Totally agree, everyone needs to learn to not take everything so personal all the time.

I agree with you too Adam. Although I wasn't a huge fan of this particular performance, I don't think that it needs all of the publicity it is getting. The performer didn't mean any harm in what he was doing. I have met this particular gentleman, and believe me, he was just trying to make a joke, and had no intention of hurting anyone else. It is sad that our society has to react so violently and take offense to everything they see. Thank the liberals for this one people.

I agree with Adam. But we also have to start accepting the sad reality that the term "politically correct" means something completly different than it did...oh say...10 years ago. The government today is, in my opinion, corrupting our youth. With such bills as "No Child Left Behind", teachers have to teach an unrealistic amount of information and children don't have enough time to grasp the concepts because by the time they do finally start to grasp something they are learning something new. Look, my parents grew up in a time when little cartoon mice and cats beat the shit out of each other with irons and sludge hammers - they turned out just fine - and in my opinion are great parents. We have to ask ourselves why did teaching styles and cultural styles change when nothing was broken? And at the same time lets ask ourselves where the power shifted to - perhaps the minorities? I'm not being racist, but c'mon...these 'people' are blowing things way out of proportion.

Are they really offended? Or are they seeking attention and trying to make other people look bad? That, in my opinion, is racism on their part. But what do I know? I'm just a white, teenage boy, and in the eyes of many, that makes me automatically racist because they said so. Maybe they should consider themselves candidates of racism before accusing the people who are truly innocent.

Ah...I'm so pissed.

rock on ryne

i agree with this note.
it's been blown way out of proportion and its ridiculous.
way to speak out, dodd. right on.

No joke, we talked about his in my biology class this morning...

I agree, I had a whole frickin class period on this and now we have to write a paper on it!

I totally agree with you Adam! We were talking about this in one of my classes and I got so mad I guess I was yelling at one point. People are just dumb. And I would go off on a rant but I'm choosing not to cuz Kayla might hit me.

as a heterosexual, white male, you wouldn't find it offensive--would you? you aren't the one that gets to decide whether or not this is offensive. you can have your opinion about it, but you owe it to those whose situation you do not understand, and will NEVER understand, to respect their right to be offended. it wasn't blackface in the sense that the guy didn't have white painted lips, but it was clearly a gesture at blackface in the very least, and is therefore associated with the historical connotations of blackface, i.e. an overtly racist act meant to make fun of african americans in a time when they were even moreso oppressed than they are now.

it is NOT the same thing as when dave chappelle puts on white makeup, it's not the same as when men dress as women, it's not even the same as when higgins darkened himself to research Black Like Me. it's all about the historical context and--to a lesser extent--the intention of the act. it's also a matter of being inappropriate for the medium in which it was presented: at a sorority-run fundraiser. it wasn't sarah silverman dressing in blackface on comedy central, it was a student expecting to impress judges at a male university pagent. if i had friends who previewed their mr. ndsu show for me, and it was like this, i would’ve told them that not only was it not clever or funny, but would get them in major trouble, and would likely alienate and offend people. somehow, out of all the people who knew about this skit, not one of them knew not to do it, and that is what is scary.

that said, i truly don't think that this guy meant to cause the kind of trouble that he did for the school, or be racist in any way, but you have to be pretty out of the loop to know how inappropriate painting your face dark is in this context and this country.

unfortunately it doesnt matter whether or not the performer meant any harm. and although this wasn't intended to be blackface, i would have to say that it could definitely have been considered so. anytime a white person does something like that it is going to seem racist, whether it is intended to be so or not. we had a similar incident at hamline this past halloween where some football players dressed up as african tribesman. even though it was an off campus event and their intentions were not to be racist, that is how it was taken. that event was also blown completely out of proportion. the guys were kicked off the football team, threatened with expulsion and the issue is at hand and talked about almost daily. it will probably be different at a larger school, so it may fade into the background faster..back to the point, i think what they did was unnecessary, poorly thought out and even though it probably wasnt intended to cause problems, it did and now that must be dealt with.

