in that situation? I'd love to live in a world where incoming college girls aren't universally told to make sure they protect their drinks so that they don't get slipped date-rape drugs. I'd love to live in a world where I don't have to hurt your tender feelings with my fear.
3
This lecture starts with women's pro tennis and asks why Sharapova gets more endorsements than Serena Williams.
First, does the author know how many offers each turns down? Without knowing the total, use of the word "more" is disengenous. maybe Serena turns down 80% of the offers she gets.
And a reminder to the author and to Dr. Brooks at UM: marketability is a completely different thing than merit. And yes, in sports, the best earn the most. That does not mean they are entitled to the most lucrative endorsement contracts.
First, does the author know how many offers each turns down? Without knowing the total, use of the word "more" is disengenous. maybe Serena turns down 80% of the offers she gets.
And a reminder to the author and to Dr. Brooks at UM: marketability is a completely different thing than merit. And yes, in sports, the best earn the most. That does not mean they are entitled to the most lucrative endorsement contracts.
64
Simple: Ms. Williams needs better lawyers.
2
It appears to be a good, productive start. I wish them success! It's a big, thorny discussion but it must be done if we are ever to go forward.
2
The more I read about these forced classes on race, diversity, and inclusion, the more I appreciate my reclusive life.
22
A professor is going to use sports endorsement earnings to demonstrate racism? Really? Cam Newton makes more in endorsement deals than Tom Brady, Drew Brees, or Aaron Rogers, despite being relatively new to the game and unproven. I guess I should be surprised by this, according to the logic of this article, instead of rationally assuming he's well-paid because his personality, appearance, and performance on the field are appealing to marketers. Ever heard of (or seen on TV) Tiger Woods, Michael Jordan, Robert Griffin III (who was munching on Subway sandwiches in TV ads in his first season), Reggie Bush, LeBron James... the list goes on and on and on. The Times' approach to this issue is extremely disappointing.
24
It is a shame that Scott Brooks' students aren't keen enough to pose the question, Why does Peyton Manning make twice the endorsement income of Brady? Brady has won more Super Bowls. Peyton also makes more than his little brother, who has also won more. Humm... I wonder what conspiracy is driving this.
19
great example of disparity with the tennis players. maybe if one of them didn't look like a steroid injected man and was a little articulate she would have more sponsors? Why do so many black professional sports players have so many shoe deals and no white man does? why dont we have more white basketball players? Guess affirmative action is a one way street.
16
How to explain Charlie's Theron getting $55 million a year from Dior– Melissa McCarthy sold many more tickets last year – why didn't she get the deal? Michael Jordan gets $60 million a year from Nike, he hasn't played in more than a decade. Beyoncé gets $50 million a year from Pepsi – is that racism? Why is the list of highest-paid athlete endorsers filled with tennis and golf players? Where are the baseball players? Answer – nobody's out there selling baseball equipment to the masses. It's very facile and easy to try and blame it on racism. And it suits the New York Times to write a front-page article on it. It doesn't make it true.
33
Is there any evidence whatsoever that Sharapova makes more money in endorsements than William because of race? Ignore the fact that Williams has earned more that twice Sharapova in winnings. So indeed Williams does earn more, in their field. Can't find racism there, so we need to look elsewhere.
Never mind Sharapova looks like a swimsuit model, that cant be the reason she earns more in endorsements.... Its really a big silent racist conspiracy to keep William from being even richer than she is..
I suppose the fact that Federer make more in endorsements than Sharapova is sexism?
Please.
Never mind Sharapova looks like a swimsuit model, that cant be the reason she earns more in endorsements.... Its really a big silent racist conspiracy to keep William from being even richer than she is..
I suppose the fact that Federer make more in endorsements than Sharapova is sexism?
Please.
11
Do you consider Oprah in this category as she's done pretty well. Frankly, the race divide is because of AA and the resentment whites feel over it. Asians well exceed whites in admissions and employment but you don't see resentment b/c whites well know Asians earned their success. Not so with AA, its not earned but granted, not good. People even look at Obama and draw the same conclusion - ie when Clinton referred to Obama as "fairy tale."
Sorry but i have no sympathy here to offer, if you look for special treatment you will get what goes with it, resentment.
Sorry but i have no sympathy here to offer, if you look for special treatment you will get what goes with it, resentment.
18
This isn't a conversation, it's a harangue. No wonder students squirm.
29
This is a self-created problem.
If the liberal administrators and educators push for diversity, and admit every minority teenager they can find without regard to merit, then the white students who worked hard to get in are going to be contemptuous. They can then brand this contempt as evil racism, and order more diversity courses and more minority students.
This will work for a while, until the militants demand that all administrators and professors be fired immediately, and all the white students kicked out. Then a strange silence will descend over the campus, as the powers that be explain the realities of life to their erstwhile clients. Check out Oberlin president Marvin Krislov - "OK, kiddies, we've had enough, back to your classes."
If the liberal administrators and educators push for diversity, and admit every minority teenager they can find without regard to merit, then the white students who worked hard to get in are going to be contemptuous. They can then brand this contempt as evil racism, and order more diversity courses and more minority students.
This will work for a while, until the militants demand that all administrators and professors be fired immediately, and all the white students kicked out. Then a strange silence will descend over the campus, as the powers that be explain the realities of life to their erstwhile clients. Check out Oberlin president Marvin Krislov - "OK, kiddies, we've had enough, back to your classes."
22
My college educated daughter mentioned that she and her fellow students used to demonstrate about all kinds of nonsense, which was allowed and ignored by the administration, as it should be.
Students are basically tall children. Best not to let them rule the roost.
Students are basically tall children. Best not to let them rule the roost.
4
What do I care about insane people who are talking to each other - and at best, distracting us from the real issues?
10
I am a white student. It is OK if I mention that I was mugged by those "of color"? Also, what happens when I state, in these mandatory classes, that blacks have many problems for which I, as a white, have no blame. Illegitimacy for example. This one factor explains black poverty far more than "racism" and "discrimination" can ever today. Yet, these classes will no doubt not mention this or claim that I , as a white, "owe" blacks. Reverse discrimination is praised and facilitated on campus (look at black only frats , clubs, dining spaces). If whites did this they would be attacked as "racist".
All white people should rise up against this racism. They should say enough is enough.
All white people should rise up against this racism. They should say enough is enough.
58
Rise up against what? You already run most of the world, what are you so afraid of?
3
Buingo!
And you are very courageous to even mentioned it.
The establishment and its "progressive" arm are not at all interested in any "conversation", just manipulating and silencing the majority.
And you are very courageous to even mentioned it.
The establishment and its "progressive" arm are not at all interested in any "conversation", just manipulating and silencing the majority.
2
Bravo. Imagine that, white people actually standing up for their rights. I hope it's catching, because it's about time.
1
As long as the priority for institutes of (higher) learning are things like inclusion classes and unconstitutional rape tribunals (which the Federal Government is pushing through its Title IX funding) we are failing as a society to prepare our children for the real world with these types of classes and behavioral modification exercises.
In the meantime, social justice warriors manage to inject themselves and their agendas into every facet of college life, to the detriment of the student, the teacher and the institution, because "it's needed." And it's paid for by everyone's taxes.
Yup. That's a recipe for success. If you work in the government or academia.
In the meantime, social justice warriors manage to inject themselves and their agendas into every facet of college life, to the detriment of the student, the teacher and the institution, because "it's needed." And it's paid for by everyone's taxes.
Yup. That's a recipe for success. If you work in the government or academia.
21
For all others, a GOP presidential candidate will be stopping by your campus to solicit your vote.
So the Dems think that millenials would never consider voting GOP, eh? Maybe they just haven't been asked yet.
So the Dems think that millenials would never consider voting GOP, eh? Maybe they just haven't been asked yet.
2
Jonathan, its not being asked. Its get a more reasonable set of candidates. If there were, I would more likely vote for them.
@yoda - Ted Cruz is a skilled constitutional lawyer. Here is what e would tell these young men:
"Look, it's illegal and unconstitutional to put you on trial without any rights. If a government court took away your lawyer and didn't allow you to cross-examine witnesses, the conviction would be thrown out by the appeals court. So how is it fair for the government to tell colleges that they have to take away your rights, or they won't get any Federal funds? Sure, the college can't send you to jail, but it can ruin your career and your life. The Federal government is clearly using its power to get around the Constitution, and persecute disfavored individuals indirectly. Maybe the Supreme Court won't call this illegal, but if you vote for me I'll make sure the case doesn't come up."
Applause, and votes. Maybe not all the votes, but more votes than a GOP candidate has ever received from college-educated men in the 18-29 year-old-bracket.
"Look, it's illegal and unconstitutional to put you on trial without any rights. If a government court took away your lawyer and didn't allow you to cross-examine witnesses, the conviction would be thrown out by the appeals court. So how is it fair for the government to tell colleges that they have to take away your rights, or they won't get any Federal funds? Sure, the college can't send you to jail, but it can ruin your career and your life. The Federal government is clearly using its power to get around the Constitution, and persecute disfavored individuals indirectly. Maybe the Supreme Court won't call this illegal, but if you vote for me I'll make sure the case doesn't come up."
Applause, and votes. Maybe not all the votes, but more votes than a GOP candidate has ever received from college-educated men in the 18-29 year-old-bracket.
As used in this context, the term "inclusion" strikes me as something forced and mandatory. I can't think of a better way to get people to resist than making something mandatory. Isn't it a better approach to use "persuasion" ?
Also, using personal anecdotes as the centerpiece of an argument is quite ineffective. It prompts those of the opposing views to come up with their own personal anecdotes. Then, the discussion quickly devolves into dueling anecdotes. Persuasion, built upon fact, analysis and , above all, trying to get people to open their minds just a bit seems a more effective approach to me.
Whatever approach is taken, this will continue to be a long slog. Biases are deeply entrenched among all of the races and it will,take quite a bit longer to unwind them.
Also, using personal anecdotes as the centerpiece of an argument is quite ineffective. It prompts those of the opposing views to come up with their own personal anecdotes. Then, the discussion quickly devolves into dueling anecdotes. Persuasion, built upon fact, analysis and , above all, trying to get people to open their minds just a bit seems a more effective approach to me.
Whatever approach is taken, this will continue to be a long slog. Biases are deeply entrenched among all of the races and it will,take quite a bit longer to unwind them.
11
Yet more nonsense from the cottage industry of '' diversity and inclusion''.
49
Yes- there are indeed national specialists in this area. They go all over the country preaching to people and getting a lot of $.
9
Do you want to see people getting along from all races. Go to a sporting event. Look in the stands. All races cheering for their team! Americans need something to cheer about, together. Don't force it. Create conditions where people want to come together. Even Lakewood Church in Houston is a diverse racial body, because they have the same thing in common. That's how you do it.
17
Yeah, but the New York Times and various academics and "activists" don't have anything to do with us getting along at sporting events, so it doesn't count.
3
'Diversity' is an intellectually bankrupt concept. it is, for all intents and purposes 'coloring by the numbers' with no allowance given to merit or other factors. As one commentator put it: It's like you have two handfuls of M&Ms - One handful is all brown colored and the other handful is all different colors and after eating all of them in both hands, you declare the all different colored ones more like real chocolate! Diversity pretends to be the heir to affirmative action when it is little more than the bastard child of reverse discrimination. There is simply, not enough bad things we can say about it. To even utter the term 'inclusiveness' in the same breath is to demean and harm that noble concept that all points of view and people - which include merit - should be taken into account and that all persons have a seat at the table in America. And did you notice that 'all persons' doesn't necessarily mean having the right to sit at the head of the table simply by virtue one's skin color - which is exactly the pablum espoused by the concept of diversity? I shudder to wonder what ever took our nation down such a masquerade of 'fairness' to accept such a degrading concept. We are a great country and we are stronger when we include as many of our people as possible in everything, but to color by the numbers is not fairness - it's bigotry and the evils of racial discrimination with very nice make-up plastered on it.
20
First, race seems to be about all students talk about these days. As for Serena vs. Maria, I agree that racial biases play a factor. But there might be ways to measure the degree of that factor. Not to be overly shallow, but how about segregating populations by race and asking those attracted to women whom they find more attractive? Or rating them on a scale of attractiveness within their race (in other words, in my shallow universe, Maria is a lot closer to Giselle than Serena is to Beyoncé)? I must be unbelievably biased if Maria did not come out ahead on that. If so, sorry.
And as far as "implicit biases" on campus, doesn't it make sense that by definition the skills needed for success are biased toward those cultures who have stressed and nurtured those same skills over the last few thousand years and invented the concept of formal education in a group setting?
And as far as "implicit biases" on campus, doesn't it make sense that by definition the skills needed for success are biased toward those cultures who have stressed and nurtured those same skills over the last few thousand years and invented the concept of formal education in a group setting?
7
Maria also earn more in endorsements than the four white women who also or ranked ahead of her in the tennis rankings.
9
I attended the University of Missouri and lived in Columbia several years. The racial divide is a lie. It is pure political exploitation and McCarthyism. Give in to the demands or be demonized as a racist and possibly have your career ruined. The problem there is the lack of courage to stand up to it.
56
This will "fix" racism at the university level? Is this a joke? Many non-Asian "minorities", a much larger proportion than whites, are unable to graduate due to lack of preparation from the high school level. Hence they cannot graduate or take much longer than needed. Perhaps these resources can be better spent on getting these students up to speed. This will do much more to improve their prospects in life and the job market than the recommendations made in this article.
29
So; when's 'Asian history month? Or, perhaps, Polish-American History month?
Here's another query? Who's the 'spokesperson' for Italian-American? No?, then, maybe the Irish-AMerican 'spokesperson?'
I bring these things up, because, those - like ANYthing, which has happened (in the US) since starting to follow what's known as 'P.C., politically correct' thinking has been utterly DE-structive.
In addition, of the couture which initially founded P.C., 3 of the (I believe it was 4-5) countries have STOPPED following it.
Why? It's been four to be destructive to the nationality of it's citizens.
Most people are familiar with snow. A single, solitary flake, is delicate, and fragile. But, if an area gets hit by a snowstorm as we just had here in NYC (By the way: it's 1" of rain = 10" of snow), that mass of snow can cause huge problems.
Nothing - absolutely nothing - 'gains' through such singularity. It's only through engaging, grouping, strength is able to happen.
