Exposing Not So Secret Evil at Princeton Theological Seminary

We are still continuing our anti-racist activism against the Princeton Perps who wrote hate speech in the Foreskin newsletter and continue to be aided and abetted by other students and an Administration that wishes this would all go away quietly. Have you called or emailed the school to demand they take action against those violators and do something that results in real change? Or better yet approach those that give endowments to let them know your disgust at the ongoing atmosphere of hatred that has been allowed to flourish unabated? In case anyone needs reminding: thoughts become words and words become actions! See my first post for details.

We will continue to push back on the snake-like (but obvious) behavior of the perps and their protectors. I am not surprised or impressed by the Theological Seminary forming an Action Plan Committee so they can talk themselves in circles and measure hand-wringing instead of applying a righteous and swift action against immoral behavior and injustice. You know, since they're supposed to be training people in religious precepts. You can't teach what you don't know when your moral compass is non-existent! 

This is akin to the Roman Catholic Church allowing known child molesters to remain under cover of the cloth, shielded by the Pope, with payoffs shrouded in secrecy with money used from tithes. I can't help but wonder what God would have to say about an institution that allows fraudulent and corrupt activity to take place while invoking God's name. Oh wait, I think S/HE did:

Per Matthew 21:13 And He said to them, "It is written, 'MY HOUSE SHALL BE CALLED A HOUSE OF PRAYER'; but you are making it a ROBBERS' DEN."  New American Standard

Do We Create or Regurgitate News As Bloggers?

This ongoing investigation regarding the racist attacks against Dr. Yolanda Pierce at Princeton Seminary begs the question how blogs - especially those hosted by female bloggers with empowerment themes - have evaluated their processes for generating posts and in discussing this. What do we consider newsworthy? Who do we use as sources for stories? Why do some bloggers base their posts on things they read in the newspaper or watch on the television almost exclusively? Why are those sources considered "credible" when we know the information we get is tainted and controlled by conglomerates with an agenda? What others sources are we reviewing for inclusion as a story idea generator? Do we even need to do so as "non-professionals" and push any limitations? After all, I heard a failed Vice Presidential candidate say that bloggers are 'liars' who live in their mother's basement.

Prosecutors have tried murder cases on circumstantial evidence or even without a body when they believe a crime has been committed. In a local case Hans Reiser eventually took a plea deal after such a conviction in exchange for revealing the location of his mudered wife's remains. He had claimed his innocence the entire investigation and trial. People don't demand "proof" from children who tell an adult they've been sexually abused. They are questioned of course, but the general consensus is that they are credible witnesses to their own abuse and telling the truth. Why should someone who claims a racial attack against a Black woman has occurred have to jump through hoops to establish their claim beyond a shadow of a doubt to those that would deny them no matter what? Why does someone need conditions met when a distinguished witness first brought it to the blogosphere's attention before believing such a claim and/or taking action? Are we less likely to take someone's word if they are non-white and female? 

Some of those in the blogosphere consider themselves activists against social injustices, while others want to strictly report on celebrity happenings. Blog posts can be very personal.  Others talk politics and choose to focus on local or national issues. Still more just want a catalog of their personal journeys through life or swap recipes and baby pictures. Each blog has its own voice, can capture a particular audience and encourages active participation from a variety of readers. They can also face the scorn of those that oppose their voice and will argue with them ad nauseum. 

It can certainly be productive to hear many sides to an issue but the boundaries have to be drawn somewhere. People tend to forget these are public forums and can lose all methods of decorum when they post anonymously or with a nickname. A fly in the soup can derail a conversation quickly if the blog administrator doesn't control who they allow in their space or set the rules for engagement.

I find many so-called progressive blogs (kos, Open Left, etc) just as caustic an environment as the staunchest of right-wing sites because I feel the same level of intolerance, sense of entitlement and exclusionary attitudes from those that claim to be on opposite sides of the political spectrum and stick to their viewpoint. The readers easily fall into group-think and try to police out dissent - even if it's coming from those who offer constructive criticism.

Running a blog requires that you put a bit of yourself out for public consumption - that is if you are to have any impact or level of authenticity. The purpose and intent behind starting a blog of course has as many reasons as there are people running them. Not everyone who blogs is a so-called journalist and those with prior media careers have steadily switched to blogging in addition to their traditional work. There are many excellent writers who've used this form of technology to bypass the gatekeeper walls of exclusion. Corporate media has seen a 15% decrease in non-white journalists just this year alone when they were already underrepresented to begin with.

The only caveat with blogging is that anyone can start a blog. That is the great equalizer but there are certain skills those trained in journalism/writing use to investigate stories and produce content. They're also paid to do it. For most of us blogging is a side gig and labor of love. As Web 2.0 continues to offer new technology and people gain access to and comfort with the internet we need to look at ways of combining our collective voices into sustainable ways and increase our audience - and influence over the narrative. 

