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Controversial Facebook picture appears on fliers in SUB
Kim King, Journalist
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Story
MITCH ESPLIN/THE ARBITER - Black Student Alliance President David Andrews reacts to racist fliers that appeared Thursday in the SUB.
A controversial picture is on the Facebook page of Cultural Center coordinator Ro Parker. The illustration depicts two black women, one of whom is pointing a finger in the face of a white man. He is holding his hands up in a position of semi-surrender.
The caption reads “Shut the f*** up, Whiteboy.”
The picture is printed on fliers that appeared under the doors of many faculty members and staff at the Student Union Building early Thursday.
A person of interest who allegedly printed the fliers was questioned Friday by Boise Police. No charges are pending at this time.
Parker said she is willing to talk about why the picture is on her Facebook page.
“I am more than willing to talk about this,” Parker said. “This is a picture sent by a friend who asked if this was appropriate.”
Parker said she didn’t know how to answer.
“If I say no, I will be labeled a racist,” she said. “If I say yes, it can be taken out of context.”
In spite of the controversy, the illustration will remain on Facebook.
“My reaction to this is what it says about our campus,” she said. “A group or individual felt they had to make fliers and slide it under the door. We need to be more open and talk about issues like this.”
Less than eight weeks ago, the Hands Across Campus Rally united more than 200 people in a joint cause against racism and homophobia. The coalition of students, faculty and staff responded quickly to a series of racist fliers found on campus.
“Racial hate reared its ugly head again this morning at Boise State. I will not stand for this!” said ASBSU Sen. Chase Johnson. “This will not be tolerated!”
Johnson addressed students and faculty stating history should serve as a guideline in determining future actions.
“Why study Hitler, race riots, and genocide?” he said. “This should teach us what not to do. It’s upsetting that it’s 2010 and we still have to deal with this.”
“We are all human, we are all diverse,” Johnson said. “When it happens again, what are we going to do about it?”
One student disagrees with Johnson and proposes the illustration be removed from Parker’s Facebook page.
“Seeing the picture on her page angers me,” said Greg Curtiss, a freshman communication major from Columbus, Ga. “It promotes violence and racism within all races, not just black and white. As director, she should know this.”
Curtiss said his grandfather witnessed one of the last black lynchings in Alabama in the 1930s.
“Besides hearing his stories, I observed first hand how racism affects people and whole families,” he said. “A picture like this would cause major riots, protests, marches, and violence at a southern university. It’s just asking for trouble to have that on a Facebook page.”
He says it portrays a dual image of Parker.
“When she’s at work she promotes social justice and racial equality,” Curtiss said. “She is a leader of a campus that is supposed to support that. Obviously, on her off-time, she feels differently.”
Chase…and Ro, the Arbiter, and Bob Kustra-
I implore you to “have the audacity to fully analyze the implications of (not only) this picture,” but the inconstancies, hypocrisies, religious bigotry, and the Attitudes of hate as displayed on Ro's Myspace pages and explain how its all just ‘tools’ “for opening discussion around many issues, including racism, sexism, racist work policies” and isn’t in itself blatant racism.
It is really disappointing to see some of the above comments. I value the virtue of proactive rather then reactive responses and its a shame to see such negative reactions twords another proactive individual.
All i can think of is how media portrays certain topics and lets people build fires around mis information. This picture was one of four pictures from the same site where it came from. Why dosent anyone get just as offended at the picture of the Prophet Muhhamad dipicted as a bomb as a head. Its so unfortunate that when a privalged group in a society feels as uncomfortable as any minorty does in everyday life that thoose privlaged people gang up and attack an individual.
I challenge us to examine our lifestyles…. how does it effect the globe, what are we as individuals willing to give up to live sustainable? Do we deserve so much luxuries that contributes nothing to our happiness when other countries don't have clean water or enough food even when they our our own brothers and sisters in America. Why do we not care just as much about child soldiers, genocides, or mass killings of innocent civilians in our war on terror.
I say Thank you Ro Parker for raising awareness for something that is uncomfortable and makes me think how it could feel to be a minority in this society and realizing how hurtful false media can be.
Did Ro Parker have all four images as her profile pic?
That should answer your question.
Nice to see Ro Parker's spin-echo-chamber in action. Myself and many others do not buy into the crock of an excuse that she gave for having that image posted.
Russ James, Racism is the belief that one's race is superior to others. Now, why would that be a bad thing? Lets use history as an example: Hitler blamed all of Germany's social ill's on the Jews, using them as a scapegoat. The result? 6 Million dead Jews, all in the name of the "Aryan race."
Russ, I implore you to open up some books on the subject. To get out of your comfort zone and meet others of different cultural backgrounds, and learn from them. Just because you've been taught your whole life that you should be proud of your race, doesn't mean you should. It's an unethical and immoral practice. Race does not determine who we are, it's our personalities and cultural values. I believe that Boise State has potential to be a distinctive university, but not until the students take an active role in educating themselves, and making the university a more harmonious and open environment.
2 weeks and no response from Ro.