I'm willing to bet this whole 'racial discussion' doesn't include any of the aforementioned groups - or ANY group, other than one, in particular, and that singling out, in itself is only destructive.
Here's another query? Who's the 'spokesperson' for Italian-American? No?, then, maybe the Irish-AMerican 'spokesperson?'
I bring these things up, because, those - like ANYthing, which has happened (in the US) since starting to follow what's known as 'P.C., politically correct' thinking has been utterly DE-structive.
In addition, of the couture which initially founded P.C., 3 of the (I believe it was 4-5) countries have STOPPED following it.
Why? It's been four to be destructive to the nationality of it's citizens.
Most people are familiar with snow. A single, solitary flake, is delicate, and fragile. But, if an area gets hit by a snowstorm as we just had here in NYC (By the way: it's 1" of rain = 10" of snow), that mass of snow can cause huge problems.
Nothing - absolutely nothing - 'gains' through such singularity. It's only through engaging, grouping, strength is able to happen.
I'm willing to bet this whole 'racial discussion' doesn't include any of the aforementioned groups - or ANY group, other than one, in particular, and that singling out, in itself is only destructive.
16
There is no racial divide. The so called racial divide is nothing more than political exploitation. The charge of racism is used as a political weapon to blackmail others into giving them what they want. Racism is modern day McCarthyism. Disagree or don't give them what they want then you will be demonized, attacked, and ruined.
42
Yes, it sounds like Mao's China. Agree with us or be castigated in the most public way possible. If they could they'd march you out into the quad with a sign reading, "I'm guilty of _____"
13
Has anybody made the point that Beyonce - who also has a big butt and more muscular build--is the highest paid most desired woman in the world?
I personally find it outrageous that Maria is higher paid than Serena, but I think it has more to do with our beauty ideals (Beyonce has the big almond eyes, small nose and big lips current convention favors). If you want to talk about the injustice in that situation...it's that Serena has to be one of the greatest athletes of all time (she is on most lists) AND beautiful AND gracious AND media savvy. Long list for the ladies!
I wish this wasn't the example highlighted by the article when there are SO MANY systematic injustices our system has perpetrated against our black citizenry. From Jim Crow, to the way Social Security was rolled out to exclude them, to the way we've dealt with black health epidemics vs white (hello heroin addiction in NH), to the criminal justice system (crack vs cocaine sentencing) to the Syphilis Study, to zoning laws which kept black families out of building equity in the nice neighborhoods, to sharecropping into the 1950s, to the way government farm loans were given out to the farmers, to the predatory housing loans before the recession. I haven't even taken one of these courses! I have just started paying attention.
Serena's compensation is straw man argument in comparison!
-Former Division I Tennis Player and Serena Fan
I personally find it outrageous that Maria is higher paid than Serena, but I think it has more to do with our beauty ideals (Beyonce has the big almond eyes, small nose and big lips current convention favors). If you want to talk about the injustice in that situation...it's that Serena has to be one of the greatest athletes of all time (she is on most lists) AND beautiful AND gracious AND media savvy. Long list for the ladies!
I wish this wasn't the example highlighted by the article when there are SO MANY systematic injustices our system has perpetrated against our black citizenry. From Jim Crow, to the way Social Security was rolled out to exclude them, to the way we've dealt with black health epidemics vs white (hello heroin addiction in NH), to the criminal justice system (crack vs cocaine sentencing) to the Syphilis Study, to zoning laws which kept black families out of building equity in the nice neighborhoods, to sharecropping into the 1950s, to the way government farm loans were given out to the farmers, to the predatory housing loans before the recession. I haven't even taken one of these courses! I have just started paying attention.
Serena's compensation is straw man argument in comparison!
-Former Division I Tennis Player and Serena Fan
7
I believe that if Naomi Campbell would be able to hold a racket and be ranked even at 150th place she would make more money in endorsement than Williams.
Than, of course the problem (of the white male patriarchy system) would not be, among liberals and "academia" as Scott Brooks, the race but "sexual stereotypes".
BTW: When our HS daughters spend so much money and time of their cosmetics (yes, they are great STEM-future medicine students:) I never heard from their boyfriends that they care about or even like if they have a make up. Our daughters insist on having (light, "tasteful") makeup, not me or their boyfriends or any males.
Than, of course the problem (of the white male patriarchy system) would not be, among liberals and "academia" as Scott Brooks, the race but "sexual stereotypes".
BTW: When our HS daughters spend so much money and time of their cosmetics (yes, they are great STEM-future medicine students:) I never heard from their boyfriends that they care about or even like if they have a make up. Our daughters insist on having (light, "tasteful") makeup, not me or their boyfriends or any males.
2
Ask Naomi Campbell what it's like being a Black supermodel and whether or not she makes more money than Kate Moss?
Why do discussions about "minorities" in the New York Times always exclude Asians? Is it because the stereotype of Asians is that they are law-abiding, hard-working, highly educated, high achieving and generally successful? And as a result Asians do not fit the New York Times stereotype that "minorities" (through no fault of their own, of course) cannot succeed because of racism? The fact is that Asians in America encountered extreme discrimination, including the Chinese Exclusion Act and mass murder. They just refused to let discrimination keep them down, in the same way the Jews did not.
154
Dear Ernesto Tin,
You do have a good point, and likewise the Italians, Irish, Polish, and many other immigrant groups likewise refused to be oppressed and managed to achieve success in America. The Native Americans didn't as much, they are still more impoverished than the average.
And I think Native Americans and black people share a reason for the seeming greater difficulty in assimilating and succeeding: disenfranchisement. Black people were generally brought here as slaves, and when they were finally freed, most started with nothing; no inheritance, no land, no established businesses. They were systematically denied jobs and education due to racism, and they had no powerful group trying to help them. Likewise Native Americans had their land taken, were relegated to reservations, and were denied jobs and education.
I think the centuries of extreme oppression these groups suffered had more of an impact than the oppression of most other groups, particularly on their culture. When people are robbed of opportunity that much, they probably stop trying after many generations of that sort of treatment.
You do have a good point, and likewise the Italians, Irish, Polish, and many other immigrant groups likewise refused to be oppressed and managed to achieve success in America. The Native Americans didn't as much, they are still more impoverished than the average.
And I think Native Americans and black people share a reason for the seeming greater difficulty in assimilating and succeeding: disenfranchisement. Black people were generally brought here as slaves, and when they were finally freed, most started with nothing; no inheritance, no land, no established businesses. They were systematically denied jobs and education due to racism, and they had no powerful group trying to help them. Likewise Native Americans had their land taken, were relegated to reservations, and were denied jobs and education.
I think the centuries of extreme oppression these groups suffered had more of an impact than the oppression of most other groups, particularly on their culture. When people are robbed of opportunity that much, they probably stop trying after many generations of that sort of treatment.
3
'They just refused to let discrimination keep them down, in the same way the Jews did not.' Exactly because wallowing in victimhood or, worse, demanding engineered benefits, is usually counter productive in the end.
29
I know. I have heard the same comments here in my University where I work, where we are trying to create the culture of inclusion. Asian (foreign, non-American) students have spoken about how they get slowly shunned out of a conversation since they are not that quick with the spoken English. And soon, they get relegated to the side lines, or completely outside of a normal community. And it is not an overt type of racism, but it is, to the person encountering it. It is a problem that needs a clear solution.
4
Why should students have to attend a seminar on diversity? Regardless of the tone of this article, it sure sounds like another leftist indoctrination plan to me. What about diversity of thought? When you have left-wing professors like Melissa Click calling for some"muscle" to throw journalists out of a protest so that it could not be covered, one cannot help but wonder about the university. Most white people understand that the only safe thing that they can do in such a seminar is to keep their mouths shut. By offering a dissenting opinion, there is a good chance that they will suffer repercussions.
It is a well known fact the overwhelming majority of college professors are well to the left of center. Thank God I graduated before that happened.
It is a well known fact the overwhelming majority of college professors are well to the left of center. Thank God I graduated before that happened.
44
Before anyone concludes a solution is self-evident let alone simple, consider yesterday's article in the Times, "Sacramento Kings Pull ‘Year of the Monkey’ Shirts From Seats."
The Kings, to honor the Chinese New Year, were going to give out to fans free T-shirts emblazoned with a monkey graphic and referencing that this was the "Year of the Monkey", the designation on the Chinese cyclical calendar. Some Black players objected, (at least partly) because it was the first day of Black History Month, and the shirts were pulled back before the fans were let in to the game.
As I see it, the only clear thing is that some of the shirts will mysteriously make their way onto e-bay, where they will make the sellers lots of money.
The Kings, to honor the Chinese New Year, were going to give out to fans free T-shirts emblazoned with a monkey graphic and referencing that this was the "Year of the Monkey", the designation on the Chinese cyclical calendar. Some Black players objected, (at least partly) because it was the first day of Black History Month, and the shirts were pulled back before the fans were let in to the game.
As I see it, the only clear thing is that some of the shirts will mysteriously make their way onto e-bay, where they will make the sellers lots of money.
22
" . . . a session organized by R. Bowen Loftin, the flagship’s chancellor at the time, to allow black students to air their concerns after the fatal police shooting of Michael Brown in nearby Ferguson."
What about organizing a session to allow ALL students (and alumni) to air their concerns about the assault by Michael Brown on a white police officer whose career has been ruined by people who spread lies about what happened? ("Hands up, don't shoot", etc.)
The Justice Department's investigation into Michael Brown's suicide-by-cop clears Officer Darren Wilson, but the lies continue.
http://www.justice.gov/sites/default/files/opa/press-releases/attachment...
That's why honest discussion about race cannot take place. The demand by some that others PRETEND to believe lies makes it impossible.
What about organizing a session to allow ALL students (and alumni) to air their concerns about the assault by Michael Brown on a white police officer whose career has been ruined by people who spread lies about what happened? ("Hands up, don't shoot", etc.)
The Justice Department's investigation into Michael Brown's suicide-by-cop clears Officer Darren Wilson, but the lies continue.
http://www.justice.gov/sites/default/files/opa/press-releases/attachment...
That's why honest discussion about race cannot take place. The demand by some that others PRETEND to believe lies makes it impossible.
49
Why do I get paid less as a short overweight engineer relative to a tall skinny one with the exact same qualifications? Because simply, one is hot, the other is not.
21
Bingo!
The American people would be both amazed and appalled to learn what our children are being encouraged or forced to study at American colleges under the rubric of diversity and inclusion. Critical race theory, which struggles to find oppression and victimization in all manner of human interaction, is being foisted upon students in the form of mandatory orientations or core components of social studies curricula. And every other class of alleged victims has gotten into the act, such that our students are being force-fed critical gender studies, critical sexual orientation studies -- you name it. Few outside of the cloistered worlds of academics and "social justice" activists would find any real scholarship in this nonsense, yet, as this article indicates, it is driving university policy. Indeed, few in the university community would even dare question it for fear of being tagged as a racist, sexist, ableist, homophobic pig unfit to work in the academic world. Conscientious parents would do well to examine this stuff before sending off that next tuition check.
56
It is time to use (Jessie Jackson & Son) "activism" and start boycotting colleges such as UofMissouri, including not having our kids applying there. Our twins just did that, withdrawing the application after "need some muscles here" call from the faculty member.
1
I think parents and other concerned citizens need to organize to put a stop to the takeover of our nation's universities and colleges.
1
This a major step forward for race, gender and gender identity in the United States. With inclusion, we can all separate into our own safe spaces with unity of community built on self identification of respect.
1
I think it's great that Mizzou is finally working on the problem of racial discrimination and inequality. But I wonder how effective it can be when they're starting at the college level. For example, the article states that the student population is about 7% black people, and the faculty only 3%. It seems reasonable the first thing to do to bolster inclusiveness would be increase the number of black people in the faculty. But are there enough qualified candidates who are interested in the job? They'd have to be comfortable with going to a school in which black people were underrepresented, in a Republican state, and with a conservative (and thus more likely to be racist, sorry) campus.
So that's not too easy to do, and the next thing would be increasing the number of black students. But that shouldn't be done by a quota in which black students with less qualifications get accepted in greater numbers, because their graduation rates won't be easy to boost in that case.
I think for equality to be approached, it's going to have to be undertaken much earlier in life and much more holistically. Neighborhoods that are entirely black are holding black people back. Schools that are entirely black are underfunded and produce poorly educated students who can't complete college. Colleges alone can't handle changing the racist system because they are the final stage of education, it needs to start at the beginning.
So that's not too easy to do, and the next thing would be increasing the number of black students. But that shouldn't be done by a quota in which black students with less qualifications get accepted in greater numbers, because their graduation rates won't be easy to boost in that case.
I think for equality to be approached, it's going to have to be undertaken much earlier in life and much more holistically. Neighborhoods that are entirely black are holding black people back. Schools that are entirely black are underfunded and produce poorly educated students who can't complete college. Colleges alone can't handle changing the racist system because they are the final stage of education, it needs to start at the beginning.
5
"Schools that are entirely black are underfunded and produce poorly educated students who can't complete college."
Thanks to special state funding, some inner-city, all black schools in NJ actually spend more per pupil than those in the most affluent suburbs but still have very poor test results and graduation rates. That goes to show that money is not everything and that students have to want to learn.
Thanks to special state funding, some inner-city, all black schools in NJ actually spend more per pupil than those in the most affluent suburbs but still have very poor test results and graduation rates. That goes to show that money is not everything and that students have to want to learn.
14
""Neighborhoods that are entirely black are holding black people back. Schools that are entirely black are underfunded and produce poorly educated students who can't complete college. Colleges alone can't handle changing the racist system because they are the final stage of education, it needs to start at the beginning.""
This was tried in the 70's with forced busing from kids in Compton to West LA, where I went to middle school. Busloads of black kids from a very poor area of LA were bused to my basically white middle class school, down from UCLA. We lived in an apartment. My dad sold insurance, unsuccessfully. I'm sorry but I still have scars from that failed experiment. Daily fights, bullying, more competition in sports and more bullying. It was crazy. Damn adults experimenting with their bubble ideas on impressionable young kids. Terrible. If there is an answer, it is NOT in forcing kids to play out adult ideas of moral correctness.
This was tried in the 70's with forced busing from kids in Compton to West LA, where I went to middle school. Busloads of black kids from a very poor area of LA were bused to my basically white middle class school, down from UCLA. We lived in an apartment. My dad sold insurance, unsuccessfully. I'm sorry but I still have scars from that failed experiment. Daily fights, bullying, more competition in sports and more bullying. It was crazy. Damn adults experimenting with their bubble ideas on impressionable young kids. Terrible. If there is an answer, it is NOT in forcing kids to play out adult ideas of moral correctness.
