Ferguson and The University of Oklahoma’s Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity
By: Kurt von Behrmann
In what some deem “Post Racial America,” overwhelming
evidence to the contrary indicates we are anything but a racially equitable
society. Overt discrimination is still with
us. When tensions reach a breaking
point, or when what has been private is made public, the notion of an America
minus prejudice sounds like the ludicrous piece of fiction that it is.
Sigma Alpha Epsilon’s secretive chat celebrating the
exclusion of African-Americans from its ranks became known, and an embarrassing
facet of Greek life reared its head. It
was a decidedly ugly one. Given
permission by concealment, feelings and attitudes from America’s past made
themselves loud and clear.
The
fact that some fraternal orders exist along racial lines is nothing new. Given that they are social in nature and
private, Universities and society in general has allowed this type
segregation. As long as one does not
make it “obvious” that a Frat is “White Only,” or for that matter “Black Only,”
integration is placed in a permanent holding pattern.
"It is acceptable to move into an all-white community. It is not acceptable to be vocal and proud about the fact."
The values, or the reputed values, of academic
institutions are in contradiction to the Frats that they co-exist with them. It is that very conflict that puts
Universities in the unenviable position of allowing what it does not accept
among its own ranks, at least on a surface level.
The pull and tug of that which is tolerated in public
versus what is allowed in private delves into the very deepest core of the type
of racism that permeates American Culture.
It is acceptable to move into an all-white community. It is not acceptable to be vocal and proud about
the fact. The same holds true for
restricted country clubs.
Amongst the Patrician Caucasian Class of America, expressing
hatred for Blacks and wishing they were systematically removed from the United
States, or lynched, is fine, in private.
Chanting about it is decidedly “in poor taste.” It is a key separating factor that divides
“Patrician Whites” from “Hoi Poli” Whites.
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| It is a reality that we have to say "Black Lives Matter" when we have an African-American President. |
Contemporary racism is now clouded in new terms. “Entitlement Programs” mean any and
everything that would allow Blacks economic, educational and social
advancement. Anything that would reduce
crime, violence, sexism, teenage pregnancy and any other social problems in the
inner City is transformed into government overreach that always fails.
Another interesting element of the New Racism is
encouraging Africa-Americans to eschew any form of social and educational
advancement. One sure fire way to do
this is to encourage the most misogynistic music possible that values money,
guns, flashy cars and girls girls girls
galore above everything else.
The “Gangsta’ world is the high culture of the
African-American community designed to define it and sell itself as authentic. Create the most negative, depressing
self-hating cultural climate possible and then sell it to Blacks with the idea
that this is the penultimate achievement of Black intellectual achievement.
Let me add, I
am not putting down literature and art that have something substantive to say
about the Urban Black Experience. There
is culture there, but it is hanging on by a thread. The degradation of Black intellectual
achievement has been an ongoing, and successful, project.
There are
“Patrician” well meaning whites in America.
I have never purchased the simplistic idea of “Whites” are all evil and
Blacks are perfect.” This is a racist
view. People are complex and
circumstances are complicated. My point
is that “SOME” elements in America are committing acts that fly in the face of
a decent society and are making a profit from it to the detriment of Black
cultural life .
Social racism protected by the traditions of Greek
Campus Life are not easily seen by the outside. It can give the impression that
racial hatred has vanished from Campus life. It is a little harder to ignore when it is
systematic, visible and part of a legal system that that has exploited Black
communities.
When Officer Darren Wilson shot and killed Michael
Brown in Ferguson, Mo, that one event was the catalyst for protests from a
community that had endured years of mistreatment by the Police.
The incidents of unarmed Black youth finding their
lives ending at the end of a gun has been too frequent. The repercussions of another incident where
an unarmed Black Youth found his life ended by an overzealous Block Watcher
George Zimmerman left a bad taste in the minds of the American public after he
showed a continuing history of violence.
It seems that these events were happening way too often to be just
happenstance. It was a point noted by
all, conveniently ignored by some.
There has been a long held belief that the Police are
above and beyond reproach. It is buried deep in the American psyche. Politicians running on “law and order”
platforms have no interest in finding fault with the Police. In the minds of most they are there to
“protect” and “serve.” The assumption
has been that they are above politics and beyond the need for oversight.
That attitude maybe slowly changing.
Old beliefs die hard.
