Blackface at Bethel University

I can hear it now “ why do they always have to make a big deal about things. It was only a joke” or something akin. Well let me help to try and explain why a white student dressing up as rapper lil Wayne complete with Blackface is a big deal.

I won’t go into the entire history of Blackface, although for many this history would be useful. I will instead give a brief synopsis so we can all better put this incident in an appropriate context. From the 19th century until the civil rights movement Blackface was used as a tool to perpetuate stereotypes of Blacks as being stupid, slow, and lazy while portraying physically overemphasized features such as lips. From minstrel shows to Blackface branching out on its own it has always been a way to dehumanize, demoralize, and attack through racist stereotypes, African Americans.

While minstrelsy in its official capacity has disappeared, we see Blackface manifest itself continuously on college campuses. Whether it is at a “pimps and hoes party”, as a Halloween costume, at a “Compton cookout”, or most recently on the Bethel University campus as lil Wayne. Even if it is true that the offending parties were ignorant of the history and implications of their actions it is hard to believe that their actions were not motivated by latent racism; that subconsciously they didn’t hold a feeling of superiority. It is only racism that allows for one to believe it is ok to put on another human beings identity, culture, and skin color only to make light of it all. It matters little what the intent was- there is no escaping the impact- which is racist.

For an institution to have a stated anti-racism policy is a great thing, but it is only as great as its enforcement. This is the point Bethel University finds itself, a stated commitment to anti-racism and a blatantly racist event. It is up to them to demonstrate now how committed they are, not only to the policy, but to those on campus that the policy is in place to benefit, the staff and students of color along with their white allies. Please join those that feel strongly about this issue to outpressure on the administration to take the appropriate steps ensuring not only no similar events happen, but that the underlying ideologies that rationalize and make apologies for those who participate are appropriately combated.

In solidarity
Ryan “BUGS” Williams- Virden