14
Dear Brad,
Obviously that forced busing was a failed experiment. But the situation still stands that the completely segregated neighborhoods ensure entrenched racist discrimination, and something needs to be done about them and the culture they perpetuate. I honestly don't know what that something is, but the current situation is a negative one.
Obviously that forced busing was a failed experiment. But the situation still stands that the completely segregated neighborhoods ensure entrenched racist discrimination, and something needs to be done about them and the culture they perpetuate. I honestly don't know what that something is, but the current situation is a negative one.
The professor proposing that Williams makes less because she is black, and the responses in the comments that Sharpova is prettier, both seem to miss the point.
Is Sharapova considered prettier because of something innate within the human mind or because of cultural training? Interesting research has been done on landscape painting in which experimenters determined what the most attractive landscape painting contained. I would love to hear about similar experiments on the human form to determine if we have an innate concept of beauty regarding the human form or whether it is training, or some combination of both.
This of course does not change the status quo, even if it is just training by the primary culture. People will still pay more attention to what Sharapova says about fashion than what Williams does, even if it is 100% training.
Is Sharapova considered prettier because of something innate within the human mind or because of cultural training? Interesting research has been done on landscape painting in which experimenters determined what the most attractive landscape painting contained. I would love to hear about similar experiments on the human form to determine if we have an innate concept of beauty regarding the human form or whether it is training, or some combination of both.
This of course does not change the status quo, even if it is just training by the primary culture. People will still pay more attention to what Sharapova says about fashion than what Williams does, even if it is 100% training.
1
Many studies done on this. Every one finds that people in every race in every culture choose lighter skinned over darker. Body weigh isn't as universal, and skinnier-is-better is relatively recent in the US/UK. But, the Maria v. Serena question has to confront the fact that Peyton makes more out-of-sport than Brady or brother, Eli, arguably just because he is a showman.
2
Studies show that all societies favor symmetrical features, itself a sign of health.
1
One only needs to read these comments, particularly those that are most endorsed by other readers, to understand why real conversations about race happen so rarely. The fixation on blame, the need to determine whether someone's personal experience is based in "objective fact," the dismissal of feelings as trivial, the condemnation of programs to address diversity and inclusion in a learning environment...no wonder people don't want to speak up. Clearly we need places where these conversations can happen. A large lecture hall or the pages of a large newspaper provide no safety for people to talk honestly about what they feel or what they want.
8
A long, thoughtful article on the discussion of race (with Serena as an example) ... and the predominant comments are - race, what race? Don't make it all about race! Is nothing about race? Seriously... the evidence for race issues in this country is only invisible to the willingly blind. We cannot overcome what we refuse to see.
4
We also cannot overcome what we are required to dwell in. There is no end game here just a rather nonsensical regrouping of langue.
5
Community360 has provided its signature 2-Day Retreat at Mizzou for several years and it was impacting the student leadership culture. New student leaders saw it as a "must-have" experience. That's how we build inclusion - we generate a climate that indicates to new students, this is what is expected of you on this campus. Unless and until that happens, new students acclimate in a vacuum and their old baggage brought with them will fill the void.
1
"my personal belief is you don’t wait for someone to reach out to you. The right thing is to take the first step. Not to pretend that something didn’t happen or that whatever happened didn’t have a sufficient magnitude to cause you to react to it.”
many Comments deflect, white-plain, discredit, neutralize, and display egregious beliefs that somehow these very necessary "programs" are an affront to their psyche...way to prove a point NYT readers...are we able to at least acknowledge that when a person is "assaulted" the assaulter is not allowed to decide the level of chagrin that is allowed by the assaulted
See...the US has a history of assault through discrimination and racial prejudice in education, jobs, and housing for African-American families....now that these young students no longer sing and harmonize about their plight and call for action, we want to school them on their approach...so our feelings are unhurt?!?
many Comments deflect, white-plain, discredit, neutralize, and display egregious beliefs that somehow these very necessary "programs" are an affront to their psyche...way to prove a point NYT readers...are we able to at least acknowledge that when a person is "assaulted" the assaulter is not allowed to decide the level of chagrin that is allowed by the assaulted
See...the US has a history of assault through discrimination and racial prejudice in education, jobs, and housing for African-American families....now that these young students no longer sing and harmonize about their plight and call for action, we want to school them on their approach...so our feelings are unhurt?!?
5
Horse feathers!
4
Another fine example of a great fraud perpetrated by the racial injustice industrial complex.
58
When a white, conservative frat boy can get up and ask the following question: "Why is it OK for black students to have a segregated black student union and "white-free" safe spaces, then why isn't it OK for the Greek system to continue to segregate as well?". And he can pose this without being dragged in front of some disciplinary committee, mercilessly publically shamed on Twitter, or receive a D or F in the mandatory ethnic studies class, there will be no "honest discussion".
52
Actually, where there is honest discussion, these things are brought up. Hence, the need for those discussions.
3
In response, (1) please answer the frat boy's question, it's valid, and (2) in any case, what right does anyone have in the United States to disipline him for asking this question?
8
LAS, your points are out of the narrative. hence they will not be included. Period.
3
The University of Missouri Clery Act reports reveal most interracial violence at the university is black-one-white violence, usually armed robberies and strong armed robberies often accompanied by beatings. These incidents do not count as hate crime, since robbery is considered the primary motive. The reality is that Clery reports nationwide show that the proximity to black neighborhoods mostly determine which campuses are rated safe or unsafe. Race-based hate crimes are extremely rare. The hate crime section of the most recent University of Missouri Clery Act report (2012-2014) shows that over the three year-period there were four racial-bias incidents, none of which involved physical violence or injuries. These incidents consisted of two acts of vandalism (graffit) in 2013, which may have been committed by a single person, and two acts of intimidation (name calling), one in 2013 and one in 2012. The infamous “fecal swastika” which created the last fall’s controversy is a typical act of racial bias vandalism on college campuses. The identity, race, ethnicity and motives of the perpetrators are unknown unless arrests are made. Many has been proven to be faux hate crimes committed by racial justice advocates to draw attention to their cause. Acts of racial bias intimidation are typically arguments that include name-calling incidents.
http://mupolice.missouri.edu/Clery_Report/2015.pdf
http://mupolice.missouri.edu/Clery_Report/2015.pdf
28
Let's please make the distinction as to what kind of black neighborhood. They're not all high crime areas.
They are in Houston. There is not a rich black neighborhood in the Houston area. It does seem like in the Houston area segregation is by income rather than simply race.
3
" most interracial violence at the university is black-on-white violence, usually armed robberies and strong armed robberies often accompanied by beatings. These incidents do not count as hate crime, since robbery is considered the primary motive."
Why is any white on black crime automatically considered to be a "hate" crime while any black on white crime is only an "ordinary" crime?
Why is any white on black crime automatically considered to be a "hate" crime while any black on white crime is only an "ordinary" crime?
12
thanks for this article. my son just started a job with U. of Missouri, and he is half Hoosier, half Islander........
free speech is guaranteed and protected in america
th freedom to not be offended is not
th freedom to not be offended is not
15
How does this emphasis on inclusion and integration fit with the rise of "safe spaces" for specific ethnicities, genders, sexual orientations, etc.? Seems like a mixed message - the goal is inclusiveness, but sometimes one needs a break from people who are different in some check-box category.
11
Serena makes more than Maria on the court, since she performs better. Maria makes more in endorsements, since she is more highly sought after. Endorsements are not based solely on athletic performance, nor are they based on race. Michael Jordan, a charismatic black man, made more than almost any athlete in endorsements. More than most black or white athletes, including Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Tom Brady, Brett Favre.
32
Not a great example since Jordan may have been the greatest American athlete of the last few decades. But Barry Bonds, a 7 time MVP before his steroid outing, never had big endorsement deals either. Surly. And baseball fan interest tends to be regional, so that is not a great example either.
People don't want to get into a conversation that will just end in being called a racist . ALL people have to be open minded, not just White People. If you can't discuss something in a civilized manner people will never come together. You cannot force people to like one another.
34
What does a "civilized manner" mean? That the discussion ignores what blacks go through? That whites are never challenged in their views that blacks are inferior? Just like "wait" for justice always means never, "civilized" always means denying racism exists.
1
I think the distinction between diversity and inclusion is essential if we are ever going to move beyond mere grudging acceptance of those different than ourselves. The south side of Chicago is diverse, but few would put it forward as the model anyone has with regard to equality or inclusion. It is not clear how a school or government can legislate inclusion, but it should be possible to foster a society that does more than merely tolerate minorities.
3
thats odd
all ive ever wanted from th human race was to be tolerated and left alone
and even thats pretty hard to arrange
all ive ever wanted from th human race was to be tolerated and left alone
and even thats pretty hard to arrange
6
Freedom of expression, clouded by cultural 'blind spots', such as race? Are we afraid of the unknown, uneducated about the issues at hand? Handling conflicted views with an open, inclusive mind must be favored, time-allowed, and with the space to expand concepts unfamiliar to us? Does the university setting still require protection from unwanted themes? Hope not.
5
This is largely a totally false issue which is used as a framing device for the self-righteous to show their plumage.
51
Black students at Missouri have incessantly complained about their fear of being attacked on campus. Yet none of the supposed threats have materialized. There is probably no safer place for a black male to be than the campus of the University of Missouri.
55
The University of Missouri Police Department daily police reports show most acts of interracial violence on campus or just off campus is back-on-white violence consisting mostly of armed robberies and strong-armed robberies sometimes accompanied by physical assaults.
16
"There is probably no safer place for a black male to be than the campus of the University of Missouri."
It must be far safer that Chicago.
It must be far safer that Chicago.
5
will, do you think these black on white problems will be brought up in the classes that Mr. Eligon, the author, proposes?
5
Maria Sharapova earns more than Serena Williams for a more complex reason than the color of her skin. She comes from Eastern Europe firstly. Tennis is far more popular in Europe than in the US (note the number of top tennis players who are European) and Europe is a very large and wealthy TV and sponsorship market (larger than North America in total). So players from Europe can take advantage of this and earn big money.
The conclusion that "race" is the main factor shows the lack of critical, analytical and statistical skills and ability in humanities departments at university. These "professors" could do with taking a few statistics and engineering courses where they would learn to separate out many moving variables. Correlation does not imply causation, etc etc.
The conclusion that "race" is the main factor shows the lack of critical, analytical and statistical skills and ability in humanities departments at university. These "professors" could do with taking a few statistics and engineering courses where they would learn to separate out many moving variables. Correlation does not imply causation, etc etc.
38
ones earnings in tennis is directly related to ones winning record
i see no racist component in that set up
i see no racist component in that set up
4
Maria Sharapova also makes more in endorsements of four white female tennis players ranked ahead of her.
42
@thx1138 - actually it highly correlates with the wealth of the home market as well. For example Nisikori, the Japanese player, earns almost as much as Roger Federer from sponsership even though he has won zero major tournaments. But he gets people watching in his home market, and that's worth a lot of money to him.
11
Everyone is sick of race because no one wants to talk honestly about race and everyone wants to be a victim in regards to race. Race as it is now being discussed in the mainstream, be in in a university or here on the NY Times, is often don so through the lens critical theory, critical race theory especially, which is a conflict oriented, Marxist, way to judge the issue. Of course it leads to more conflict, us vs. them, and all the other accouterments of such conflict oriented theories. When the discussion starts with, "I'm incapable of being racist and you are a racist, let's discuss" there is little room in institutions to actually have discourse and as this story points out, is more likely to lead to people, whites especially, of silently bearing the lecture so that they can check off their freshman checklist and get on with their lives.
I think that many whites are exhausted with the topic of race because they see nothing to gain from it, they have changed in their hearts, by and large, greatly in the last 50 years, moved to be more inclusive, moved to be more tolerant even voted, perhaps, for a black POTUS and all they get in exchange for this huge shift is more accusations of not caring and more accusations of being a racist.
Until we stop the us vs. them dichotomy that is so prevalent in most of the mainstream university racial social theories and seek reconciliation as a goal we will keep talking past each other.
I think that many whites are exhausted with the topic of race because they see nothing to gain from it, they have changed in their hearts, by and large, greatly in the last 50 years, moved to be more inclusive, moved to be more tolerant even voted, perhaps, for a black POTUS and all they get in exchange for this huge shift is more accusations of not caring and more accusations of being a racist.
Until we stop the us vs. them dichotomy that is so prevalent in most of the mainstream university racial social theories and seek reconciliation as a goal we will keep talking past each other.
23
Of course whites "can see nothing to gain" from further discussions of race! They're not the ones who are supposed to gain from it.
2
You start by saying 'Everyone is sick of race'. Who is 'everyone'? You answer that question in you second paragraph when you write 'I think that many whites are exhausted with the topic of race...'
Until your 'everyone' includes more than just white people, discussions about race are going to be necessary.
Until your 'everyone' includes more than just white people, discussions about race are going to be necessary.
5
"Of course whites "can see nothing to gain" from further discussions of race! They're not the ones who are supposed to gain from it."
I thought 'no man is free until all men are free?' So white people are NOT supposed to gain from understanding how racism hurts our society?! What is your point, then? Why are you suggesting that only black people benefit when discussions of race takes place? Is this a dialogue or a monologue? Rarely do two or more people stay to listen to a monologue, unless, of course, they get something out of it. Most people don't enjoy a one-sided harangue.
I thought 'no man is free until all men are free?' So white people are NOT supposed to gain from understanding how racism hurts our society?! What is your point, then? Why are you suggesting that only black people benefit when discussions of race takes place? Is this a dialogue or a monologue? Rarely do two or more people stay to listen to a monologue, unless, of course, they get something out of it. Most people don't enjoy a one-sided harangue.
6
The necessary laws are already on the books. The way to achieve better outcomes from here on is with hard work by one family and one child at a time. Social agitation is not the answer.
24
Yes, but social agitation will make you rich beyond the dreams of avarice!
3
If hard work was all that was needed to achieve better outcomes, Southern slaves would have been freed and the Civil War would never had had to be fought. Power and ignorance never gives up anything unless it is fought.