We need to start looking outside the 'mainstream' white middle class Americuh for Americans corporate media where George Bush is just misunderstood and the United States never does anything wrong. Depending on the impact of media coverage that day I can go to several blogs for their perspective on the same news story. Now that perspective may certainly be vital and interesting but it isn't exclusive - especially if you're like me and you read several blogs more than once per day. Telling lesser known stories certainly has value and can positively shed light on issues ignored by corporate media. We just need to decide if we - as bloggers and readers of blogs - will continue to wait for others to deem them worthy before we do.

White Racism Continues to Hit the Wall

So I am continuing this conversation I started with my post Excusers, Deniers Enablers and Accomplices Pt. 1.  This post was about the students who published racist writings in the "Foreskin" newsletter at Princeton University targeting President Elect Obama and Professor Yolanda Pierce amongst other acts of racial arson. I was 'asked' by a Princeton student how I determined whether what was written was racist and whether I'd actually 'read' it. With rolled eyes I replied I am not under any obligation to 'explain' myself to them or anyone else, particularly when I could tell the person had not even bothered to read my post and they wanted to make excuses for their 'friend' who wrote some of it. 

See, I'm calling for academic censure and expulsion wouldn't be going too far in my opinion. If you aren't taught values and consequences for your actions how would you ever be a responsible citizen of the world? None of this BS fake "diversity training" where you watch a tape for an hour or two and answer multiple choice questions either. It's especially galling coming from theology students. We've all heard of circumstances that allow for people with money or connections getting away with murder - literally. Particularly when you have white skin. So I really have zero tolerance for willful ignorance.

I'm continuing my reading on the efforts to ignore all Black people gay or straight by the Gay Rights Industrial Complex so they can push their marriage agenda without us - well they're gonna try. Try and fail, but that's another fight for another day. Eventually they'll wear themselves out enough to realize they need allies and they have to be an ally first. They have to acknowledge the Black and Puerto Rican drag queens that were marching and staging protests that lead to and continued after Stonewall. They have to engage people as people on their own turf and stop being condescending and trying to have everything at their time and at their convenience. Does this sound eerily familiar? 

So I found this very great comment from Jim Toevs that I thought was appropo to this situation and thought I'd copy it over here (emphasis mine):

I am a 67 year old White American gay male, whose Privilege in our culture is exceeded only by that of White American Heterosexual males. Most of us white folks don't have a clue concerning how our "whiteness" impacts our privilege, behavior and attitudes: not only towards people of color but life in general.

To most of us white folks, "white" is "just the way things are" and life would be so much easier and less complicated if everything and everyone were simply "white". (This may be subconscious, but it is reality for most white people, none the less.)

People of Color confront their POCness every day of their lives. White folks seldom, if ever, consider their "Whiteness"; again, because white is simply the way things are.

The first step in becoming a White Anti-Racist Ally is for a white person to acknowledge and come to grips with their Whiteness.

Step two is to understand that while we may not harbor any personal racism, we unknowingly often collaborate with institutional and cultural racism.

Step three is LISTENING. No "yes, buts"! Listen, and take it in. Consider what is being said with an open heart and mind. At this point, there is no need to respond except with two words, "Thank you."

There is lots more that we white folks need to do, but the above three steps are a good start.

Anyone wishing to personally pursue this subject further is welcome to contact me off list.

So there you have it. I made my effort, when I DID NOT NEED TO! I threw down the gauntlet. Now what are you gonna do "Chris"? NO MORE EXCUSES!

h/t Pam's House Blend

Excusers, Deniers, Enablers and Accomplices Pt. 1

It's time for Black women who get it and our allies to start drawing a definitive line in the sand. On November 20th students at Princeton University published what can only be described as racist, sexist, hateful material in the "Foreskin" newsletter where they trashed President Elect Obama. To add further insult to injury they targeted Dr. Yolanda Pierce, a Black woman who's an Associate Professor at Princeton Theological Seminary. 

Yes, let me repeat that: the attack was generated by students against a Black woman. So false religiosity trumps racism, common sense and actual MORALITY yet again. So far Princeton has done nothing but issue a punk ass blurb about how they're going to 'hold a committee' to discuss this. Oh really? Here's what will happen unless we take action:

Well we know they misspoke about a few things and were maybe a bit over the top, but they're good kids. Things just got a little out of hand. Why can't you rise above this? You're just overreacting. After all, your people know a little something about facing obstacles. Everybody deserves a second chance. Why do YOU want to punish some kids for a little ol' prank?

