"Racism Emerges at State"

"Racism Emerges at State"

The Nubian Message, North Carolina State University's African American student newspaper, was first published on November 30, 1992. In this January 27, 1994 article, "Racism Emerges at State," Who's Who section editor Rene Scott covered a campus incident involving a racist statement that was graffitied onto the walls of the Free Expression tunnel. The statement, painted underneath an announcement of an upcoming African American cultural celebration, labeled the event "Another Jigaboo Jam" and "KKK Sponsored."  In the article, Scott speculated about the identity of the graffitist (white or black?), and whether or not the graffiti was an isolated incident or representative of broader campus racism. Interviewing African American students, including Nubian Message Editor-in-Chief Tony Williamson, about their reactions to the graffiti, Scott concluded that Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s "Dream" of peace and equality in diversity had not yet been fulfilled, as institutional racism still existed.

Rene Scott, Who's Who Editor

Rene Scott, "Racism Emerges at State," The Nubian Message 2, no. 9 (January 27, 1994): 3. Digitized by the Special Collections Research Center, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC.

1994-01-27

Rose Buchanan

Racism Emerges at State

By Rene Scott

Coming into 1994, many NCSU students were jolted awake from a peaceful Dream with an announcement in the Free-Expression tunnel of an Afrikan-American celebration (Showtime at the Apollo). However, there was an unwanted addition to that announcement that had a very flavorful meaning:

"Another Jigaboo Jam"
"KKK Sponsored"

Questions: Who wrote it? Why was it written?

If it was written by whites, was it a purely racial undertaking? If by Afrikan-Americans, was it an attempt at racial investigation? If racially motivated, are there fingers to point at organized hate groups on campus?

If Afrikan-Americans are responsible, is it possible to show concern more up-front and positively?

Is this an isolated incident, or only the beginning for events like this to take place?

Some suggestions: In an educational environment now based upon equality, such a blatant, racist remark does not fit in.

Is it ironic that this occurrence in the Free-Expression tunnel reflects upon the tunnel vision that so many students, staff and faculty posses [sic]?

It was such a rude awakening for those who slept peacefully and now, they sense that there is racist activity on the outskirts of the narrow path of equality. Even in a time when the celebration of the Dream of King exists, the question arises, "If he were alive, would he still be dreaming?"

With question in mind and situation at hand, there is a stain left not only in the tunnel, but in the minds of the NCSU environment.

Upon hearing of the incident, "The Nubian Message" Editor-in-Chief Tony Williamson reflected upon the state that NCSU was in 1990. At the time, NCSU was experiencing a number of racial incidents. Afrikan-American leaders were prevailing, only to be shutdown [sic] by racial and physical threats.

It seems an Afrikan-American student body president and an Afrikan-American homecoming queen was hard medicine to swallow for a traditionally white institution. Only four years ago and thirty years past in the Civil Rights Movement, there was a time not much different from today. But ask yourself, where does this leave the Dream?

The reaction to this incident ripples through many Afrikan-American students here with a bitter tone. Mike Boykin, President of the NCSU chapter of the NAACP states, "...racism is very prevalent and very subtle here and Afrikan-Americans don't address the issue as up front as we should."

The attitude of many students who saw the incident, although startling, it is not surprising. However, this defies some of what is intended by the Dream. Chris Smith, a member of Omega Psi Phi, also feels the prevalence of racism. Yet, Smith acknowledges that "...even though we are a new society, the laws are founded by racist minds, thus the institution is still racist."

With an impaired breeding process like this, will we ever rid ourselves of the germ? Is it possible to dream peacefully when reality awaits on the other side of closed eyelids? Is this the actuality that Dr. King spoke of and intended?

Maybe his Dream is deferred, or maybe it's become a subtle nightmare. A dream is a source of inspiration and vision only to prosper by action of the people.

Walking hand in hand with others from various backgrounds is difficult, especially when those same hands still attempt oppression and hatred by any means necessary. If that is supposed to be the interpretation of the Dream, then, please, let us wake up.

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