1
It has to be difficult to show up to a class when the only framework to analyze problems is racism. It's like showing up to build a house carrying only a hammer. The house is not going to look very good when done. Layer on peoples' careers are ruined and any comment may receive scorn or hostility and flight to the union seems much better than attend and potentially fight.
The Sharapova question only confuses the discussion when trying to understand causality of racism. There are a lot more things going on then just race when dealing in endorsements. Jordan is probably the king of endorsements but Larry Bird was an all time great. Why doesn't he receive endorsements? Apparently he should be making hundreds of millions but he is not.
It does not appear to me that the academics have their heads wrapped around racism yet, beyond the superficial, and have a true understanding of what divides people.
The Sharapova question only confuses the discussion when trying to understand causality of racism. There are a lot more things going on then just race when dealing in endorsements. Jordan is probably the king of endorsements but Larry Bird was an all time great. Why doesn't he receive endorsements? Apparently he should be making hundreds of millions but he is not.
It does not appear to me that the academics have their heads wrapped around racism yet, beyond the superficial, and have a true understanding of what divides people.
23
SIR/MADAME:
Your call for reason, also correctly pointing out why Larry Byrd didn't get a fraction of endorsement $$$ Jordan got, will fail not only on deaf ears but to an outright intention of the ruling class, thus also its servants, to continue and expand on massaging us with a narrative that we are bad people, harboring bad ideas and practicing bad patterns of behavior, all based on bad racism.
I asked why Naomi Campbell gets million-times more endorsement and other money that by obese sister who is white and tries to make money as full size model?
Is it racism? Sexism? Classism?
Your call for reason, also correctly pointing out why Larry Byrd didn't get a fraction of endorsement $$$ Jordan got, will fail not only on deaf ears but to an outright intention of the ruling class, thus also its servants, to continue and expand on massaging us with a narrative that we are bad people, harboring bad ideas and practicing bad patterns of behavior, all based on bad racism.
I asked why Naomi Campbell gets million-times more endorsement and other money that by obese sister who is white and tries to make money as full size model?
Is it racism? Sexism? Classism?
6
Kick off "inclusion" by ending all minority-only housing, clubs, enrichment activities, tutoring programs, and for that matter, self-segregated dining at tables in the campus dining halls; eliminate ethnic studies, African-American studies, and all other such "silo" education.
Nobody dares to do this.
The lecture described at the beginning of the article was ridiculous, insulting, patronizing, and an example of one-way political indoctrination between a powerful professor on the stage and a bunch of cowed teenagers in the seats.
I see that the professor's career, such as it is, and his livelihood as an instructor on "Race and Ethnic Relations" depend on promoting problems and tension instead of reducing them--that comes as no surprise!
What's most absurd is that such instructors have jobs, most likely with tenure track and full benefits, while core subjects increasingly rely on road-warrior adjuncts with one-semester contracts and shared desk space.
Nobody dares to do this.
The lecture described at the beginning of the article was ridiculous, insulting, patronizing, and an example of one-way political indoctrination between a powerful professor on the stage and a bunch of cowed teenagers in the seats.
I see that the professor's career, such as it is, and his livelihood as an instructor on "Race and Ethnic Relations" depend on promoting problems and tension instead of reducing them--that comes as no surprise!
What's most absurd is that such instructors have jobs, most likely with tenure track and full benefits, while core subjects increasingly rely on road-warrior adjuncts with one-semester contracts and shared desk space.
57
I don't think it is one way indoctrination. It was just asking the students to think about things outside the box. Isn't that what school is for?
And the minority and ethnic studies programs i have seen are inclusive e.g. you do not have to be a particular ethnicity to attend them. What do you suggest should be done regarding the sexism and bigotry that seems to exist?
And the minority and ethnic studies programs i have seen are inclusive e.g. you do not have to be a particular ethnicity to attend them. What do you suggest should be done regarding the sexism and bigotry that seems to exist?
2
@ kk
Those classes are becoming mandatory at many universities, so as to indoctrinate young minds into 'correct' thinking.
Those classes are becoming mandatory at many universities, so as to indoctrinate young minds into 'correct' thinking.
9
The question is why the ruling class (yes, that top 1% or even 0.1%) is letting these "Ethnic and Race Relations", "Gender Studies", all that "you whites have it all too good for too long due to white privilege and oppression of others" be financed, get all publicity - including mainstream media?
Like Hillary Clinton and Dems (for those with bleeding heart) these victim syndrome narrative serves the same purpose as typical GOP politicians and conservative narrative: To maintain the current and increasingly unequal distribution of wealth.
The ruling class looks and treats all of us, 99-ers, in similar way and wants and forces us to "sort things out" among ourselves, as they - by God-given right, can't lose any of their own money or wealth, to solve, often huge, problems on the lower decks we occupy.
Like Hillary Clinton and Dems (for those with bleeding heart) these victim syndrome narrative serves the same purpose as typical GOP politicians and conservative narrative: To maintain the current and increasingly unequal distribution of wealth.
The ruling class looks and treats all of us, 99-ers, in similar way and wants and forces us to "sort things out" among ourselves, as they - by God-given right, can't lose any of their own money or wealth, to solve, often huge, problems on the lower decks we occupy.
4
The "racist incidents" were rude and insulting shouts or insults by a few individuals. They reflect badly on the those who made them, but do not imply any sort of collective guilt, nor were they the responsibility of the institution on whose grounds they were made.
They had nothing to do with the University of Missouri as an institution. What we see here is an attempt to inflate their importance by people whose careers consist of stoking racial divisiveness.
They had nothing to do with the University of Missouri as an institution. What we see here is an attempt to inflate their importance by people whose careers consist of stoking racial divisiveness.
75
Did you read the article? It goes into statistics and details on how black and Hispanic students are being left behind.
I think you would benefit from exactly the kind of discussion this article describes. Discussing minority opinions in an academic setting is not stoking racial divisiveness.
I think you would benefit from exactly the kind of discussion this article describes. Discussing minority opinions in an academic setting is not stoking racial divisiveness.
2
What should you suggest should be done, if anything? Sexism/rape culture also exists in our campuses as well, do you think this should be the responsibility of the universities to address or is it a boys will be boys type of thing?
1
When a redneck or two, passing by a college campus in their pickup shout racial insult ... university leaders are forced by mob - and favorable mainstream media supporting its agenda - to resign.
When an elitist Yale student of color publicly shouts down a professor - who repeatedly and politely tries to explain and demonstrate to her and others the principles of academic freedom of speech - as she shouts about "not feeling safe and welcomed" and "Be quiet!" and worse at him ... the issue of intolerance as also Nicholas Kristof of NYT wrote about it, as a significant characteristics of many liberals is here for the world to see.
When an elitist Yale student of color publicly shouts down a professor - who repeatedly and politely tries to explain and demonstrate to her and others the principles of academic freedom of speech - as she shouts about "not feeling safe and welcomed" and "Be quiet!" and worse at him ... the issue of intolerance as also Nicholas Kristof of NYT wrote about it, as a significant characteristics of many liberals is here for the world to see.
15
Racism is symptomatic of a much bigger and more difficult issue; dehumanization. If we are honest, most of us do it. Whenever we attribute more worth to ourselves because of our sex, status, opinions, education, values, nationality etc etc, we are guilty of the same thing as racism. Admittedly some of these devaluing attitudes are not expressed in the overtly discriminatory ways that racism can be, but each devalues another human being through our perception of superiority .
So if we are to really undermine racism, we have to face ourselves, ask where this dehumanizing orientation comes from and discover how to address and overcome it.
Personally, I think we need a radical reorientation of our hearts. I have met people that have experienced this and their ability to love those that they used to hate (and some who still hate them) is miraculous and gives me hope for humanity.
So if we are to really undermine racism, we have to face ourselves, ask where this dehumanizing orientation comes from and discover how to address and overcome it.
Personally, I think we need a radical reorientation of our hearts. I have met people that have experienced this and their ability to love those that they used to hate (and some who still hate them) is miraculous and gives me hope for humanity.
16
"we need radical reorientation of our hearts"
How you want - realistically - do that?
"Cultural Revolution" by Mao?
How you want - realistically - do that?
"Cultural Revolution" by Mao?
7
One of the disturbing trends among progressives is that they seem nowadays to mostly highlight the crippling injustices done to the already rich and famous. And no, it's not some "hook" to draw the unenlightened in. It's yet another example of the progressive neglect of working class issues in favor of identity and body politics. When's the last time one of these "conversation starters" ever dealt with a sweatshop worker?
29
The reason why the real issue (90% of Americans continuing slipping in standard of living, quality of life, outlook) is systematically avoided and "divide and rule" distractions and lesser degree "issues" are served by the system and mainstream media, both serving, above all, the selfish and even unpatriotic interests of the ruling class, is to preserve and with still faster concentration of wealth and political power in the top 1% and 0.1%.
When our 1% already owns 42% of national wealth, when 62 people in the world own more than the bottom half of humankind ... rational person would not get distracted by claims and "academic studies" on "microagression", etc.
But, throwing these absolutely secondary and increasingly just for distraction serving "issues", the ruling class and its servants still with some success avoid focusing our attention to the real priorities.
When our 1% already owns 42% of national wealth, when 62 people in the world own more than the bottom half of humankind ... rational person would not get distracted by claims and "academic studies" on "microagression", etc.
But, throwing these absolutely secondary and increasingly just for distraction serving "issues", the ruling class and its servants still with some success avoid focusing our attention to the real priorities.
3
In this case, I think the example of Williams vs Sharapova was valid because their particular skills are widely known and well documented. And clearly, Williams is a measurably better player. If you pick two sweatshop workers for an example, you open yourself to the "maybe the white one is harder working and more reliable" argument.
2
Your argument makes no sense. We're going down the rabbit hole discussing what is a popularity contest among millionaires, when we could be dealing with economic justice issues that affect millions. If the media had spent even half the time on tough, complex issues like living wage, union organizing laws, outsourcing, the effects of immigration on wages and job security that it did yougogirling Kaitlyn Jenner, maybe we'd be further down the road.
In this PC world that we find ourselves, one has to wonder when a firm grasp on reality occurs and this ridiculous pendulum swing reverses. I for one tire of the fact that we have a country full of whiners, mostly liberal but some on the Right. This country offers the most for those willing to work hard, take risks, stay educated and not do anything that will get you in trouble with the law!!
39
Exactly, damn those civil rights workers. If they did nothing i am sure the jim crow laws and the woman's suffrage would have taken care of itself.
5
This is causing a backlash of resentment among many people - many of whom are neither white nor black. It appears that there is a very noticeable bias towards anything black and, as now seems apparent, anything non-white, non-Jewish and non-Christian. Add to this Obama's planned visit to a mosque (notice how many synagogues and churches he has visited?) and the whitewashing of the Muslim terrorism at Fort Hood and San Bernardino, and there is a pattern emerging.
Our country is moving away from the meritocracy and melting pot culture that has made it successful, and is quickly heading to third-world status.
Our country is moving away from the meritocracy and melting pot culture that has made it successful, and is quickly heading to third-world status.
25
I love this country, but can you identify for me when we had a meritocracy?
1
You make some good points. However surely you realize that Obama is not going out of his way to visit synagogues and churches this month because, to my knowledge, no presidential candidate has proposed banning all Jews and Christians from entering the United States.
Also, we've seen that it does not backlash on a U.S. politician to say "I am a Christian first, and an American second." (Imagine the public reaction if a presidential candidate said "I am a Muslim first, and an American second." Hoo boy.)
Yeah. Please do tell me about "a pattern emerging".
Also, we've seen that it does not backlash on a U.S. politician to say "I am a Christian first, and an American second." (Imagine the public reaction if a presidential candidate said "I am a Muslim first, and an American second." Hoo boy.)
Yeah. Please do tell me about "a pattern emerging".
3
Chris--how could this country have ever been a meritocracy when non-whites and women were shut out of economic gains/independence until the 1960s or so? How is that equal treatment and results-for-labor across the board?
1
What is the priority. Diversity or merit. You can not have both. If it is diversity, you must establish quotas. Some will benefit, some will be victims. If it is diversity, then let the chips fall where they may.
16
Racial discrimination is, for example, practiced in many hundreds of cases each year, as medical doctors from Nigeria and other African countries, members of elites there, are getting racially determined minority quota slots at our teaching hospotal residency programs nationwide.
They were never disadvantaged in their lives and here they are getting - thanks to color of their skin - advantage over any other foreign doctors - to get to residency programs and lucrative and stable medical doctor careers.
No "activists" or EEOP bureaucrats protesting and marching here for some reason.
They were never disadvantaged in their lives and here they are getting - thanks to color of their skin - advantage over any other foreign doctors - to get to residency programs and lucrative and stable medical doctor careers.
No "activists" or EEOP bureaucrats protesting and marching here for some reason.
6
We need to learn from another racial divide. The phrase "race, creed, and color" showed race and color were different in the US.
Before World War II, all European-Americans in the North were considered races--British, Germans, Irish, Poles, Slovenes, etc. One employer said of his hiring policy "No discrimination on the basis of race. No colored hired." He was claiming not to discriminate against Irish, Jews, Italians, and Poles," but was frank about blacks and Asians.
British-Americans identified with England in war as do Cuban-Americans with Cuba. German-Americans identified with Germany and Irish-Americans too because they were anti-English. Italian-Americans identified with Mussolini.
The enormous mutual racism was reflected in words like wop, micks, kikes, and polaks. (Reviewer: please do not censor. I am a professor making a serious point.)
This produced isolationism even by FDR, and the elite decided it must change to the Southern definition of race. All the Europeans became whites and the diversity among them erased. Yet, it deliberatey was never discussed. We did not speak of "w" words, "k" words, "p" words, etc. like we do the n-word, but simply made them taboo. The policy was an enormous success.
A major reason that M. L. King lost (except among the Asians) and Malcolm X won was that all the talk about racism and diversity creates separation rather than erases it. The students are right when they don't want to discuss it all the time.
Before World War II, all European-Americans in the North were considered races--British, Germans, Irish, Poles, Slovenes, etc. One employer said of his hiring policy "No discrimination on the basis of race. No colored hired." He was claiming not to discriminate against Irish, Jews, Italians, and Poles," but was frank about blacks and Asians.
British-Americans identified with England in war as do Cuban-Americans with Cuba. German-Americans identified with Germany and Irish-Americans too because they were anti-English. Italian-Americans identified with Mussolini.
The enormous mutual racism was reflected in words like wop, micks, kikes, and polaks. (Reviewer: please do not censor. I am a professor making a serious point.)
