Black Professor at University Accuses School of Racism

W.E.B. DeBois talked about the veil which a black males has to used in society to fit in at a work environment, which is showing an image that the powerful in this environment can except and is not threaten with to survive in this atmosphere. People don't realize this exist to this day and is a key toward the tension in race relations we have today. When a young black male trys to breakthrough this veil do things the he feels more confortable with he becomes outcast by his peers. Therefore the veil is forced upon him and the cycle continues. The real issue is those who are claiming this teacher to be a so call trouble maker is out of touch with the black male. The only way this can be solve is for more young blacks to not conform to these ideas forced on by society and to let what he can bring to the table be showcased.

 

Here's the thing - ANYONE (white, black, yellow, green) who wants to fit into a work environment has to suppress his/her individuality. The job world is not one that ever encourages individuality - it encourages fitting into the existing structures. Even in the most progressive companies, there is still tends to be a standard for attire, demeanor, and procedure. Employees who constantly challenge or ignore these standards (even when their actions may be justified) are going to alienate themselves from other employees and thus hurt their chances for promotion. And if they think their promotion is hurt by anything else (racism included), they're kidding themselves.

That's not to say that racism doesn't exist in the workplace but describing the tendency toward conformity as racist is rather myopic.

Furthermore, the only person who seemed to be describing Watkins as a "troublemaker" was Watkins himself. The people making the decision regarding his tenure seem more concerned about teaching record and research output. Not having reviewed his teaching record or research output, I'm not going to comment on whether their opinion is fair. But he certainly isn't helping his case by crying racism before a decision has even been made.

 

Couldn't agree more. Were I to go into corporate, I'd have to dress a certain way, act a certain way, and get a haircut, which I REFUSE to do. I know the rules of the corporate game, and I recognize that I'd have to play by them. But because I don't want to, I've chosen to play a game where the dress code is scrubs, and there aren't any rules about my hair.

Play by the rules, or play a different game.

 

Yeah I don't see how a job sucking the life out of you and turning you into a robot is racist.

 

This is the worst advice I have ever heard given. The entertainment industry and other cultural influences for AA's has really led youth astray by setting horrific examples of speech, grammar, dress/attire, behavior, attitudes towards women, attitudes towards police, crime, violence and drugs. Until these cultural issues are changed, the vicious circle will likely continue.

 

I will say this...in a professional environment, you will be judged by your attitude and your grammar. It is not racist. A hillbilly that is white but uses poor grammar will face much the same fate. A hillbilly that is outspoken regarding the law and law enforcement will meet much the same fate.

 

Very true. Unfortunately it is not that simple. The hillibilly and and his non-hillibilly co worker may have identical actions viewed through different lenses. It isn't racism, but it still spells death for a career.

To Malcolm's point: A black employee standing up to a bullying co-worker may be viewed differently from a white employee doing the same thing. Its like advertising... all the stereotypes... being aggressive, etc come to the fore, even if the arbiter is not racist. Same actions, open-minded boss, different results. If you are a minority in the work place, you would be a fool not to keep it at the back of your mind.

As an aside, if I could write half as well as DuBois, I'd be a billionaire

 

dress/attire?

 

Keep it real and admit that busting a sag in the boardroom is going to go over like Liberace at an Alabama gun show.

 

just a hunch here......

I doubt people who "bust a sag" are anywhere near a boardroom.

 

I think that's kind of his point.

 

That’s where your wrong in the 80's hip hop was more of a political involved music. It was the grounds for the poor youth to express their views of society in a poetic manner. What happen was in the late 90's corporate entities got involved in the music and suppressed any young star that spoke of knowledge and affirming you belief that you didn't have to play by the corporate rules of that day. That got stop and the only thing that was pushed was the music that wasn't about positive music.

Speech, grammar and attire were the representation of the view was having upon the world. The behavior and bad attitude toward women came from the masculine society that America has pushed to this day that to be a man you must be dominate and women bring out a sign of weakness. Attitude towards the police came from the years of abuse of power of the police for year. The was an issue explaining pain created from the planting of drugs and crimes committed by officers ignored and the music was perfect way to express the problem. Crime will always be an issue for the poor because of the hunger of survival. Those with nothing do what they have to do to get something. Drugs are what made America so pay attention because the drugs that are legal in America are the drugs made here. Don't speak on what you have no knowledge about Trader.

 

Malcom, I was not aware that F**K the police was voicing your opinion in a poetic manner and not negative. That is just one of many in the 80's that was popular. You had Getto Boys, NWA, Public Enemy and so on not doing a single positive thing in the 80's. You must be really young or only see the past as you see fit to match your agenda. Rap has done nothing but degrade women, promote violence, and dumb down our youth since about the mid 80's. It had nothing to do with corporations because it started underground and if anything got less violent as time went on and became more of a dance music.

 

I agree with the post above. Malcolm you sound ridiculous.

If you want people to take you seriously you gotta act a certain way, that means being professional, regardless of your race.

Let's look at financial advisors for example. If you're a millionaire, would you trust your money with someone who seems dumber than you are?

 

^^^^^
By who rules are you applying that a person is smart or not. The ideas that a person is not to your standards because he dean’s talk, dress and act a certain way doesn’t mean a person is not able to perform at a high level at any position. The truth is we use conformity to decide who we can handle because they are not a threat to the way things work. But for who is benefiting to these rules not the conformer. Many Americans have fell trap into the idea of playing the role to get what you want. You give up on any form of happiness you desire in life. I hear way too many people upset at their lives at the age of 30 in up because they did what they suppose to do because they did what society tells them to do. Honestly it bull ****. We should look for the value of what a people can give us through their experiences instead of focusing on the fact that they are not like up.

 

I really hope you did NOT just lump Public Enemy in with gangsta rap. PE was black power, baby. They were the prophets of rage, sure, but they were all about politically empowering a people. They were Bob Dylan "you better start swimming or you'll sink like a stone" heralds of change. They scared white people because white people are stupid.

 

Trader is making a lot of sense in this thread, for once.

Malcolm - not so much.

You have to live within the rules if you want to advance at the workplace.

If you are going to dress down, speak badly, and come across as ignorant, don't expect to get hired, it will only perpetuate the stereotype.

DD

 

Being asked to dress and act professionally is not dictatorial conformity. Get a grip.

 

Agreed.