October 18, 2007 03:42 PM UTC

Let's Not Confuse Racism With Stupidity

• 5 Comments
• by: kate

My family and I attend Colorado College hockey games and thoroughly enjoy ourselves. A huge hockey fan, I can watch the entire event without boredom, sunshine, or sweat getting in my eyes. Husband and kids enjoy the games as well.

Recently, four Tigers players attended a golf outing where participants were required to dress as characters from popular television shows. The white players in question dressed as black characters from Family Matters.

Where the hell was *that* show popular?

Canada?

Anyway, the kids wore blackface and wigs.

For this act of insensitivity to the history of minstrel shows, the players were suspended and made to repent in a variety of ways.

Fine.

They paid their penance and are set to return for the Minnesota game this Saturday night. The local chapter of the NAACP wants them to change their plans.

“Harris said she expects the players to attend the NAACP’s Freedom Fund Dinner on Saturday at 7 p.m., the same time as CC’s game against Minnesota.”

Enough.

This culture of excessive punishment does nothing to deter others from similar acts of racial insensitivity. Instead, overreacting creates irritation and fosters more negative feelings between ethnic groups. Something an organization like NAACP claims to be against.

Making examples of these young men in such a public way also diverts attention from real acts of racism, hate, and intolerance. When people commit acts that threaten others due to gender, race, or religion, we should respond quickly and with force.

However, if we respond to youthful indiscretions and thoughtless stupidity with equal measures, real hate crimes are therefore dismissed with cynicism and a shrug of the shoulders.

And that hurts everyone a whole lot more than college kids dressing up like Urkel.

***cross-posted at Out In Left Field***