This produced isolationism even by FDR, and the elite decided it must change to the Southern definition of race. All the Europeans became whites and the diversity among them erased. Yet, it deliberatey was never discussed. We did not speak of "w" words, "k" words, "p" words, etc. like we do the n-word, but simply made them taboo. The policy was an enormous success.
A major reason that M. L. King lost (except among the Asians) and Malcolm X won was that all the talk about racism and diversity creates separation rather than erases it. The students are right when they don't want to discuss it all the time.
7
The worst part is that Bernie wants taxpayers to foot the bill for this "education." If that occurs college will be nothing more than collective grievance societies imparting no useful reasoning or technical skills to their graduates (creating even more grievances as to why they can't find gainful employment).
29
Bernie is calling for free college for all while college level work requires a minimum IQ of at least 110. That excludes more than half of all American high school students.
9
Our liberals might look at Mao's Cultural Revolution, "re-education camps" ... even that didn't work.
3
As soon as you learn that "Life and the world are not fair" you will understand; and get off your soapbox! You do the best you can and if not happy about it, then do better. IT IS NOT ALL ABOUT YOU! (or the President)
22
Funny--the colonists who rebelled against the British and formed the United States didn't abide by that advice. Only when blacks insist on their rights are they given this specious "well, if you work harder, we might someday treat you fairly" garbage.
1
Has there been any proof of the incidents they complain of?
23
Um, there are a LOT of successful white women tennis players who are not as pretty as Maria Sharipova who ALSO do not make as much money. There are a lot of white women who don't look like models or Victoria's Secret's people. Maria Sharapova is marketed as a sex object to sell luxury goods. Could Serena Williams be perceived as too powerful to be a sex object? Is that reverse racism?
32
I am sure that if Naomi Campbell would be among say 100 ranked tennis players, she would get MUCH more money than any Williams sister. So it is not - by far - about race or color of Williams' skin.
4
I actually think some of these efforts are backfiring. The average person is against racism - albeit many of us do have subconscious biases. When you try browbeat people about this, then you can foster resentment.
I think on-campus race relations were better when I was in college 20 years ago.
I think on-campus race relations were better when I was in college 20 years ago.
58
We like people who look and act like we do. Blacks like blacks more than whites, But because there are more whites than blacks there is this constant drum of racism. I have tired of the constant victim status. Maria Sharapova makes more than any Tennis player, In endorsement money, not winnings. Before her it was Anna Kournakova, because the are the most gorgeous athletes on the planet, see looks matter in advertising.
20
You are, of course, right even when (the ruling class interests serving Race and Ethnicity Rels "academia" and mainstream media) are massaging us constantly to believe otherwise.
The reason why people naturally (yes, naturally) tend to be with a people of the same race is natural, deeply ingrained by evolution and as the main, natural, purpose of life is continuity of life, i.e. having kids, passing on ones genetic information, thus sex and search for partner is and will also tend to take place w/in ones race.
The reason why people naturally (yes, naturally) tend to be with a people of the same race is natural, deeply ingrained by evolution and as the main, natural, purpose of life is continuity of life, i.e. having kids, passing on ones genetic information, thus sex and search for partner is and will also tend to take place w/in ones race.
Wow! Why so much push back in the comments on having conversations about race? OK, the specifics of the teaser presented by the professor at start of article is superficial and can be criticized as off the mark; but it is just an opening gambit to further exploration of students thoughts, opinions and preconceptions. It's concerning that this many NYT readers can't get past this to the point if the article. This makes me pessimistic about the prospects of improving our national dialog about what divides us.
43
Because every time someone wants to have a "conversation" about race it rapidly becomes an endless litany of obscure "facts" that we white people are supposed to "confront". I can't explain why Venus Williams doesn't get big endorsements....
45
It's not a conversation, it's a lecture, delivered to students that don't have the knowledge standing to refute the professors ridiculous assertions.
40
The problem isn't with having a "conversation" about race. It's about required classes where only one answer is accepted. A conversation is where people aren't afraid to talk because they'll get a bad grade, or have to attend a re-education follow-up because they didn't "get it". This wasn't a conversation at all. The teaser offered by the professor ticked many people off because it's just the kind of thing they are afraid of: no obvious racism, but the professor is going to push it down the students' throats. Yeah - I have a problem with that.
62
I hate to burst this Scott Brooks bubble and if I was there this is what I would have said, "Maria Sharapova is super HOTTTT!!! Sorry, sexy hot women will get the endorsements over good looking athletic women because not matter the sport, sex will always sell better than who is the better athlete." In fact, I would be a betting man in saying, hot women tennis athletes get more endorsements than men tennis athletes...
45
You are right and Scott Brooks' offer to see race in the fact that sexy, attractive, feminine Sharapova getting more endorsement than athletis Williams is poor, false, unethical academic work.
If say Naomi Campbell would be even at 150th place ranked tennis player she too might get more endorsement money than Williams.
But ideologically distorted, a specific outcome at any cost seeking Scott Brooks and similar "academia" will never see that.
If say Naomi Campbell would be even at 150th place ranked tennis player she too might get more endorsement money than Williams.
But ideologically distorted, a specific outcome at any cost seeking Scott Brooks and similar "academia" will never see that.
1
I notice a lot of empty seats in that photo. News flash to UM officials: be ready for more and more empty seats . I, for one, will refuse to watch any sporting event with UM involved.
31
We cancelled out twin high school seniors application to UofMissouri. Boycott them!
1
After the last fall Mizzou BLM and "need some muscles here" call by their "professor of journalism" our twins withdrew their fall 2016 freshmen applications recalling Jessie Jackson & Son boycott of Coca Cola.
It is a flawed argument. The winner of any Tennis match gets paid the same no matter what their race, color, or religion. The difference in compensation is about endorsements.
Never mind Sharapva versus Williams. Why does Katy Perry get paid more than Adelle? Why do college coaches get paid millions while professors are on welfare? Equality of opportunity is not the same as equality of result unless you are looking to live in a Harrison Bergeron dystopia.
Never mind Sharapva versus Williams. Why does Katy Perry get paid more than Adelle? Why do college coaches get paid millions while professors are on welfare? Equality of opportunity is not the same as equality of result unless you are looking to live in a Harrison Bergeron dystopia.
50
Because people will pay more to see Perry than Adele in concert. However, those US Open tickets cost the same regardless of the players.
"Associate Professor" Scott N. Brooks would - using scientific methodology of academia, of course - would never figure out or use a most likely fact that if Naomi Campbell would be able to hold a tennis racket in her hand ... and be even say the 150th ranked player, she might likely make more endorsement money than Ms. Williams ... even while pigmentation of her skin is not different.
But "Racial and Ethnicity Relations" department would not get extra grant for a "research" coming up to such conclusion.
But "Racial and Ethnicity Relations" department would not get extra grant for a "research" coming up to such conclusion.
2
The anti-intellectual nature of this browbeating session is disgusting in any setting, but especially in a university. It is obvious that this is not a "discussion" but a demand to submit to a correct set of opinions and answers. The facile and unsupported notion that a black athlete can only receive fewer endorsement offers because of racism is just one of the ill-thought out examples that indicate that this not a learning but an indoctrination session. The students know that they'd better not try to have a "discussion" or the browbeating will get worse. This is not a session or an environment for the purpose of learning; it is to make the students submissive and to encourage them to adopt the university's approved thought process: "Submit. Conform. Obey."
292
Eloquent.
Students know very well to keep their mouths shut and mandatory "diversity" events like this one.
Students know very well to keep their mouths shut and mandatory "diversity" events like this one.
28
That wasn't presented at all. I find it ridiculous that you can't even concede it might be race. I thought it was an even handed approach in the article.
In Jessie Jackson and his son's tradition with Coca Cola etc., lets boycott U of Missouri and similarly "active" re-education camps?
1
Why does one make more in endorsements than the other? Why ask a bunch of students when you should be asking the companies that are hiring them. This is only another attempt at fostering white guilt and telling whites that they are all racists. This attitude is racist in itself but I have known many people who believe that only whites can be racist
44
If anyone needs evidence of the racism in our society, just read the Readers' Comments. The first 25 or so are unanimous: there is some other explanation . . . "It can't be racism.". Incredible . . . saddening
Racism permeates our society. We all need to take a close look at ourselves and our actions.
Racism permeates our society. We all need to take a close look at ourselves and our actions.
4
The first 25 or so are unanimous: there _might_ be some other explanation. You, and the author, and that professor, are the one who are saying, "it can't be anything but racism". Only one answer allowed.
"Racism permeates our society." Again, you are only willing to look at this from your point of view. Maybe you see it as permeating, because you see it everywhere, even where other explanations are much more likely.
"Racism permeates our society." Again, you are only willing to look at this from your point of view. Maybe you see it as permeating, because you see it everywhere, even where other explanations are much more likely.
45
Can you tell me why, if she would be able at least hold a tennis rocket and be even 150th ranked player, why Naomi Campbell would most likely get (much) more endorsement money than Ms. Williams?
Racism?
Oh, I see, politically incorrect "sexual stereotype".
What an unhappy life you must live with all those "injustices" around you.
Racism?
Oh, I see, politically incorrect "sexual stereotype".
What an unhappy life you must live with all those "injustices" around you.
3
I applaud open discussions on college campuses about race in America. But at the same time we're putting down Maria Sharapova we should also be asking black students why blacks are being shot to death by other blacks at rates shockingly disproportionate to whites. In other words, the values of black American culture must also be part of the "open" discussion. If that part of the equation remains off limits we're not really having an honest discussion at all.
95
I invite you to watch the TED talk by Dr. Gary Slutkin, who was able to significantly reduce the rates of violent crime in several neighborhoods by treating it like an infectious disease (https://www.ted.com/talks/gary_slutkin_let_s_treat_violence_like_a_conta.... It's not that "values of black American culture" include a tendency to violence, but that in low-income neighborhoods without a lot of social services, epidemics grow, social epidemics as well as bacterial ones. Of course the inhabitants of neighborhoods bear responsibility for their culture. However, the gist of your message seems to be "well, black Americans are prone to violence, so they should expect to be marginalized" or "the higher rate of violence in black communities disqualifies black people as a whole from complaining about their status in society". Does this reduce their personhood, their right to safety, the ability of others to recognize their reality and concerns as legitimate? If you start a discussion by shouting about why your opinion or status is worth more than your fellow discussant's, you have already failed.
3
I think you're missing the point. I welcome black Americans' complaints about their status in America. The point is that we need to have a real open discussion about race in America.... and not a lecture from a bunch of Red Guards on campus (such as Black Lives Matter and their guilt ridden mindless fellow travelers from white academia.)
1
Rabbit, what about the values of white American culture? Do you really want to hold up a society fueled by greed, violence, and exploitation as a moral heaven to aspire to? As well, why is it blacks have to be perfect moral exemplars for folks like you to deign to consider treating them like human beings? A word to the wise--if you want African-Americans to not listen to anything you have to say, keep accusing them of having a immoral culture. That is the newest code for "blacks are savages," and it's as ignorant and false now as it ever was.
1
Why are people sending their kids to college? Tens of thousands of dollars are being flushed down the drain so that kids have time for this kind of stuff. Protesting 101? Advanced Activism? When do they have time for classes dealing with reality based end results? You know, like math and science.
33
We withdrew out twin high school seniors application at U of Missouri.
In a tradition of Jessie Jackson and his son as they applied it to Coca Cola etc.
In a tradition of Jessie Jackson and his son as they applied it to Coca Cola etc.
2
Maybe it is because Sharapova is HOT, Serena although a great tennis player is not. Why was Tiger Woods SOOOO marketable but Mickelson was not?
54
We're talking about endorsements - not what they earn for actually playing tennis. Perhaps Ms. Sharapova is a better brand ambassador (salesperson) than Ms. Williams.
20
I live in the KC Mo area and have been setting up accounts over the years to send my grandkids to MU. Not now! If they want to turn that university into a liberal stinkhole, so be it. I'll be spending a little more to send them across the stateline to KU or KSt. My oldest granddaughter is a Junior in HS this year, and we're looking at both Kansas schools now.
22
Do you fight cancer by giving someone more cancer?
Do you fight poverty by making people poor?
Do you fight HIV by giving everyone HIV? If everyone has it, then no one has it right?
Sound ignorant?
Then why do people think you can fight racism with racist policies, programs, groups and organizations?
They're just causing more hate, discontent and furthering the racial divide.
Do you fight poverty by making people poor?
Do you fight HIV by giving everyone HIV? If everyone has it, then no one has it right?
Sound ignorant?
Then why do people think you can fight racism with racist policies, programs, groups and organizations?
They're just causing more hate, discontent and furthering the racial divide.
86
As Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts has put it: The way to stop discriminating on the basis of race is to stop discriminating on the basis of race.
1
Meanwhile, over in China and India, their college students are spending their time studying math, science and technology. Our students, with degrees in "Cultural Diversity" and "Inclusion Studies" don't stand a chance.
210
It's interesting that you would see an understanding of how to limit and mitigate problems between the races as trivial. Or are you saying that in your world this problem doesn't matter? Last time I checked, Scottsdale had plenty of minority residents.
1
we don't accomplish anything lasting and good without working together. In fact, technology will destroy us specifically because as a species we are not inclusive. Soft skills make us human - it's regrettable that this is not appreciated.
1
Don't be ridiculous. If OUR students are the ones who respect, understand, and appreciate the value of inclusion and diversity, they naturally assume a leadership role that those who are more parochial cannot.
1
I can't imagine investing four years of my life and untold thousands of dollars to talk about race all day. I'm black and that just sounds ridiculous to me. I can understand studying the history of it but concerning myself about why some millionaire Russian tennis player makes more than a millionaire black tennis player is pretty low on my list of concerns.
195
Is that what they do all day? Where did you see that?
Michael Jordan - billionaire black athlete. Tiger woods - black near-billionaire black athlete. Two of the best compensated athletes in the world. And the list goes on. When you trod through life wearing race-colored glasses everyone will look like a racist.
157
The Professor is the problem here... Weather Maria or Serena wins the open (hope that is what's its called) they get the same prize. race is not an issue in his arguement ..sorry. It comes down to which of the two are more "marketable'. The same thing applies to the UFC. Ronda Rousey is still making more money then the champ Holly Holm does. Why you ask?? she is more marketable.
