Words can’t describe how offensive, degrading and outright inappropriately unprofessional the tone of the emergency broadcast, that was made on Tuesday, September 30, 2014 about the unfortunate stabbing incident on campus.
The university in its effort to make its students aware of the confrontation through various media channels about what had unfolded on campus, sought to use racial profiling to identify who the assailant was. The major issue in the broadcast was the choice of words used to describe the race of the attacker. One could be of the assumption that individuals who are employed to an institution of this level would be more sensitive to its demography and be more politically correct when describing various races.
We no longer live in an era where the word “black” is used to describe individuals who can be classified by the color of their skin. The struggles our forefathers and our nation have endured to move us beyond such distinction has passed many years ago, even though it’s apparently evident that the old colonial thought still remains alive in the minds of some.
The choice of word could have led to the incident escalating. The word “black” sought to put those who are of African descent in a lower class, making it come across as if a slave had escaped and had injured the child of the plantation’s master. Referring to someone as black is tantamount to calling them that forbidden N-word.
While the incident is unfortunate, and by no means condoned. As a member of the student body I fully support all legal efforts to attain and prosecute the perpetrator who had violated our safety. We cannot look pass the tone of the broadcast and or notification(s) that was made by the university and as such, an apology should be rendered based on the tone/choice of words that was used in the aforementioned.
Signed:
Rickardo Smith,
Student.
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Quick fact. You can be black and not have originated from Africa... Law enforcement was just trying to find a dangerous young man. if he was white they probably would have said "white male". Not getting my panties bunched up because they didn't say Caucasian.
I don't understand people like you that are so hypocritical and over sensitive. The broadcast said black....black. not N***** or any other derogatory term towards BLACKS. A person just tried to murder someone, and who knows at that point what he's going to do next. How else were you going to describe the person? "There is a person heading towards Rochester" yes along with 500 more people. In this case do not call white people white.
Mr. Ricardo Smith:
A friend of mine drew my attention to your apology request after they had posted it on their facebook. I want to thank you (and Ted for posting it so I could read it) for bringing this matter to my attention. I apologize. Until I read it, I was ignorant that African, rather than Black, was appropriate. I am grateful that you used this regrettable incident as a teaching moment. You have probably saved me from embarassing myself at some point. Further, I value what you have done because it reminds me that, as a Caucasian, I need to listen more to those affected by racism rather than relying on my priveleged view to define what constitues racism.
Once again, thank you and I apologize for my ignorance.
Dave from Canada
Mr Smith is a known attention seeker....why post your picture in an article NOT about you? Check your information and state facts before posting also check the meaning of words before you use them and please spell check!
Has this ever happend to any other posters? It's never happened to me!
http://thefreethoughtproject.com/black-teen-fostered-white-parents-mistaken-burglar-attacked-cops/
You are clearly making assumptions on the thoughts of the person who made the announcement across campus. You don't know what was going through their mind. They had one job, to spread the word about what happened, and that's what he did. We are in a society where the term "black" is still used and many people who are "black" are not offended when they are called "black". You're just way too sensitive, and need to look past this. The man was clearly looking out for everyone's safety, ans yes, "black" people included, in case you felt otherwise about that too.
First off why does it matter saying a black man? You can call me a white man it doesnt matter. And I don't refer to myself as German-American I say american so its offensive saying African American to me. You're an American so you should start acting like one instead of pleading everyone is against you and "black people". You create inequality with liberal crap like this. #justsayin
In my opinion the word "black" is not a terrible word to be used. If it were a white man the term "white" would be used with no conspiracy. Also, how can we say he is African American? People of the black race may also be other nationalities as well. People are over reacting.
Last time I checked, black was a color, not a race. Just like white is a color, not a race. And with all colors, they serve as descriptive words - adjectives. "Black" is pejorative because you have chosen to make it pejorative, not because it was that way inherently.
Your posting has done nothing more than place those of "African descent in a lower class," the same thing you claim to be speaking out against. I am absolutely ashamed to see a student at my alma mater play a race card in an attempt to spark "discussion" or "awareness" for something that's a non-issue.
That doesn't even begin to speak to the nature of grammar use in your postings here and on Facebook. I am having a hard time believing that a college student, especially one from Brockport, would be incapable of producing a cogent argument.
I don't think the situation had anything to do with slavery but I do agree that they should have used a better description. The main reason why this is a problem is because the description was targeting any black male on or even off campus. They didn't give us any clarification of what the definition of black was in this case.
I think this reaction is a little extreme, especially when you bring slavery and plantation owners into it..