Teacher
should leave CSULB
The image of a perfectly knotted noose should
have no place on the beautiful campus of
Cal State Long Beach or any other campus.
In fact, it should have no place anywhere
in the United States, especially in the
21 Century.
The noose, whether real, around the neck
of a human being, or featured on a poster
promoting an art event, symbolizes a violent,
barbaric and painful death.
The noose was used to depict a person dying
with little or no dignity. It was also used
as a means to disgrace the African slaves
and their families. The African-American
community associates the noose to the actions
that took place in this country.
The people who practiced this type of punishment
and killings also used it as a form of entertainment.
They enjoyed watching a person dangling
from the end of a rope until his or her
eyeballs popped out and his or her feet
stopped dangling.
Hanging slaves was a practice that was taken
very seriously. In fact, in 1727, John Lynch
visited plantation owners with instructions
about how to treat their slaves. The owners
were so impressed with his philosophy that
they changed the term of hanging to lynching.
There is no reason for a department, class
or instructor in a graphic design class
to use a symbol that has inflamed members
of this campus community
I have no respect for an educator whose
purpose was to cause harm to members of
the campus community of Cal State Long Beach.
That educator ignored professional ethics,
disregarded the emotional impact of the
members of the campus community and her
colleagues, as well. She should have
no place on this college campus.
This assistant professor spit in the eye
of everyone that knows and condemns what
the noose symbolizes. She knew the
impact of that image. One poster in the
Engineering Building had a disclaimer that
read, “No humans were harmed during the
making of this poster. However, we can’t
say the same for their feelings. We only
hope that you view this ad in the creative
attention grabbing spirit in which it was
created. Thanks and enjoy the show.”
I have had many students to approach me
on this issue. They were not all African-Americans,
and they could relate to the symbol through
information they from their parents.
They told me that not everyone who was hanged
was African-American.
Faculty, staff, students and alumni had
a look of disbelief when they saw the poster.
They all felt that it was not done in good
taste.
A person in this century would have to be
living in outer space not to realize and
understand the struggle of the African-American
in this country, especially another African-American.
The fight and concern for equal rights continue
in this country. On the docket of
the Supreme Court of the United States is
the review of the college affirmation action.
I personally cannot believe an educator,
no matter the ethnic background, would be
so callous. I cannot and will not accept
innocence or ignorance as an excuse.
Acting as judge and jury, I suggest that
this teacher be woman enough to pack her
boxes and leave the beautiful campus of
Cal State Long Beach
Joyce Kelly is a senior journalism major
at Cal State Long Beach.
|