68
The analysis of Serena vs Maria is exactly what frustrates the majority of Americans in regards to black activists. IMMEDIATELY they point to race as the most important and only reason for the disparity of earnings. They want to believe that and come up with 50 reasons why that is true.
There must be other hypotheses out there for the disparity? I know the NYT can't think of any... But it could be her marketing team not working as hard as Maria's? Could it be that advertisers feel that Maria is friendlier and more presentable for their specific products?
I'm sure glad I don't have to sit through these ]classes. Poor kids.
There must be other hypotheses out there for the disparity? I know the NYT can't think of any... But it could be her marketing team not working as hard as Maria's? Could it be that advertisers feel that Maria is friendlier and more presentable for their specific products?
I'm sure glad I don't have to sit through these ]classes. Poor kids.
124
Maria Sharapova is more beautiful and appealing to most of the tennis fan population, most of whom happen to be white. I have a feeling that Maria would not be considered such an ideal and popular beauty in most parts of sub-Saharan Africa.
16
"Could it be that advertisers feel that Maria is friendlier and more presentable for their specific products?"
Maybe. But why do advertisers feel that?
"Friendly." "Presentable." Of all the adjectives in the English language, why does Amazed pick these two?
Maybe. But why do advertisers feel that?
"Friendly." "Presentable." Of all the adjectives in the English language, why does Amazed pick these two?
3
I too was amazed that the disparity in salaries was immediately attributed to race. Nothing is less transparent to the public (or as irrational) as the reason behind a company's marketing campaign.
That said, I'm pretty sure that a powerfully built woman would not be the first choice of those seeking conventional beauty. And that's a shame.
That said, I'm pretty sure that a powerfully built woman would not be the first choice of those seeking conventional beauty. And that's a shame.
5
African Americans make up 13 percent of the U.S. population but 89 percent of Americans ranked among the world’s 20 most marketable sports stars. Maria Sharapova earns nearly twice as much in endorsements as Serena Williams because she is beautiful, glamorous and European in a sport that is much more important in Europe than in Africa or the United States. (Glamor and beauty count as merit in the advertising world.) However, Serena Williams is the only U.S. woman listed among 20 sports stars with the most endorsements. There are eight black Americans on the list of 20 most marketable sports stars and one white American. White U.S. golfer Phil Mickelson ranks third on the list, just behind black golfer Tiger Woods. (Mickelson ranks 32nd in the world while Woods ranks 156th.) The fact that black students view sports star endorsement standings, which blacks dominate, as racist indicates how little they have to complain about.
http://www.theguardian.com/media/2015/jul/22/serena-williams-one-of-only...
http://www.theguardian.com/media/2015/jul/22/serena-williams-one-of-only...
148
Your statistics are impressive, but you've missed the point of the article. It's not about Sharapova vs. Williams. That's just an anecdote to get a conversation started. It's about the everyday experience of black students who are not sports stars; talking about their endorsements is just a way to get students thinking about what motivates preferences and choices in the world. Why do advertisers think Sharapova is more marketable? What assumptions do we make about what people will want to see? Yes, the majority of tennis fans are white, and the sport is vastly more popular in Europe than in Africa; however, why does that matter? What audience bias makes Sharapova's white skin trump Williams' record in crowd appeal? The analogy is flawed, absolutely, but the analogy is not the point - it's just an easy way for students to visualize a problem that's often abstract and subjective and difficult to admit.
1
Maria also make more in endorsement money than the four white female tennis players who rank above her. Some advertising agencies think Sharapova is more marketable because their marketing research shows that she's more appealing to customers most likely to buy the products they market. Maria recently signed an endorsement deal with Porsche. Porsche sells far more cars in Europe than in Sub-Saharan Africa, where the media annual income is about $750 a year. The same agencies use black celebrities when they market products to black consumers. Research shows that population groups find people of their own racial or ethnic group most appealing, but this isn't anti-black racism.
This is great - liberal university profs stymied by the very same magical thinking that they engendered.
You don't actually have to see racism - it simply has to exist in the muddled mind of an 18 year-old irrational magical thinker.
You don't actually have to rationally debate racism - you can shout over each other and deny each other's right to feel threatened.
I anxiously await the arrival of the game-ender where folks of color claim - that by definition - they are not capable of racism - but that everyone else is.
You don't actually have to see racism - it simply has to exist in the muddled mind of an 18 year-old irrational magical thinker.
You don't actually have to rationally debate racism - you can shout over each other and deny each other's right to feel threatened.
I anxiously await the arrival of the game-ender where folks of color claim - that by definition - they are not capable of racism - but that everyone else is.
74
I anxiously await the arrival of the game-ender where folks of color claim - that by definition - they are not capable of racism - but that everyone else is.
steve, that time has already arrived.
steve, that time has already arrived.
1
Nothing to do with racism. Endorsements are proportional to the attraction by potential buyers. Companies test this all the time. Son, stay out of Social studies and attend more business classes. They pick those people who are the most attractive to the target audience.
46
Several posts recommend that Professor Click be fired. I agree.
But check out the video that got her in so much trouble again. There were at least two or three other University employees involved. In fact, it seemed like they were actually leading and directing much of the protest. One tried to hide her status as a University employee and act like one of the students even. How sad. Today's students need school employees to help guide their protests.
Maybe we are getting paid back for all the helicopter parenting.
But check out the video that got her in so much trouble again. There were at least two or three other University employees involved. In fact, it seemed like they were actually leading and directing much of the protest. One tried to hide her status as a University employee and act like one of the students even. How sad. Today's students need school employees to help guide their protests.
Maybe we are getting paid back for all the helicopter parenting.
48
I noticed the others in the video also. The only thing I don't understand is why every single faculty member who was involved in this detestable incident wasn't immediately fired, and why every student involved wasn't immediately expelled.
1
It's clear from reading this article there are ALOT of professors/advisers/consultants making a nice living at the racial inequity/diversity game. With so much money at stake these "problems" will never be "solved" but will only be meet with demands for more $$$.
86
It could be race. More likely in the case of the disparity between endorsements going to Ms. Sharapova and Ms. Williams, though, it's body style. "Femininity" and muscularity are incompatible. Dr. Brooks cites her muscularity; I'd say that'll do it every time.
So, by the way, is hairiness. Some cultures don't force their women to shave or wax their legs, underarms and, in some cases, cheeks, but the baby-soft ideal requires large eyes, smooth skin, and some modicum of vulnerability.
Look through your old English novels. Villains like Blanche Ingram in Jane Eyre are big and dark-haired. It is what it is.
So, by the way, is hairiness. Some cultures don't force their women to shave or wax their legs, underarms and, in some cases, cheeks, but the baby-soft ideal requires large eyes, smooth skin, and some modicum of vulnerability.
Look through your old English novels. Villains like Blanche Ingram in Jane Eyre are big and dark-haired. It is what it is.
17
How about a different way to look at endorsement money comparisons?
A 'face' for a given product should be attractive,,, attractive to the consumer,, the object of the advertisement. I am a male, so I tend to like female faces. I am also a white guy,, so I tend to like white women. Is a mating, visual preference wrong or racist? I don't think so,, because I also adore brown eyes and detest blue eyes. That is likely as simple as my mother had brown eyes.
1 in 8 Americans are black,, so then would we expect endorsement moneys to be that same 1 in 8 split? IF that were only the case,,, then Serena Williams is besting the racial 'divide', by 4 times what statistics might otherwise imply. 4 times.
Tiger Woods, in his better days, set HUGE records for endorsement money.
I don't think it is just black,, or white. By endorsement moneys, fully half of us find her attractive,, but only 1/8th of us are black. I know that is a flawed use of statistics,,,, but there is also truth in it.
A 'face' for a given product should be attractive,,, attractive to the consumer,, the object of the advertisement. I am a male, so I tend to like female faces. I am also a white guy,, so I tend to like white women. Is a mating, visual preference wrong or racist? I don't think so,, because I also adore brown eyes and detest blue eyes. That is likely as simple as my mother had brown eyes.
1 in 8 Americans are black,, so then would we expect endorsement moneys to be that same 1 in 8 split? IF that were only the case,,, then Serena Williams is besting the racial 'divide', by 4 times what statistics might otherwise imply. 4 times.
Tiger Woods, in his better days, set HUGE records for endorsement money.
I don't think it is just black,, or white. By endorsement moneys, fully half of us find her attractive,, but only 1/8th of us are black. I know that is a flawed use of statistics,,,, but there is also truth in it.
16
Interesting argument in the first paragraph, especially as all of the Rolex ads I've seen in magazines overwhelmingly featured Tiger Woods. And I would wonder if the professor compared the endorsement deals of Venus to Serena. If one got more than another, is that racism? Sexism? Twin ism? I find it particularly interesting that the African American community, at least as depicted in media, are retrogressing. While their grandparents were marching and dying for integration, today's generation, by promoting historically black (AKA, "Segregated" ) colleges, and "safe zones" don't seem to have the stamina to stand up for their rights and demand to be coddled. True, many people have not been exposed to anything more ethnic than their local Chinese restaurant.
BUT
Face facts. When one race or another seems to have a disproportionate crime rate relative to their population, it needs to be addressed. An interesting study by the Washington Post seemed to show that whites are twice as likely to be shot and killed in encounters with police than blacks, and 'In a year-long study, The Washington Post found that the kind of incidents that have ignited protests in many U.S. communities — most often, white police officers killing unarmed black men — represent less than 4 percent of fatal police shootings."
BUT
Face facts. When one race or another seems to have a disproportionate crime rate relative to their population, it needs to be addressed. An interesting study by the Washington Post seemed to show that whites are twice as likely to be shot and killed in encounters with police than blacks, and 'In a year-long study, The Washington Post found that the kind of incidents that have ignited protests in many U.S. communities — most often, white police officers killing unarmed black men — represent less than 4 percent of fatal police shootings."
53
Comparing Maria Sharapova to Serena Williams illustrates two points. One; that our notions of beauty in this country skew to caucasian, and two; that a woman is ONLY valued for her looks. Ms. Sharapova and Ms. Williams are not models, they are world class tennis players and should be judged solely on their athletic ability and skill.
6
True, the both are tennis players. But... Sharapova also does modeling and is a product spokesperson. Williams is a product spokesperson as well. That may be changing though. Williams was recently featured in the 2016 Pirelli Calendar, so who knows what will happen?
But your overall point is correct. We should only judge athletes based on their athletic ability and skill. To do otherwise would be to engage in look-ism. Take Tom Brady for example. I would never, ever even think that he was cute. Even with that dimple. So to respect him as an athlete, I try to look at the floor or my feet whenever he is on screen - especially when he is all cleaned up doing a commercial.
But your overall point is correct. We should only judge athletes based on their athletic ability and skill. To do otherwise would be to engage in look-ism. Take Tom Brady for example. I would never, ever even think that he was cute. Even with that dimple. So to respect him as an athlete, I try to look at the floor or my feet whenever he is on screen - especially when he is all cleaned up doing a commercial.
2
Maybe college students just want to live their lives as they choose, without the self-justifying meddling and social engineering of "diversity officers" and such. People tend to stick to their own kind. So what?
It's no mystery why students don't want to "talk about race." (This is usually code for expecting whites to confess to their supposed privilege, institutional racism, etc.) The deck is loaded. We see officials cave (e.g. the resignation of Mizzou's president) under the flimsiest protests. Administrations go into an uproar over "racist incidents" (e.g. Oberlin), only to learn they are hoaxes. (As an aside, the "feces swastika" at Mizzou had never been attributed to anyone. The "racial slurs yelled across campus" came from a vehicle and could not be attributed to Mizzou students. Note here how they become proof of a problem that must be fixed.) Microaggressions are now "reported", so that innocent conversation becomes "hate speech", based entirely on the listener's perception and sensitivity.
Most students want to learn, party a little, get a job and pay off their loans. A university can create all the racial infrastructure it wants, complete with cushy jobs designed to imagine or inflate problems that don't exist. But college students (from all groups) are smarter than that, and know a hustle when they see one.
It's no mystery why students don't want to "talk about race." (This is usually code for expecting whites to confess to their supposed privilege, institutional racism, etc.) The deck is loaded. We see officials cave (e.g. the resignation of Mizzou's president) under the flimsiest protests. Administrations go into an uproar over "racist incidents" (e.g. Oberlin), only to learn they are hoaxes. (As an aside, the "feces swastika" at Mizzou had never been attributed to anyone. The "racial slurs yelled across campus" came from a vehicle and could not be attributed to Mizzou students. Note here how they become proof of a problem that must be fixed.) Microaggressions are now "reported", so that innocent conversation becomes "hate speech", based entirely on the listener's perception and sensitivity.
Most students want to learn, party a little, get a job and pay off their loans. A university can create all the racial infrastructure it wants, complete with cushy jobs designed to imagine or inflate problems that don't exist. But college students (from all groups) are smarter than that, and know a hustle when they see one.
83
having been mugged by people "of color" and being criticized by people "of color" for not blaming myself instead of the muggers, can you see why I prefer to stay away from people "of color"?
1
An extremely interesting and useful article, the best part being at the end where the professor says this is about tone, and trying to understand the other person's point-of-view.
28
The lead of the story was buried at the end. NYT, you missed the real focus.
1
The elephant in the room is that Sharapova looks like a Victoria Secret model and Serena does not. If Serena looked like Iman then she would earn much more than Sharapova. Beauty unfortunately cannot be fixed through affirmative action.
117
Beauty according to whom? Standards set by white people?
1
It's hard to get students with very different backgrounds and cultures to engage constructively.
For what it's worth, I've often found that people tend to cluster by brain-power; smart kids like to hang out with smart kids; jocks often hang out with jocks; many coming-of-age stories through history have dwelt on this theme.
The times where I've been able to form meaningful, lasting friendships with people of other races it was frequently because we were on the same level intellectually; we got each other's jokes, followed each other's conversations, and shared similar observations.
The solution to this integration challenge may lie in carefully considering the relative levels of academic preparedness between the different groups.
For what it's worth, I've often found that people tend to cluster by brain-power; smart kids like to hang out with smart kids; jocks often hang out with jocks; many coming-of-age stories through history have dwelt on this theme.
The times where I've been able to form meaningful, lasting friendships with people of other races it was frequently because we were on the same level intellectually; we got each other's jokes, followed each other's conversations, and shared similar observations.
The solution to this integration challenge may lie in carefully considering the relative levels of academic preparedness between the different groups.