In an America where some find it hard to find fault with the system,
where the belief that racism ended with President Obama, Ferguson was a glaring
sign that it was still with us in the ugliest way possible.
"I recall a police officer telling me many years ago that experienced seasoned officers would be leaving the force. Their replacements will be young, and more than likely ill equipped to handle urban crime."
What truly set nerves trembling in Missouri’s Black
community was the idea that Officer Darren Wilson was not going to be tried by
a jury of his peers. It was as if the
powers that be wanted to rush this matter under a very thick rug. The excuse given for the fast paced decision
was that there were no reliable witnesses.
Well, there were witnesses.
Wouldn't it be up to the jury system to discern truth from fiction? Instead, the whole affair was brushed aside
like a hiccup.
As investigations found cold hard data, it was
revealed that the entire Police Department of Ferguson was engaged in practices
that were decidedly racist. Blacks were
profiled and found guilty of minor infractions and given unusually large
fines. The entire department was using
this system of harsh punishment as a revenue stream. So much for protect and serve here. The unconscionable part is that this is an
economically challenged community.
Coming to light were the emails that mocked the
President and African Americans in general sent via office email systems. The remarks were crude, dehumanizing and filled
with vitriol. There was no mistaking
this was a Police Department that viewed the community it served with contempt.
The one time I saw Officer Darren Wilson I was struck
by his youth, and the overwhelming feeling that he lacked the “gravitas” one
would expect in a law enforcement official.
His speech and demeanor was more like that of a young teen thrown into a
situation that was beyond his ability to comprehend. He had the classic “Deer In The Headlights
Look” when interviewed. He looked easily
shaken. He looked scared.
I recall a police officer telling me many years ago
that experienced seasoned officers would be leaving the force. Their replacements will be young, and more
than likely ill equipped to handle urban crime. His words were prophetic.
Clearly, racism is a problem in Ferguson. But, the makeup of the department and its
total disconnect from the community it is supposed to protect has created an
adversarial environment. It is an “US”
versus “Them” mentality.
Stats from Mother Jones
Magazine http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2014/08/10-insane-numbers-ferguson-killing
One clear solution is to hire African—American
Officers, recruit from the community and start to establish a less combative
stance on the part of the Department.
Having citizens on advisory boards,
taking input from the community, having members of the community
cooperate with the Department, all of these could have and should have been
done. These things do work. It was
not like none of this did not exist in the country. These things do work. The reality is that no
one cared, and it showed.
When I think of Officer Darren Wilson, I start to think about the circumstances that
place Whites into environments where they have no connection.
Picture the circumstances and one starts to see why
this happened, and how it happened. I
think it is safe to assume that those White Officers in Ferguson come from
White communities. They are largely
around people who think, act and look like themselves.
Now, place those same Whites deep into Black
communities where there are enormous social ills and historic racism and you
see the disconnect.
Consider those same White Officers encountering day
after day Black people behaving badly and its long term impact. The view that emerges is that all Blacks are
violent. Now they have proof positive
that all their racist views are backed by facts, experiences and cold hard
data. Even in the poorest of communities, not everyone is violent, cruel or so
soaked in the crime culture that rehabilitation is impossible. The reality of Black humanity is not what
these cops witness.
Over time Black crime becomes the Black
identity. The idea that they deserve to
be punished because they have no value as human beings can justify maltreatment. Racism backed by slanted experiences provides
the justification to do as one pleases.
When racism meets anger meets the worst ills of
society, do not expect the meeting to be a good one. Without a type of training that views
communities as U.S. communities in a more balanced light, it is easy to see
Black Communities as enemy territory.
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| "The Question that is on everyone's mind." |
The surreal nature of College Campuses becoming
sanctuaries for racist Frats and Police Departments openly hostile to the Black
communities they are supposed to protect and serve, it all paints a picture of a society that
espouses one set of values, but secretly houses something far more
sinister. There is something perverted about
a Police Departments and a judicial system that is basically “shaking down”
their communities for money. There is
something profoundly disturbing about College Campuses where racist chants take
place but are not known until accidentally made public.
How out of touch are the institutions created to
protect, serve and educate really are when beneath the image lurks something so
dark, and so disgusting?
Kurt von Behrmann is an
Artist currently working on an exhibition dealing with bipolar Disorder. The exhibition is set for February of 2016.
He is at work on
raising funds for the project at GoFund Me.
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