I understand that our white ancestors suppressed a race for 200+ years in this country. Apologies have been made and reperations paid for the families of those who had a relative suffer. With that said, this is a whole different generation of whites and blacks... When will the touchy issue of slavery and equality cease to exsist - it's been about 50 years since African Americans have been treated equally. It will continue to be a touchy issue and nobody will get over it until it stops getting blown out of proportion. Will it still be like this another 50 years from now? How about a 100? 200? I guess what I'm trying to say is that you can't be treated equal if you require special demands. I joke around and make jokes with my friends all the time, but as soon as someone makes the littlest joke or kids around with a minority it is blown out of proportion. Well, now it doesn't seem like you want to be treated equal at all - [you] now require special demands that makes you seperate from...

...everyone else. And that is why the touchy issue of equality and slavery will never be resolved.

and i agree 100% with danni..people have every right to be offended by this incident and as annoying as it may seem to those who aren't offended, it needs to be dealt with.

Just to clarify, I am not saying that people can't be offened by what happened, however I personally feel that at this point we as a university need to move forward and not sit on the subject. All that can really be offered is a sincere apology and I get the feeling that, that may not be enough. Hopefully no one was affened by this.

did someone reeally just say that black people have been treated equally now for 50 years? that's an interesting little history that you've created, sir. you need to do a little research if you don't think that racism is still a major issue in this country. i agree that we're progressing away from the way we were before, but that is a result of how seriously we take the subdued, intricacies of racism that exist here and now. if we don't take things like this, which are clearly racist, seriously, then what about when an african american person is denied a job, or a bank loan? there's an nbc dateline special that was made in the early ninties about two men, nearly identical in demographic, one black and one white, who applied for the same job, apt, etc. and recorded how they were treated. you should check it out. america's goal right now is not about erasing racism out of our laws, it's getting it out of our hearts.

asking people not to make a big deal about this is racist. it means that you're asking people who are unlike you to see the world as you, a caucasian, see it. it is asking them to forget their own cultural identity and their backround to have the same point of view that you do.

Why would I think something to be offensive when it clearly isn't? I'm not sure if you were at the Mr. NDSU show, but there were other skits that could have been considered just as suggestive or offensive. Most of them including more men dressing as women, and one including a male dressed as Hillary Clinton giving a black male dressed as Barack Obama a lap dance. Because the latter group used another black male to depict Barack Obama, they are not being pointed out. Also the other groups haven't been attacked for degrading women either. If the intent of racism or any other prejudice wasn't there (and it clearly wasn't) then why are they the only ones being attacked?

yes, it is indeed socially acceptable for a black man to portray another black man. i don't know what else i can say that wouldn't just reiterate the same points, but your lot in life as a white man is that if you do not at least try to understand other peoples' point of view, that is what makes you a racist. when there is a conflict, the INTENT of the message is less important than how it is interpreted. perception is everything, and you are being disrespectful to someone else's perception. good intent does not absolve a person from responsibility.

Thanks to the media, we see a lot of things blown way out of proportion. Do people of every color have the same amount of rights according to the government? Yes, everyone can vote, everyone can say whatever they want to, everyone can own property, etc, etc, etc. However there are always going to be those deuche bags out there who are going to be idiots. For some reason, some idiot white person is going to not employ a black person, but at the same time there are other employers of color that aren't going to employee a perfectly qualified white peron. It goes both ways. It seems as if all races can dump on the majority, but the second something intentional or non-intentional is done against the minority, the whole world better hear about it because it's the most atrocious thing in the entire world.

If we all quit sticking out our bottom lip and ignore with the few ignorant deuchebags that still think our rights aren't equal, maybe "Americans" (yes, people of all races and colors working together as one--CRAZY CONCEPT!) could overcome these crazies and live in peace! I also think it's hillarious that some people who have commented on this note obviously think that they have been in the position of a minority race. Since all of the comments here have been made by caucasions, I really don't think you do.

From what I can gather, apparently I'm a racist because I am a heterosexual white male. I can't help what I am. I didn't tap God on the shoulder before conception and ask to be me. Also, I have never NOT taken in account of another persons perception or point-of-view. In this day and age a person can't say anything without worry of offending them. I remember when I was younger we could get away with calling other kids dorks and stupid, but now we punish children for that, and it's not just the children. Lastly, I would say it right out that I am not racist, but saying that would probably give another person reason to say that I am in denial, and don't fully realize it yet.

Just because NBC picks up a couple of stories a year on racism doesn't mean that everyone is indeed racist. And yes, blacks have had the right to vote, own property, and say whatever they want since the late sixties - early seventies (thank you Betsy). Not only in the civilian world, but militarily as well. There were African American OFFICERS for Christ's sake. I'm curious to know how you fully and clearly understand their views? Just because you're female? Ok...i guess so.