This sounds like a cross between the rape defense of blaming the victim and trying to excuse attempted murder by reason of mental defect. The perps know the difference between right and wrong. The end! Prosecutors are trying to charge 12 year olds as adults so what's their excuse? How many other times have these perps gotten away with inappropriate behavior growing up? Their sense of entitlement to privilege must be addressed. Princeton must take responsibility for fostering an environment where racism flourishes.

Why is it when Black people are attacked we are expected to take a breath and let someone else evaluate the situation and tell us how we should feel? Where is the outrage that harm has been caused to an esteemed Black woman and the community at large? You'd better believe if this was a white professor being attacked somebody would have been expelled already no investigation or conversation necessary. I'd also like to know what action - if any - Dr. Cornel West will take on this matter. He just loves to pontificate to hear the sound of his voice - does it extend to a fellow colleague? 

So now the administrators think they can allow a few teachers and students who weren't attacked determine the fate of the perpetrators? Not this time. This will be tried in the court of public opinion. By the way we still don't know who they are because the school has been shielding them. They don't deserve the protection. Let free speech reign  - but you had better be prepared to take full responsibility for the consequences when you throw a Molotov cocktail to start racial arson.  Just ask former Police Chief Johnson of Palo Alto. 

How many times has the word un-American been bandied about since after 9/11 for anyone questioning the effects of our militarism and the ongoing blowback? How many times are Black girls called 'fast', which is a convoluted way of saying they're inherently promiscuous after they've been sexually assaulted and some would try to deny accountability?  

I am tired of hearing twenty ways how a situation is not that situation when it's slapping you upside your head. I have loads of compassion. The gun fired at me is just as lethal whether it comes from a friend or a foe, whether it was intentional or an accident. Somebody might like to offer an apology or an excuse why the gun was discharged but that won't make me any less dead.

Contact the administrators and let them know nothing less than full public disclosure will be acceptable. The perpetrators need solid disciplinary action and make amends in a way satisfactory to those violated. They also need to do community service with populations they usually insulate themselves from to get an idea of what life is really like for the less privileged. I'd say they should be evaluated prior to their graduation, have a permanent note in their student records and still face possible expulsion if they do not meet the requirements set forth. All of this addresses the students but we must focus on cutting the head from the body and follow the money trail of the school. 

I'd also recommend lodging protests with the NAACP as well as the Governor of New Jersey but making sure we don't leave things to the benevolence of others to speak on what's important to us. Princeton gets money from the Federal Gov't and any Civil Rights Violations and racial attacks should be brought before the Feds and the State of NJ. If they're gonna be gangsta and want to harbor racists and spread hate speech they should have all gov't sources of funding and taxpayer money revoked! 

---------------------------------------------------

Future research and continued efforts should include acquiring:

• Lists of endowments
  
• Lists of those serving on Boards
• Alumnae (see my sidebar for new link)
  

---------------------------------------------------

Nancy Lammers Gross
Dean of Student Life
Princeton Theological Seminary
210 Templeton Hall
Princeton, NJ 08542
Email: nancy.gross@ptsem.edu
Phone: 609-497-7880

Iain R. Torrance
President
Princeton Theological Seminary
132 Administration Building
Princeton, NJ 08542
Email: president@ptsem.edu
Phone: 609-497-7800

NAACP Trenton Branch (looks to be the closest)

Phone: (609)392-6772
Fax: (609)392-7742
Address: P.O. Box 1355 Trenton, NJ 08608

New Jersey Governor Jim Corzine

Office of the Governor

PO Box 001

Trenton, NJ 08625

(609)292-6000

New Jersey Dept. of Education

Office of the Commissioner
100 River View Plaza
P.O. Box 500
Trenton, NJ 08625
Telephone (609) 292-4450
Fax (609) 777-4099
Lucille E. Davy, Commissioner

Update: We are monitoring the uptick in traffic from New Jersey as well as logging all IP addresses. Those of you monitoring this and other sites for activity are duly noted.

For continued action see my next post: When White Racism Hits the Wall 

Update: Princeton Seminary has a new Diversity Initiative with an email address. Let them know we don't need "healing" we want the gavel of justice with swift action and punishment. Talk is cheap - because people lie to get what they want all the time. In this case the perps want to be let off the hook and Princeton continues to allow hate crime perpetrators to walk around. 

Make no mistake: words have meaning. There is a breath of difference between hate speech and hate violence. One proceeds the other. This is NOT the time for puppy dogs and smiles. This is the time for dismissals, firings and expulsions so people know there are CONSEQUENCES for spreading hate!!!! 

Additional update 12/21 Princeton has previously engaged in allowing their student newspapers to be used for hate speech in attacking people of color - and used other non-whites to do it so they could claim it wasn't racism. They didn't PUNISH THE GUILTY and tried to let it go - and we can see where less than 2 years later the SAME THING happens AGAIN!!!