This MLK was marked in Phoenix by a TKE black party. A black party is basically a party where folks dress up like stereotypical blacks and get drunk by drinking out of hollowed out watermelons. This goes beyond insensitivity–especially when you factor in the timing of it. Still, I’m not sure the true impact of the act will be felt until the AZ black community has a chance to reflect on the event. and separate truth from sensationalization.
The problem with this sort of thing is context. These students either didn’t know or didn’t care about the context of the day in terms of the importance to the struggle. I’d ben in line for putting these kids on probation until they meet some criteria for advancement. Others I talk to are not so sure, claiming that due to free speech they should not get expelled or punished for their behavior.
Some Thoughts:
- It is nuts that I am already thinking about 1400. That’s gonna be a big milestone. 1460 marks 4 years, so that will be even bigger.