Everything's not 100% equal but that doesn't mean it's racist. It just means there are members of the old guard that still can't let go. But then again

I agree the incident was blown out of proportion but think about it. Obama's coming to this state. Seems like sucking up to me.

Ignore the then again I don't know where I was going with that.

i agree 100% with danni vaughn. racism isn't just a micro-level act-- hate crimes, racial slurs, etc.; it can also be found on a macro-level. institutionalized racism is embedded into many of our policies that dictate americans' lives, and those that aren't subjected to discrimination (not just racism) are not aware of it in most cases. and it might be hard to believe, but there IS such thing as whiteskin privilege, even today (it's not just a pre-Civil Rights Movement concept), which we as caucasians take for granted because we don't even know we have it. one of the reasons for this misconception of "every american is treated equally" is because where i grew up -- good ol' n.d. -- there wasn't diversity. everyone was equal because everyone was the same! what do homogeneous people have to be racist about?

i'm learning in chicago from amazing people who have taught me about all forms of discrimination, including racism, and i intern at an organization where i hear the stories of people who are constantly being victim to prejudice.

blackface was a serious incident, and even though the intention was harmless, the history behind it is extremely offensive to those that understand.

what if i wanted to display a banner with a swastika on it on flag day? it's just a flag, right? and i like the cool symbol. maybe i'll get a tattoo of it someday...

now one might say to my sarcastic nazi propaganda comment above that it does not compare to the painting of a white man black, but i believe it does. to lessen the importance of a symbol that causes people so much grief does not sit right with me. ignorance cannot be an excuse.

also, in response to the fact that there were other acts that could have been deemed offensive but weren't as "glorified" (couldn't think of a better word) is the discretion of the media, whether or not you think the media does a good job of portraying the truth.

go bison!

no, you didn't ask to be male, white, or born in america. but from the moment you were born, you have had it easier than someone else because of these things. that is what you must accept. our lot in life, as white people, is that if we pretend that this privilege does not exist, we are racist. sorry, that's how it is. trying to be empathetic to what another person deals with is the first step. there are problems in what one does not do just as serious as what he does do.

take multicultural communications, or any sociology class with a focus on race relations, and they will confirm that this is the best approach to racism and understanding of diversity.

i never claimed to be not of european descent, or said that my being female makes me understand the plight of another minority (i don't even fully understand the plight of all women...) i only understand the hardships with which i deal. i respect people's opinions and their hardships, THAT is what i'm saying.

and you would call ME an ignorant douche bag for thinking that there is inequality in america? you understand nothing about this country. could black people vote immediately after suffrage was given to them by law? OF COURSE NOT! white supremacists found ways to exploit their lack of knowledge on useless facts to see to it that they could not vote. the kinds of related problems are far more subdued these days, indeed progress has been made, but you would like to think that they are gone altogether, and that's a fantasy. YOUR version of an equal America is one in which all other cultures have submitted to the white way of thinking, and that's not equality--it's another form of oppression.

after doing some research, as well as finding a very enlightening blog:

http://jasmynecannick.typepad.com/jasmynecannickcom/

it would seem that the media are reporting on a number of similar incidents, such as a college student in alabama who had facebook pics of herself in blackface, as well as a racist cartoon for a profile pic. it's a hot-button issue right now, likely because of obama's candidacy, but truly it should have gotten concern and coverage even if that weren't the case. and c'mon, this guy was doing some pretty clear obama bashing. he was portraying him as a characature of a black man (barack doesn't have a freaking afro!) and ripped up an obama sign at the end. he presented it in a way that can be clearly construed as against obama b/c he's black and b/c he supports gay rights. i'd be surprised if it wasn't as covered by the news media as it is.

Wow kudos for your apparently very controversial note Adam. Yes racism does still exist in this country. I don’t think anyone is denying that, but it’s not just for race. People get discriminated for by their gender, sexual orientation, religion, job, social status, wealth, and so much more. I do think what the kids did was inappropriate, but the news is trying to turn something, that could have just been handled privately within the college, into a national news story to make your college look racist, because you don’t have a very multi-raced school. When one says “whites,” who think our generation is equal, are racist, they are saying a racist statement themselves. America is based on equality, and we should start acting like it.

