School Field Trip Causes Controversy

[Kimberlyd125]

I am certainly not going to speak for Cypros-my interpretation of the post Cypros made was that televsion continues to be heavily weighted in the direction of the group that holds the most political power in the United States which is by and large caucasian males. However, there is Liftime TV, a network geared to women. There is Spike TV which is geared towards men, there is BET TV, and Latino/Spanish speaking channels-so if we are going to object to viewer-specific television lets object across the boards....

My issue is more with the NAME of the channel, not the content or what it's geared toward.

Some of my favorite shows growing up were all on the major networks. They were not exactly White Entertainment IMO. A few of them were Sanford and Son, The Jeffersons, Good Times, Cosby Show, In Living Color, A Different World...the list goes on and on.

I think it is totally wrong to call it Black Entertainment Television because it would not fly well to have one called White Entertainment Television.

My whole point is, equal is equal. All should be equal. How does serperating yourself help you to become equal? It doesn't.

JMO

 

[reportertype]

Why be upset over a name? It merely represents the focus of that particular channel. The entire reason that channel exists is because it's creators felt that black culture - music, comedy, history, etc. - wasn't be represented well on the gazillions of other cable networks that are out there.

I imagine Logo was created for the same reason. Black Entertainment Television is exactly what is it, a television station for black entertainment, featuring black performers and aimed at that particular audience. It's just a name.

 

[Kimberlyd125]

Why be upset over a name? It merely represents the focus of that particular channel. The entire reason that channel exists is because it's creators felt that black culture - music, comedy, history, etc. - wasn't be represented well on the gazillions of other cable networks that are out there.

I imagine Logo was created for the same reason. Black Entertainment Television is exactly what is it, a television station for black entertainment, featuring black performers and aimed at that particular audience. It's just a name.

I understand all of that.
My point is would it fly to have a channel called White Entertainment Television?

Again, equal is equal.

 

[believe09]

Perhaps there is no need to define a single channel as a White Entertainment Network because that POV is well represented across most other channels.

I think if a group of students belong to say, the chess club, and they do not invite kids who do not belong to the chess club to an outing the school would not be in the position of defending themselves. Here we have a situation that is being perceived as racially based and I personally think this charecterization is too simple. Granted I am just reading the media regarding it, not living in the school system...

What if they had gotten together to go see a Caucasian, Asian or Latino speaker? Would the uproar be the same?

I would love it if we would learn to deal with culture/ethnicity without needing to legislate it.

O/T but somewhat on topic-I am listening to my children right now while they watch the "Wiz." I have listened to them while they watch "The Wizard of Oz." In all of the observations they have made about both movies, which they love equally, they have never observed the differences in the skin color of the casts. They see the charecters for what they are-Lion/Lion, Tin Man/Tin Man, Dorothy/Dorothy....

 

[believe09]

K-one more point...from me, anyway, lol- This is how our media reports regarding our culture:
Barack Obama, the first African American President of the United States.
George Bush, President of the United States
Bill Clinton, President of the United States
Lyndon B. Johnson, President of the United States...

You get my point.

 

[White Rain]

I understand all of that.
My point is would it fly to have a channel called White Entertainment Television?

Again, equal is equal.

I understand and completely agree Kim, even if no one else does.

 

[White Rain]

K-one more point...from me, anyway, lol- This is how our media reports regarding our culture:
Barack Obama, the first African American President of the United States.
George Bush, President of the United States
Bill Clinton, President of the United States
Lyndon B. Johnson, President of the United States...

You get my point.

Somehow, IMOO, I don't feel Obama would want his name mentioned any other way.

 

[southcitymom]

:laugh::laugh::laugh::laugh::laugh::laugh:

There IS a "White Entertainment Television" It has a few hundred channels.

 

[southcitymom]

I understand all of that.
My point is would it fly to have a channel called White Entertainment Television?

Again, equal is equal.

One of my favorite websites: http://stuffwhitepeoplelike.com/

 

[Kimberlyd125]

Perhaps there is no need to define a single channel as a White Entertainment Network because that POV is well represented across most other channels.

I think if a group of students belong to say, the chess club, and they do not invite kids who do not belong to the chess club to an outing the school would not be in the position of defending themselves. Here we have a situation that is being perceived as racially based and I personally think this charecterization is too simple. Granted I am just reading the media regarding it, not living in the school system...

What if they had gotten together to go see a Caucasian, Asian or Latino speaker? Would the uproar be the same?

I would love it if we would learn to deal with culture/ethnicity without needing to legislate it.

O/T but somewhat on topic-I am listening to my children right now while they watch the "Wiz." I have listened to them while they watch "The Wizard of Oz." In all of the observations they have made about both movies, which they love equally, they have never observed the differences in the skin color of the casts. They see the charecters for what they are-Lion/Lion, Tin Man/Tin Man, Dorothy/Dorothy....

BBM

Right. And that is how it should be. Why single out and name a skin color in a title of a chanel. That's my point.
Like I have said before, I hate all racism. To me, that a form of racism.

JMO

 

[Kimberlyd125]

K-one more point...from me, anyway, lol- This is how our media reports regarding our culture:
Barack Obama, the first African American President of the United States.
George Bush, President of the United States
Bill Clinton, President of the United States
Lyndon B. Johnson, President of the United States...

You get my point.

Well, he was the first and should be proud of it. It shows how far we have come as a country. To me, that's something to be celebrated. He came along after a long line of white presidents, so not giving him the honor of this accomplishment would be a shame.

To me, that's different.

JMO

 

[i.b.nora]

I kind of like the name of the BRAVO channel, its so sort of um, ethnic, you know, Hispanic, thats the word. BRAVO!!!

