Overkill?
A frat at UT has beensuspended for committing the heinous crime of having some members dress up as the Jackson 5 for a costume party on Cumberland Ave. Here's my problem with the whole thing:
Crabtree also pointed out measures that UT has taken over the past few months to widen the African and African-American Studies program and a planned semester-long program beginning in January to "celebrate Africa's cultural, entertainment and educational contributions to non-African cultures around the world."
Isn't that what these guys were doing? 50 years ago, would a bunch of Southern frat boys seek to emulate a black pop group? Not unless they were suicidal. They may have mocked the group, but not impersonated them. Note that the article does not describe the behavior of the frat boys. There is nothing to suggest that they lampooned or degraded the Jackson 5. Instead, the fact that they wore black makeup is treated as sufficient offense to warrant suspension.
I saw a show in Las Vegas which featured a Michael Jackson impersonator. He was white, using black makeup. I guess he should go to prison.
I've seen Eddie Murphy imitate white folks, with the aid of makeup, in several of his movies. I guess we should boycott his movies.
Now, had the frat boys done an Al Jolson impersonation, there might be a point to this mess; as it is, this is just another example of political correctness run amuck on our campuses.
Posted by Rich at October 31, 2002 9:57 AM