Last Monday, President’s Day, some students at UCSD held a party mocking Black History Month. Invitations were sent out via Facebook, announcing what party goers should wear and what they could expect to eat at the party.

Snips from the invitation include:

For guys: I expect all males to be rockin Jersey’s, stuntin’ up in ya White T (XXXL smallest size acceptable), anything FUBU, Ecko, Rockawear, High/low top Jordans or Dunks, Chains, Jorts, stunner shades, 59 50 hats, Tats, etc.

and, even more suggestions for the, er, um, ladies.

For girls: For those of you who are unfamiliar with ghetto chicks-Ghetto chicks usually have gold teeth, start fights and drama, and wear cheap clothes – they consider Baby Phat to be high class and expensive couture. They also have short, nappy hair, and usually wear cheap weave, usually in bad colors, such as purple or bright red. They look and act similar to Shenaynay, and speak very loudly, while rolling their neck, and waving their finger in your face. Ghetto chicks have a very limited vocabulary, and attempt to make up for it, by forming new words, such as "constipulated", or simply cursing persistently, or using other types of vulgarities, and making noises, such as "hmmg!", or smacking their lips, and making other angry noises,grunts, and faces. The objective is for all you lovely ladies to look, act, and essentially take on these "respectable" qualities throughout the day.

I’m guessing that these clever young men didn’t realize at the time they sent out this invitation, that they were showing the entire world, if not universe, just how ignorant they are. Hate language shared on the internet can be viewed by anyone. Maybe they didn’t think people might have a problem with this. They were wrong. The story has been covered by many California, and in particular, San Diego television stations as well as the LA Times (http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2010/02/uc-san-diego-officials-meet-with-students-angered-by-offcampus-compton-cookout-.html).

Fox’s news outlet in San Diego has this headline:
Legislators denounce UCSD racist party
Wow. I didn’t know that Fox uses the "R" word. Here’s what the article also contains:

California Assemblyman who represents Compton, democratic representative for the 52nd district Isadore Hall III, spoke at the news conference. His district was satirized in the UCSD students’ invitation.

"I stand here today united with fellow legislative leaders, in publicly condemning those responsible for these acts of hate," said Hall. "My constituents, people throughout California and across the nation, have contacted me sharing their outrage that here we are in 2010, during black history, college educated kids at one of the finest public universities in California could be responsible for such a hurtful and blatant act of racism, sexism and hate."

Hall described the invitation as hurtful and blatant racism, "It contained about every inflammatory, derogatory, racist and negative stereotype of African Americans that I can think of."

Other representatives have spoken out against the event, and the President of the LA NAACP, Leon Jenkins had this to say:

“This event was intended and did expose the true feeling of a group of people, who either are racist, who acted out their beliefs, or people who say they are not racist, but engaged in acts that were racist,”.

So, I think you get the picture of the fire storm that’s happening in the wake of this disgusting event. But, what is further disturbing is how the school is handling the matter. They are doing exacting what our politicians do when there are a lot of questions. An investigation has been launched. But, after nearly a week after the "party", I haven’t read a word about the results. Tempers are flaring. People want answers, now.

From the LA Times article,

But students, faculty and activists said the administration’s reaction had been tepid. History professor Danny Widener, who directs the university’s African American Studies program, said students and faculty members “are pushing for some kind of punitive action and some broader redress.” “The administration would prefer to continue to solve the problem through education, outreach and town hall grievance-airing,” Widener said. “So there’s a little bit of an impasse.”

I’m expecting a sternly worded letter. You cannot be serious. We know what happens when spoiled frat boys play games with other peoples lives and then go on to hold positions of high public office and continue to do so . Don’t we?

I was taught that if you don’t have something nice to say, don’t say anything at all. I was taught not to use the "Hate" word. Mother corrected us and encouraged us to say I don’t care for that. Words matter.

After the Oklahoma City bombings, my young daughter had clipped a photograph from the newspaper. You probably remember the one with the fireman holding a very young child. It was heart breaking and my girl said Whoever did this, I hate him. I told her that hate does not conquer hate. Only love can conquer hate. Idealistic, yes. But, I’m wondering about what the consequences of this event will be. And, I’m wondering how our generation could raise kids to not understand how throwing a party like they did with the hurtful words and intents would not realize that this is unacceptable and highly inappropriate. Not one of them said, Hey, dude. Maybe this isn’t such a good idea.

Love is all we have, the only way that each can help the other.

Euripides said that. A long time ago. We are still trying to learn that lesson.

As for the food part of the story, you don’t really need to know what they said. It’s just more really ugly, hurtful words. Trust me.

Have a blessed day. At least your kids didn’t do this. See?