10
"Students — black and white — self-segregate in Greek life and even campus cafeterias."
Birds of a feather flock together. An old phrase, but true. People seek others like themselves; it is human nature. Nome Sane?
Birds of a feather flock together. An old phrase, but true. People seek others like themselves; it is human nature. Nome Sane?
7
These professors and administrators should be ashamed of themselves, not just at Missouri, but throughout academia in exacerbating identity politics.
Many of these individuals are either progeny of, or hold ideological sympathy with, the New Left and campus agitations of the 1960s and ‘70s. They’re tenured radicals posing as moderates and intellectuals.
What a tremendous disservice this does to black students seeking a decent education and social mobility. Where is the press coverage for the black moderate—those of us who don't have paper-thin egos or use race as an excuse for failure and poor performance?
Missouri’s steep decline in enrollment next Fall is a direct outcome of this kind of racial bullying choking the university—with black enrollment having dropped some 19%. (A Missouri degree would be quite the scarlet letter on a black student’s resume. What employer would take a risk on potentially hiring a fragile malcontent?)
Mandatory diversity training? An unsubstantiated belief that unequal outcomes are caused by the bogeyman of “racism”?
The shoddy foundations of the left’s assumptions and social engineering seem to go largely unquestioned within the Ivory Towers. It’s a foregone conclusion to these administrators and student agitators that they should act as mindguards and enforce race-based “diversity.”
Are there any adults left in academia, or are they all too frightened by racial bullying and political correctness to speak honestly?
Many of these individuals are either progeny of, or hold ideological sympathy with, the New Left and campus agitations of the 1960s and ‘70s. They’re tenured radicals posing as moderates and intellectuals.
What a tremendous disservice this does to black students seeking a decent education and social mobility. Where is the press coverage for the black moderate—those of us who don't have paper-thin egos or use race as an excuse for failure and poor performance?
Missouri’s steep decline in enrollment next Fall is a direct outcome of this kind of racial bullying choking the university—with black enrollment having dropped some 19%. (A Missouri degree would be quite the scarlet letter on a black student’s resume. What employer would take a risk on potentially hiring a fragile malcontent?)
Mandatory diversity training? An unsubstantiated belief that unequal outcomes are caused by the bogeyman of “racism”?
The shoddy foundations of the left’s assumptions and social engineering seem to go largely unquestioned within the Ivory Towers. It’s a foregone conclusion to these administrators and student agitators that they should act as mindguards and enforce race-based “diversity.”
Are there any adults left in academia, or are they all too frightened by racial bullying and political correctness to speak honestly?
33
Why are these seminars even allowed to be run by academics, why don't they bring in people from "the outside" who deal in the real world, for instance, a sport agent who writes contracts and endorsement deals to get a more real picture of what actually is considered.
2
You're absolutely right about the current crop of agitating radicals. Ta-Neihsi Coates, the "Genius Grant" recipient who's now demanding similar "Genius Grants" (reparations payments) of tens of thousands of dollars for every black, happens to be the son of a 60's radical, a Black Panther. Guess the apple doesn't fall far from the tree.
3
of course Dr. Brooks hit it on the head, Sharapova looks like a Victorias secret model while Williams looks more like a NCAA football linebacker and that has NOTHING whatsoever to do with race, so don't make it about race. Wanna take steps toward curing divisions among the University students as well as anyone who followed the events on campus last fall? Do what should have been done last fall and fire Dr. Melissa Click, a professor with a courtesy position in the JOURNALISM school who tried to intimidate a journalist out of a PUBLIC space occupied by protesters and actually threatened him physically by calling for "muscle" to remove him. A Professor threatens a student physically and she still has her job, absolute lunacy.
173
No mention, either, of Tiger Woods being the highest paid golfer.
17
Ms. Williams is black, like many pro football players. However, she is and looks like a woman with significant curves.
Despite what some people think, certain beauty norms are not universal. In some cultures, large breasts and hips are celebrated.
Despite what some people think, certain beauty norms are not universal. In some cultures, large breasts and hips are celebrated.
4
Sharapova also earns more in endorsements than the four white women ahead of her in the tennis rankings.
5
Racism is real, and university campuses, of all places, out to be places where any individual can expect to be treated with dignity. They have not been such places, and this is a real problem. The range of barely related issues--some terribly depressing, some the basic characteristics of human societies--among which this article flits makes pretty clear how far off any solution to that problem is, when Americans allow themselves such intellectually lazy conflation of concerns. As for the tennis players, well, they have made choices about how they present themselves, individual choices. Comparing the results to the outcome of day-to-day interactions at Mizzou is trite and sloppy pedagogy.
25
WOW...AND, there you have it ladies and gentlemen...the REASON the U. of Missouri's enrollment numbers are WAY down...idiotic classes and even more idiotic professors. The very first sentence set the tone...why does a pretty white girl get more endorsement monies than the black girl...he went on to say, "this is sport...they should get the same amount"...NO, professor...it is NOT sport...they DO both make the same amount in their SPORT...of course, depending on whether they win in their SPORT, is what determines what they make in their SPORT. However, that is NOT the argument you asked about...you tangled up MARKETING with sports...NOT even close to the same thing. In marketing, the person who gets the big bucks is someone who has captured the public's attention and doesn't make statements that offend large segments of the population. I can name dozens of athletes who are white, but get very few marketing dollars because of their actions and words OFF the court, field, etc. It is NO wonder that today's students can't think for themselves...their professors force the notion that they are ALL racists down their throats and make them personally responsible for the ills of society, using FALSE premises...a pox on ALL professors or teachers who abuse their positions and try to brainwash students. TEACH your subject matter and stay out of the mind games business
140
"Hey! I need some muscle here!" -- Mizzou professor, now with a criminal record.
http://www.kansascity.com/news/local/article57307773.html
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/26/us/melissa-click-missouri-professor-wh...
http://www.kansascity.com/news/local/article57307773.html
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/26/us/melissa-click-missouri-professor-wh...
3
And yet I recently read about UCONN's plan to establish housing segregated by race...black only dorms! When questioned about this plan Vice Provost Sally Reis insisted that “It’s no more segregated than putting individuals with an interest in entrepreneurship together because they have common interests." This is a stunning example, in my opinion, of a failure to learn from history.
It is my understanding that this plan is in response to pressure from black students to have their own dorms. I cannot believe it. But if it is true, the Administration should just say NO! Some have argued that segregated dorms of this type would help students excell. Really? I would ask how the administration would react to a request from white students for a similar arrangement or from Muslim males who argued that make only classes would benefit them.
Separate is not equal. We must learn to live together.
It is my understanding that this plan is in response to pressure from black students to have their own dorms. I cannot believe it. But if it is true, the Administration should just say NO! Some have argued that segregated dorms of this type would help students excell. Really? I would ask how the administration would react to a request from white students for a similar arrangement or from Muslim males who argued that make only classes would benefit them.
Separate is not equal. We must learn to live together.
82
Do you think if white students demanded their own dorms, it would have happened?
9
It is an example of racism.
4
And yet I recently read about UCONN's plan to establish housing segregated by race...black only dorms! When questioned about this plan Vice Provost Sally Reis insisted that “It’s no more segregated than putting individuals with an interest in entrepreneurship together because they have common interests." This is a stunning example, in my opinion, of a failure to learn from history.
if she were asked to set up white only dorms somehow I get the feeling she would not have the same response.
if she were asked to set up white only dorms somehow I get the feeling she would not have the same response.
4
As a father of college young people, I do not see this phenomenon in my own children. They do attend Christian schools and they have all been overseas on mission trips. My eldest daughter taught school in Nigeria for three years and loved it. I do believe there are structural disadvantages with race in the US but see poverty and the breakdown of family structures as a a greater culprit along with too much incarceration for the wrong reasons.
My other thought on the article - the professor uses the wrong comparisons regarding the tennis superstars. Why does Ms Williams make so more than the pro tennis players from the Phillippines and Nigeria? Any comparison based on race must include the injustice of wages between anyone in the US and anyone in the developing world.
My other thought on the article - the professor uses the wrong comparisons regarding the tennis superstars. Why does Ms Williams make so more than the pro tennis players from the Phillippines and Nigeria? Any comparison based on race must include the injustice of wages between anyone in the US and anyone in the developing world.
5
More silliness. What do people want?Not everyone is gong to love you unless you are Julia Roberts or Oprah or George Cloony or Pharnell Williams and maybe not even then. These kids are supposed to be studying.. The division along lines of race and religion also diverts attention form the real "gap" in terms of rights and inclusion-- which is the gender gap. Women get paid less, have higher costs thru life than do men, and are generally second class citizens. (In Islamic societies they are really treated badly. No education for women says the IS.)
Even Hillary for all her bravado felt it nec. to put up with Bill's philandering so that she could ride on his coattails politically. (Another reason the lady lacks integrity. Bill to the best of my knowledge has never publicly apologized to that woman, those women nor to Hillary-- altho what goes on behind closed doors. By having Bill campaign for her or with her she again proves she is afraid to go it alone in the court of public opinion. Interesting.
BTW kids there are times we all feel we don't belong or in fact don't belong. Try being an old lady at a rave, e.g.
Even Hillary for all her bravado felt it nec. to put up with Bill's philandering so that she could ride on his coattails politically. (Another reason the lady lacks integrity. Bill to the best of my knowledge has never publicly apologized to that woman, those women nor to Hillary-- altho what goes on behind closed doors. By having Bill campaign for her or with her she again proves she is afraid to go it alone in the court of public opinion. Interesting.
BTW kids there are times we all feel we don't belong or in fact don't belong. Try being an old lady at a rave, e.g.
8
I hate Oprah, so you can take her off the list.
7
BOTTOM LINE IS PROFIT - IS ONE GOING TO USE THE PERSON THAT TURNS PEOPLE OFF ? If your business sinks there are layoffs and people are hurt - among those laid off will be both blacks and whites and so on. It mushrooms so it is not only about Maria or Serena.
5
"Racial divide" is, unfortunately, a false premise. Individuals are discriminated against but our genetic makeups simply do not allow for such simple categorization.
What percent 'Black' makes one so? 1%? 30%? 75%?99%?
Why is it that we have come to look at a gender continuum when this is a relatively simple genetic identity (for the most part determined by x and Y chromosomes) and seek to have structured categories when the genetics is along a broad continuum?
We should focus on individuals, their backgrounds, their struggles, triumphs and how they might have been discriminated against. Enough with the simple categories- they help no one.
What percent 'Black' makes one so? 1%? 30%? 75%?99%?
Why is it that we have come to look at a gender continuum when this is a relatively simple genetic identity (for the most part determined by x and Y chromosomes) and seek to have structured categories when the genetics is along a broad continuum?
We should focus on individuals, their backgrounds, their struggles, triumphs and how they might have been discriminated against. Enough with the simple categories- they help no one.
12
The photo and description of these "diversity" classes at the university seem to suggest that the only people teaching them are black and the only people taking them are white. This perpetuates another ridiculous stereotype that the only people capable of racism are white. Everyone should spend some time in my neighborhood in Detroit to dispell that stupid idea. The article also seems to suggest that diversity is so important that something akin to affirmative action needs to be done to address the awful graduation rates of Black students in the name of preserving and extending diversity on campus. Destroying the academic reputation of a university in the name of diversity is really a stupid idea. How about diversifying neighborhoods and cafeteria seating arrangements first. Free jello to those who sit next to someone of a different race?
83
The photo and description of these "diversity" classes at the university seem to suggest that the only people teaching them are black and the only people taking them are white. This perpetuates another ridiculous stereotype that the only people capable of racism are white.
If only Trump or Cruz would be elected. This racism perpetuated by so many members of the black community and their apologists in academia would come to an end.
If only Trump or Cruz would be elected. This racism perpetuated by so many members of the black community and their apologists in academia would come to an end.
If only Trump or Cruz were elected ---does this meant that you think that they would be able to shut down free speech, control universities and colleges, control any minority community, and control state and local police forces. Why, that sounds like fascism to me folks! Why don't we just forget that Constitution and Bill of Rights that the Republicans claim to revere, and forget this whole experiment in democracy?
1
Carol Lee, is that not what the author of this article Eligon also favors (along with the neo-Nazis supporting his idea on mandatory classes)?
1
Cam Newton makes more in endorsement deals than Tom Brady, the greatest NFL QB of our time. How does the professor explain that?
105
Tom Brady has been playing in the NFL for fifteen seasons, as a starting quarterback for at least a dozen of them. He has made tens of millions of dollars in endorsements over those years. His wife also makes millions of dollars a year as a model. Some basic research indicates that their combined net worth is probably over $500 million.
So maybe his estimated $5.5 to $7 million a year in endorsements, on top of his NFL salary, is enough for him? Also note that he is far from the highest-paid quarterback in the league, which has been true for several years, most likely because he chooses to stay with the Patriots and not shop himself around. Apparently, money is not the only motivating factor for him.
Whatever the case may be, you need to do a lot of logical gymnastics to conclude that Brady makes less than Cam Newton (who made less in endorsements in 2015 than five other quarterbacks, all white) because Brady is white.
So maybe his estimated $5.5 to $7 million a year in endorsements, on top of his NFL salary, is enough for him? Also note that he is far from the highest-paid quarterback in the league, which has been true for several years, most likely because he chooses to stay with the Patriots and not shop himself around. Apparently, money is not the only motivating factor for him.
Whatever the case may be, you need to do a lot of logical gymnastics to conclude that Brady makes less than Cam Newton (who made less in endorsements in 2015 than five other quarterbacks, all white) because Brady is white.
This is all such a joke. The word "Asian" doesn't appear in this article at all--it's as though they are invisible.
"Since 1980, the percentage of blacks and Hispanics attending higher education institutions has more than doubled, from 13 percent to 28 percent in 2014, while the white population has dipped to about 52 percent from 84."
...so the Asian population basically went from 1% to 30% over that time...but it's not worth mentioning. I have no idea how Asians put up with being discriminated against in admissions then further marginalized in the popular discourse.
"Since 1980, the percentage of blacks and Hispanics attending higher education institutions has more than doubled, from 13 percent to 28 percent in 2014, while the white population has dipped to about 52 percent from 84."
...so the Asian population basically went from 1% to 30% over that time...but it's not worth mentioning. I have no idea how Asians put up with being discriminated against in admissions then further marginalized in the popular discourse.