 

[txsvicki]

If this is a mostly black school and if a kid has to be in certain clique to feel accepted into a special help study group then it could be something to complain about. If there's only a few kids of other races and they are not helped as much, excluded, or offered any special trips or activities then it could be a big problem.

 

[Melanie]

I don't know -- it sounds like this was an all AA lunch group, and no white students (in the group) were excluded, as there were not any. Only people oustide the group complained - am I right? Does this complaint go out to any other events, or only because this was an AA group.

Where I used to work (for 13 years) there were many groups, and many events (gay, lesbian, AA -- you name it). You could either participate or not. I would never condone what they chose to do (and yes, many events were held during work hours).

My son has gone to several events with his band, but would have no interest in going to a drama or golf event. In my eye I think this reverse discrimination on AA -- it was their club, and their event. Why does the rest of the school have to be invited?

I'm going to look at this as a positive event for those who attended, and not look at it as racist.

Moo

Mel

At issue is whether the 30 Dicken Elementary students, African-American members of an academic peer-support group, should have been allowed to take a trip to the University of Michigan to hear from a black rocket scientist without an invitation going to other students in the Ann Arbor school.

 

[keeponsearching]

Looks to me, like any group, decided to go on a fieldtrip as a GROUP who have been participating in this peer class, and somehow it blew up.
BET, if it had black history running on it all the time, I would be thrilled, I love watching history. But its a mix of everything, shows that could go on every other channel.And still be watched.

 

[kiawahgrl]

i have to respond because i live in the town, it was my child's school and it was in their class that the principal screamed at the kids. the story in the free press is not accurate. the "lunch bunch" is a group composed only of african american children---others who asked to join were not allowed to. the only activities during lunch bunch were eating pizza, playing basketball and doing arts & crafts. this is why the other kids were jealous (it has been going on for awhile and these are 5th graders--things are either fair or unfair). the local ann arbor newspaper has more accurate information. parents are most angry at how the principal treated the kids who couldn't go, specifically yelling at a muslim girl concerning her religion and taking one boy outside to yell at him. parents are also angry how it was communicated to them and the district is looking into whether it violated a state law (prop 2, i think about discrimination). It has been a circus with all the media but this principal has a history of other abuses of power so it may be for the best. this is my first post (longtime lurker) so i hope i didn't violate any terms. i am going to bed, it's been a long few days but can answer questions later if anyone has any. it has really divided the school, the parents, even the kids. very unpleasant.

 

[angelmom]

i have to respond because i live in the town, it was my child's school and it was in their class that the principal screamed at the kids. the story in the free press is not accurate. the "lunch bunch" is a group composed only of african american children---others who asked to join were not allowed to. the only activities during lunch bunch were eating pizza, playing basketball and doing arts & crafts. this is why the other kids were jealous (it has been going on for awhile and these are 5th graders--things are either fair or unfair). the local ann arbor newspaper has more accurate information. parents are most angry at how the principal treated the kids who couldn't go, specifically yelling at a muslim girl concerning her religion and taking one boy outside to yell at him. parents are also angry how it was communicated to them and the district is looking into whether it violated a state law (prop 2, i think about discrimination). It has been a circus with all the media but this principal has a history of other abuses of power so it may be for the best. this is my first post (longtime lurker) so i hope i didn't violate any terms. i am going to bed, it's been a long few days but can answer questions later if anyone has any. it has really divided the school, the parents, even the kids. very unpleasant.

Thanks for the inside scoop. I can't imagine having the school community all over the media like this! So sorry for the families, especially the ones who had nothing to do with it but still have to deal with it.

 

[BuzzieCat]

http://www.mlive.com/newsflash/mich...7315110.xml&storylist=newsmichigan&thispage=2

"'It was a riskier step to take, but the staff at Dicken felt it was going to have tremendous benefit," Margolis said. "I'm guessing you won't see that again.'

She said the fallout started when the students returned from the trip and were met with boos from classmates who stayed behind. Principal Mike Madison, who is African-American, heard the commotion and came to the room to admonish the students for what she termed a 'highly inappropriate' response and explain the rationale for the trip, she said.

"Some kids who didn't go went home and said the principal got angry with them," Margolis said. "I'm sure his voice was raised because I'm sure he was very upset.'"

 

[southcitymom]

i have to respond because i live in the town, it was my child's school and it was in their class that the principal screamed at the kids. the story in the free press is not accurate. the "lunch bunch" is a group composed only of african american children---others who asked to join were not allowed to. the only activities during lunch bunch were eating pizza, playing basketball and doing arts & crafts. this is why the other kids were jealous (it has been going on for awhile and these are 5th graders--things are either fair or unfair). the local ann arbor newspaper has more accurate information. parents are most angry at how the principal treated the kids who couldn't go, specifically yelling at a muslim girl concerning her religion and taking one boy outside to yell at him. parents are also angry how it was communicated to them and the district is looking into whether it violated a state law (prop 2, i think about discrimination). It has been a circus with all the media but this principal has a history of other abuses of power so it may be for the best. this is my first post (longtime lurker) so i hope i didn't violate any terms. i am going to bed, it's been a long few days but can answer questions later if anyone has any. it has really divided the school, the parents, even the kids. very unpleasant.

Thanks for some insight.

 

[Julessleuther]

No offense, but my son is white and would LOVE to hear a rocket scientist speak!

I guess I am making an assumption here, but I am assuming they would have zero interest in hearing him speak because they showed zero interest in the group or its stated mission. IMOO the only reason the field trip was interesting to them was because they were not on it.

MOst teenagers, black OR white that I encounter, are not exactly interested in rocket science or a lecture thereon