As I perused the internet today I ran across a couple of stories, set on different continents and different points in time. The similarities are striking as the stories remind us that despite progress, people are still confronted with jealousy and discrimination. It's not that discrimination is novel, but the stories are interesting none the less. In the first story, an African American women is posthumously awarded the honor of Valedictorian of her class, some 75 years later, in Pittsburgh. Apparently, she would have been the second African American, her sister was the first, to receive that honor in two years. This was more than the principal of the school could tolerate and he ordered a teacher to change the student's grade in one class from an A to a B. As a result she was denied her rightful honor and finished as the fourth ranked student. http://www.pennsylvania.statenews.net/story.php?rid=44466648 The second story comes to us through the courtesy of the wonderful Dutch city of Utrecht. Kenyans have won this city's marathon for the last four years and the Dutch are upset about it. So, they've concocted a scheme to discourage the Kenyan runners. According to new rules imposed by the organizing body, any foreigner would receive prize money of 100 euros, compared to the 10,000 euros that would be paid to a Dutch winner. http://www.dutchnews.nl/news/archives/2011/04/utrecht_uses_100_trick_to_disc.php
I was taught growing up, to fight racism with intelligence and dedication to the academic process. Success favors merit and all that jazz. The reality is that academia can sometimes fall under the influence of racial discrimination. What can you do after that?
That's absolutely true, otherwise the jurists of the supreme court would have correctly ruled on so many cases that have affected African Americans historically. As I often say, choose any set of people, doctors, lawyers, academic, whatever; within those groups you will find a microcosm of society. So, to the extent that racism and discrimination exist with the greater society, so it will exist within those groups as well. OH, I know what you mean. It seems that just when we want to celebrate the progress and achievements of the present, we are slapped back to the reality incivility and continuing discrimination.
Had two White dudes locally, they were actual 'brothers'lol, awarded Valedictorian in about a 3 year span and that achievement was celebrated in the local papers like is was the dawn of a new civilization!! Granted the two Black girls were in HS in the 1930s so it doesn't sound that outrageous, but to hear about it is still hurtful. The Dutch are held up as this bastion of tolerance in Europe, yet when Africans are dominating a beloved sporting event, those high minded Euros went Bull Conner on those Kenyans. Awarding them 10% of the typical winner's earnings?? That's sum bitchazzedness!!:smt009 As an American, it kinda annoys me to see so many Kenyans owning the Boston and NY marathon, but that's sports. Best man or woman wins and we all celebrate their athletic accomplishment. You don't cheat the winner out of spite. I guess the one positive is that nearly all people of every ethnicity and color would universally agree that what happened in these two incidents was absolutely unacceptable. Surprised, but not shocked.
10% would have been bad, in this case it was actually 1% of the amount paid to locals. The Kenyans are dominating Marathons everywhere in the world. In most local communities across the U.S., the Kenyans have been winning the event annually. The attitude of the Dutch kinda reminded me of Tiger's first outing at the U.S. Open when he obliterated the field. Even the other professional golfers were so upset that there was talk about changing the courses to "even up" the competition.