167
Dear N.,
Good point but your numbers are a bit off. Initially it seems, it was blacks and Hispanics combined was 13%, whites were 84%, so 'other' was 3%, and that 'other' doesn't have to be all Asian, there are other racial groups too. Then blacks and Hispanics rose to 28%, whites dropped to 52%, and that means 'other' is at 20%, and again not all 'other' is Asian.
Nonetheless, here as everywhere, discussion of racial inequality always focuses on black people first, Hispanic second, and all other groups never.
Good point but your numbers are a bit off. Initially it seems, it was blacks and Hispanics combined was 13%, whites were 84%, so 'other' was 3%, and that 'other' doesn't have to be all Asian, there are other racial groups too. Then blacks and Hispanics rose to 28%, whites dropped to 52%, and that means 'other' is at 20%, and again not all 'other' is Asian.
Nonetheless, here as everywhere, discussion of racial inequality always focuses on black people first, Hispanic second, and all other groups never.
2
My math says that non-black, non-Hispanic, and non-white student population went from 3% to 20%. This would include Asian, Native American, and Oceanic peoples. I do agree that most of the increase is in likely in Asian students. I also agree that ignoring this is insulting.
1
The non inclusion suffered by Asian students is much worse than by black students.
In all discussions of inclusion I never hear about them, even though our numbers in quite a few Universities are about the same as blacks.
We are officially discriminated against in nearly all universities and no university even thinks about Asians when thinking about inclusiveness.
Also all Asians are lumped together when the similarity between a Chinese and an Indian and an Arab and a Philippino are about the same as between a black and white student.
In all discussions of inclusion I never hear about them, even though our numbers in quite a few Universities are about the same as blacks.
We are officially discriminated against in nearly all universities and no university even thinks about Asians when thinking about inclusiveness.
Also all Asians are lumped together when the similarity between a Chinese and an Indian and an Arab and a Philippino are about the same as between a black and white student.
116
plus affirmative action has impacted no group more negatively than Asian - americans (no matter what their ethnicity). Will such discrimination be covered in the classes Eligan demands?
3
I grew up in Columbia (where Mizzou is located) and often was struck by the fact that three of the public schools were named Grant, Lee, and Douglass--old and clear indications of mid-Missouri's sentiments. I later attended Mizzou and am proud of its unwillingness to ignore its racial divisions. It's difficult work, but must be done to effectively prepare students (and staff and faculty) for a future in which greater political, economic, and cultural power sharing will be required. As I often tell my students, people who have power will do almost anything to keep it. But times are changing. We can either teach our children to value each other's similarities and differences, or they'll get left behind. It really is as simple as that.
25
Discrimination is wonderful and natural !!!!
Otherwise we would be eating dung rather than food.
Or trying to breathe water rather than air.
Without discrimination, mankind would disappear from the planet.
Otherwise we would be eating dung rather than food.
Or trying to breathe water rather than air.
Without discrimination, mankind would disappear from the planet.
I love Serena Williams. Her athleticism, her competitiveness and her graciousness, winning or losing.
One of the best commercials I have seen recently is with Serena and IBM's Watson discussing her tennis statistics,
However, Serena IS muscular and she is not built with the long-legged model body of Maria. It's a fact that most women would prefer to be tall and thin. It's not a racist fact, it's simply a fact.
I resent these professors who, with the support of your newspaper, make everything come down to a question of racism. It gets their name in the NYT and it may look good on their resumes but it doesn't do anything for the students or the program of the University of Missouri.
We support Mizzou. Our son is a proud graduate. Like the "hands up, don't shoot" myth that burned down Ferguson and cost a police officer his career, by publishing this non-story you are contributing to and encouraging attitudes that are not justified, warranted or fair.
One of the best commercials I have seen recently is with Serena and IBM's Watson discussing her tennis statistics,
However, Serena IS muscular and she is not built with the long-legged model body of Maria. It's a fact that most women would prefer to be tall and thin. It's not a racist fact, it's simply a fact.
I resent these professors who, with the support of your newspaper, make everything come down to a question of racism. It gets their name in the NYT and it may look good on their resumes but it doesn't do anything for the students or the program of the University of Missouri.
We support Mizzou. Our son is a proud graduate. Like the "hands up, don't shoot" myth that burned down Ferguson and cost a police officer his career, by publishing this non-story you are contributing to and encouraging attitudes that are not justified, warranted or fair.
172
Anne, listen to your statement that most women prefer to be tall and thin. Who made that decision? When was this made and what is it based on? Sociologists will tell you that the current US standard of beauty is based on the Nordic look - tall, thin, pale and blonde. Why is it, especially as women, that we need to follow along with this paradigm?
And, yes, it does involve racism.
And, yes, it does involve racism.
5
Of course, Leslie, you're correct. Tall and Nordic and blond IS beautiful.
And Michele Obama looks so dowdy in her gorgeous designer gowns because she's.....short and dumpy?
Please stop bringing every issue down to racism.....it diminishes you. (Get it? You become less, like shorter)
And Michele Obama looks so dowdy in her gorgeous designer gowns because she's.....short and dumpy?
Please stop bringing every issue down to racism.....it diminishes you. (Get it? You become less, like shorter)
6
I tend to think that high fashion and those who scout models are the ones pushing the skinny, long-legged figure.
Well I am not tall, skinny and long-legged, but fit and muscular and feel fine about my body despite all of the advertisements that should make me feel bad about it, etc.
Also, I'm white FWIW - we are not all Nordic in appearance.
Well I am not tall, skinny and long-legged, but fit and muscular and feel fine about my body despite all of the advertisements that should make me feel bad about it, etc.
Also, I'm white FWIW - we are not all Nordic in appearance.
1
When Blacks play tennis, Black tennis players will earn as much for endorsements as White tennis players. When Blacks go to movies, Black movie stars and producers will get paid as much as Whites and more Black movies will be made. Black basketball players make more than White basketball players. This is simple economics unless the author is asking us to be race blind. Of course, the author is not race blind, that's why he wrote the article.
35
"The four-year graduation rate for black students who started college in 2007 was 21 percent, a mere 1 percentage point higher than for the 1996 cohort. (At the same time, the rate for white students went up 7 percentage points, to 43 percent.)"
And this brings us to the real problem, African-Americans whose academic preparation, and standardized test performance, would not match those of a bright 9th grader in a school district with a highly-educated population, are being admitted to college to improve "diversity". But they are victims of an experiment not based on sound ground. They are not ready to be there, the other students know they are not, and the frustration of not succeeding combines with the frustration of being viewed skeptically by others, the feeling that others view them as intellectually inferior and perhaps even their own suspicion of the same. Anger and protest are the natural result. Even if 99% of their white fellow students expressed no racist views whatsoever, the remaining 1% could still trigger protest, even if they were expelled promptly thereafter.
You cannot make someone comfortable on campus when they are not academically prepared to even be there.
And this brings us to the real problem, African-Americans whose academic preparation, and standardized test performance, would not match those of a bright 9th grader in a school district with a highly-educated population, are being admitted to college to improve "diversity". But they are victims of an experiment not based on sound ground. They are not ready to be there, the other students know they are not, and the frustration of not succeeding combines with the frustration of being viewed skeptically by others, the feeling that others view them as intellectually inferior and perhaps even their own suspicion of the same. Anger and protest are the natural result. Even if 99% of their white fellow students expressed no racist views whatsoever, the remaining 1% could still trigger protest, even if they were expelled promptly thereafter.
You cannot make someone comfortable on campus when they are not academically prepared to even be there.
94
It's not possible to evaluate your conclusion without data. If you can cite numbers which support this, please provide. Without any additional supporting evidence, an equally possible explanation is that qualified students are discouraged by an institution that doesn't meet their needs and/or a social or educational environment that is non-welcoming and not conducive to their growth or development.
2
You've got it wrong right there when you state: "an institution that doesn't meet their needs."
The students need to meet the needs of the college, not the other way around. That's why there are core requirement classes and a major with required classes and seminars.
College is not designed to be an advanced babysitting service — but it appears it is just that today. Social needs can be met, as they have for years, with activities outside of the classroom. There is no need for the classroom setting to be "welcoming." It is supposed to be rigorous and demanding.
If one cannot meet those demands, than one would be better suited to seek another avenue in life.
The students need to meet the needs of the college, not the other way around. That's why there are core requirement classes and a major with required classes and seminars.
College is not designed to be an advanced babysitting service — but it appears it is just that today. Social needs can be met, as they have for years, with activities outside of the classroom. There is no need for the classroom setting to be "welcoming." It is supposed to be rigorous and demanding.
If one cannot meet those demands, than one would be better suited to seek another avenue in life.
15
I couldn't agree more. A university is not nursery school. It need not expend human or academic resources to reach out...students need to reach up.
8
My answer to the opening question, tennis is more popular with white people. If true, it makes sense white women will earn higher endorsements $$$.
If my wife played tennis, I'm sure she could invasion herself jumping around the court after seeing a white women modeling a tennis racket or outfit more so then a black women. Does this make her a racist? Is this the definition of racism? Is this omnipresent or simply a white trait?
If my wife played tennis, I'm sure she could invasion herself jumping around the court after seeing a white women modeling a tennis racket or outfit more so then a black women. Does this make her a racist? Is this the definition of racism? Is this omnipresent or simply a white trait?
11
The real answer to this question involves sexism rather than racism. Far more men find Sharapova physically attractive, so she gets all the money and ads. Advertisers cater to base instincts, and they know what they're doing.
5
Admiring a beautiful woman isn't a "base" instinct, it's human nature.
2
I think one big thing that can happen on campuses is if administrators work to get people from different backgrounds to come together. So far as racial separation goes, in a lot of places you see (voluntarily) segregated dorms, separate minority orientations, separate student unions and campus centers for minority groups, fraternities that are either basically all white or all minority, kids sitting by race in the cafeteria, etc. Sports are also a problem. At some schools a significant percentage of African-American students are athletes (at UCLA 65% of black males on campus are athletes) and that leads to further separation between white and black students because the experience of being an athlete is very different than that of being a normal student. All of these things makes it very easy for kids to go through college without socializing with people different then them and without forming meaningful connections with a diverse group of people. Until administrators are able to successfully find ways of fostering real and meaningful interaction between different groups of people, you will continue to have many of these problems.
31
No real and meaningful interactions is required. What is required is to follow the law, treat people appropriately. I don't interact with say Hindus but know to show respect and treat them well. Pretty simple.
2
ChapelThrill23 - "Until administrators are able to successfully find ways of fostering real and meaningful interaction between different groups of people, you will continue to have many of these problems."
Students on University/College campuses are mostly adults and maybe these adults don't want to have a "meaningful interaction" with different groups of students. Most people feel very comfortable dealing with their own groups and the last thing they need along with the pressure of a college education and its future cost is to be forced into a "meaningful interaction" with different groups.
Students on University/College campuses are mostly adults and maybe these adults don't want to have a "meaningful interaction" with different groups of students. Most people feel very comfortable dealing with their own groups and the last thing they need along with the pressure of a college education and its future cost is to be forced into a "meaningful interaction" with different groups.
3
i think this is something all colleges and universities are with since the Roberts court declared any attempt at inclusion of minority students null and void. Legacy admissions are OK and so is white privilege.
2
I am white and I think that legacy admissions should be abolished.
Was therefore quite surprised to see a quote from Dr. Ruth Simmons, a black woman who has served in highly prestigious positions in the financial sector and academia who actually defended continuing legacy admissions saying "No, I have a granddaughter. It's not time yet."
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/14/opinion/sunday/the-self-destruction-of...
Guess it's not just rich white folks that like to be able to buy their way into Ivy League universities...
Was therefore quite surprised to see a quote from Dr. Ruth Simmons, a black woman who has served in highly prestigious positions in the financial sector and academia who actually defended continuing legacy admissions saying "No, I have a granddaughter. It's not time yet."
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/14/opinion/sunday/the-self-destruction-of...
Guess it's not just rich white folks that like to be able to buy their way into Ivy League universities...
10
Doris, what do you have to say about Dr. Simmon's comments? Do they prove that blacks can manipulate legacy admissions as much as whites or not?
3
A good way to bridge the racial gap would be to fire Professor Click, not force students into mandatory propaganda sessions.
81
It is called empathy. This is what is missing in our society today. Just look at all the rants of Donald Trump. Social media encourages people to spout off and not have a worthwhile dialogue but only engage in name calling. I applaud these universities for addressing these issues and I applaud the students for bringing it to their attention. We need to be open as a society and try to understand our differences. It seems to me this is a good start.
41
No empathy is required to behave properly, NONE!!! I don't need to understand you to treat you properly, follow the law and be a decent human being.
2
Micclay, do you remember Al Sharpton and Tawny Brown?
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The fact that you point out Donald Trump and refer to his rhetoric as "rants" is indicative of the mindset of people who cannot help but demonize, vilify or ridicule those who have a different experience or perspective from them. Trump -- love him or hate him -- has a perspective that is shared by many Americans of various racial, ethnic, gender and economic backgrounds. He has a right to point out his views as he seeks a presidential nomination.
Unfortunately, today's youth are taught to BLAME. They will blame anyone who is successful or point the finger at anyone who thinks differently than they do. The students at many colleges think that everyone must agree with them or else they are motivated by something vile. In fact, they will squelch free speech if that speech doesn't agree with what they think is "politically correct" (without questioning just who defines what is or is not "politically correct").
This is a shame. Youth should never be offended by free speech to the point of needing "safe zones" where no one questions, scrutinizes or challenges them. One thing is certain in this world: People will not always agree with us. We should always be open to hearing out the views and thoughts of others -- even if we disagree with them. We might discover that some of those popular prejudices or stereotypes are unsubstantiated or a product of hysteria fueled by social media or the media.
Unfortunately, today's youth are taught to BLAME. They will blame anyone who is successful or point the finger at anyone who thinks differently than they do. The students at many colleges think that everyone must agree with them or else they are motivated by something vile. In fact, they will squelch free speech if that speech doesn't agree with what they think is "politically correct" (without questioning just who defines what is or is not "politically correct").
This is a shame. Youth should never be offended by free speech to the point of needing "safe zones" where no one questions, scrutinizes or challenges them. One thing is certain in this world: People will not always agree with us. We should always be open to hearing out the views and thoughts of others -- even if we disagree with them. We might discover that some of those popular prejudices or stereotypes are unsubstantiated or a product of hysteria fueled by social media or the media.
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