I realize that black history is very tragic, but they have overcome so much. We need to stop acting like all of that happened yesterday, so they can move on themselves and their accomplishments don’t go to waste. Christians don’t blame the Roman’s descendants for persecuting them. I just think that the sooner we move on from incidents like this, the less frequent they will be. Eventually, skin color will be like eye color where no one really notices and no one will care if it is different than their own.

Danni, I know the guy who was in the skit. There was not intentional Barack bashing, and the tearing of the sign was probably nothing too. I can understand that they did dress the guy playing Barack as the stereotype black guy and I can see that as offensive. Please believe me when I say that any bashing was not intentional and that those men are not racist. I hope that anyone who has taken part in this note has learned something and I hope that even though our opinions differ we have all taken great consideration in other people's views. I hope no feelings are hurt, and just to clarify one last thing: The douche bag comment wasn't directed at you, Danni. If you re-read what Betsy wrote you'll see she was talking about the people who would hire an unqualified white man over a qualified person of color.

well this is getting crazy. looks like we have Danni and Andria versus everyone else. Anyone keeping score? bahaha.

Being serious now...uh yeah...no one in America knows how to take a joke anymore. Yeah maybe the performers could have done something a little different...but the viewers could have too. Regardless, no one knows how to take a joke. I mean heck, I laughed at it...of course I didn't realize that the guy had blackface on...I thought it was a friend of the canidate...I was sitting in the upper seating area.

Perhaps another question:

What about the international student who recently painted his face white and imitated Michael Jackson? Am I missing something because that doesn't seem too different.

you are missing something, everything in fact. it's different b/c sri lankan's don't have a history of colonizing, exploiting, and oppressing black people that is associated with the act of the former painting their faces like the latter and acting foolish. in fact, people of the subcontinent were also colonized and exploited by our european ancestors! i'm not saying that you're necessarily a descendant of those who did this, but the fact is that you benefit from these terrible deeds that occurred years ago, just by having the same skin color as those who did them.

if you say that there was no intention of racism or barack bashing, then what the hell were they thinking when they came up with everything for the skit? and you have to ask yourself: what is racism? is it only what you believe (or claim to believe) or is it also indicated by your actions and words? how can ripping an obama sign be taken as anything other than anger toward him? how can doing something or saying something that is traditionally a racist act or slur be taken as anything but racism? you can't go around DOING and SAYING racist things and claim not to be a racist.

i was very disappointed to find out that someone thought this was okay to do. the bigger issue is the discussion that it caused. i thought it was a given that blackface was bad, but i guess people still think it's fine. wow.

Everyone realizes that Barack Obama is not just an African American right? He is the child of a Kenyan father and a European decent mother. If genetics didn't favor the dark-skinned gene, Barack would have been born white. He has the genes of both sides!

of course i know he's biracial. skin color genes work differently than, say, hair color. white skin is akin to the concept of coldness, it is the absence of melanin (where cold is, of course, the absence of heat.) biracial people have less expression of melanin in their skin than those who are closer to 100% african, so that is why they are lighter. gene expression is a little different than gene dominance.

Setting aside for a moment the issue of whether inequality still exhists within America (you'll have to take a sociology class or travel somewhere urban to decide for yourself), I think it should be noted that we do live in a society where perception is reality. As people who were at the skit and people who heard about it cleary percieved it as offensive then that is the reality. You may argue that this did not warrant national news coverage, and you may be right, the fact remains that those that were offended have every right to speak about against the skit as you do in making this post.

wow, i would have to agree that discrimination still does happen, after all the Boy Scouts are taking a huge hit right now from Gay- Activists, and being a scout it does suck when you hear this stuff. Now I am in now way comparing that to racial discrimination, it was just an example that discrimination does exsist. The sad part is what happened here at NDSU is something that could have been avoided, but we all know how that goes, and now it is a sore spot and will probably remain one for quite a while. As long as we can stay calm and remember what it means to be American, which is way more than skin color will ever be, then we can remember that we have conquered tougher challanges than this, and it seems funny that right now people are dying to protect our right to debate a racial issue, when over there it is blacks and whites fighting together not against each other.

this issue is by no means a big deal simply because it was appearing to make fun of obama, it is a big deal because it hit the very touchy, very racist issue of blackface. Just to be sure, every one arguing that its not a big deal knows the history of blackface, right? If not, I highly suggest you do some reading on it before you continue to argue that side...