With Kristi Merriweather's permisson I am putting this I.M. discussion we had tonight in my blog regarding the recent MSSD incident that occurred yesterday on the campus of Gallaudet University. In the one hour and 30 minute discussion Kristi presented her perspective, opinion and experience as a black person while I presented mine as a white person about the whole MSSD incident, including the Jena 6. The underlying lesson here is that there must be an open and honest dialogue to take place in order to understand and learn certain but crucially important issues. In this case it is about racism. Racism issues will never go away unless we somehow address them right down to the core, uninhibited. This is the kind of dialogue we both see that is seriously lacking or conspicuously absent on the campus of Gallaudet University. And, of course, in the classrooms of MSSD considering what just had happened yesterday. It was an ugly event. It shouldn't have happened. Many people were surprised. Even hurt. But at the same time many blacks weren't surprised much so but rather they were disappointed on seeing it happened. Enjoy the IM discussion (note: I added in the links on certain subjects in the IM text copy below). And for the record, I was the one who approached Kristi to have this frank and open discussion.
Kristi Merriweather (7:09:25 PM): Okay, now about MSSD.
Mike McConnell (7:09:38 PM): yeah...would like to hear your perspective.
Mike McConnell (7:09:57 PM): which blogs have you read so far?
Kristi Merriweather (7:09:57 PM): When I first heard of it, I wasn't surprised
Mike McConnell (7:10:07 PM): Not surprised?
Kristi Merriweather (7:10:16 PM): I've read yours and DeafDC and Miskena
Kristi Merriweather (7:10:31 PM): No, not surprised at all and you will find the same
Kristi Merriweather (7:10:48 PM): Sentiments from several black people over age 30
Mike McConnell (7:10:54 PM): Interesting.
Kristi Merriweather (7:11:05 PM): I wasn't surprised for 2 reasons-
Kristi Merriweather (7:11:30 PM): A parent of a black MSSD student told me that he
Kristi Merriweather (7:12:02 PM): Said that fights between black and white students were ridiculously common,
Mike McConnell (7:12:14 PM): before I forget do you mind after we're done talking I copy the pertinent discussion into my blog but replace your IM name with your name?
Mike McConnell (7:12:29 PM): just your typical fight, right?
Kristi Merriweather (7:12:38 PM): So we're talking about an environment already...sure, you have my go ahead...
Mike McConnell (7:12:59 PM): Ok. Great. It's important that people hear your perspective.
Kristi Merriweather (7:13:07 PM): Well, I don't know what a typical fight is, but
Mike McConnell (7:13:07 PM): go ahead
Mike McConnell (7:13:25 PM): when I say "typical" it's not about race. Just, you know, plain old fights.
Kristi Merriweather (7:13:33 PM): We're talking about an environment that was already under racial tension on some level, and
Kristi Merriweather (7:14:00 PM): ...no, the mother was implying to me that those were not your typical fights and
Kristi Merriweather (7:14:28 PM): She was implying that there was little punishment being meted out for those fights
Mike McConnell (7:14:55 PM): Punishment? Explain, pls.
Mike McConnell (7:15:52 PM): are u there?
Kristi Merriweather (7:15:59 PM): I don't remember exactly what she said, only what she was implying, was that those fights were not being followed with your normal discipline measures for
Kristi Merriweather (7:16:10 PM): Fights, like suspensions, etc
Mike McConnell (7:16:23 PM): Oh, MSSD doing the punishment.
Mike McConnell (7:16:26 PM): ok.
Kristi Merriweather (7:16:29 PM): Right, right
Mike McConnell (7:16:33 PM): go ahead
Kristi Merriweather (7:16:47 PM): And we both know that
Kristi Merriweather (7:17:21 PM): MSSD is on Gallaudet campus and is in some way connected to the culture at Gallaudet, so knowing what happened
Kristi Merriweather (7:17:46 PM): Last year with the protest, the low rate of mea culpa,
Mike McConnell (7:18:07 PM): In other words, we're seeing similar behaviors of some form of racism throughout the campus?
Kristi Merriweather (7:18:22 PM): The slowness of people to concerns about what had happened to Dr.Anderson, I wasn't really surprised what had transpired at MSSD
Mike McConnell (7:18:28 PM): yeah...hardly any "mea culpa's"
Mike McConnell (7:18:49 PM): Exactly. The Dr. Anderson thing.
Mike McConnell (7:19:13 PM): Only Noah, as far as I know, publicly did his "mea culpa" last year.
Kristi Merriweather (7:19:13 PM): I am not a student at Gally now, I'm not qualified to
Kristi Merriweather (7:19:49 PM): Answer the question about whether similar acts happened on Gallaudet campus. Yes you're right about Noah and I
Kristi Merriweather (7:20:06 PM): Believe it was because of Lindsay Dunn breaking it down for him,
Kristi Merriweather (7:20:42 PM): Noah got caught up in the mass mentality, but he eventually got his head back together
Kristi Merriweather (7:20:49 PM): Unlike some folks (grin)
Mike McConnell (7:20:59 PM): Sad.
Kristi Merriweather (7:21:11 PM): But do you understand why I wasn't surprised now?
Mike McConnell (7:22:13 PM): Well, in a way. But I was suprised to hear about how one black kid participated in the KKK scrawling business even though we're not even sure who did the actually scrawling in the first place.
Kristi Merriweather (7:22:47 PM): It is troublesome but it's not entirely strange either. You see,
Kristi Merriweather (7:23:56 PM): Black people who have positive racial identity would not feel compelled to write KKK on another black person, it's just too emotional-laden for them. I believe that this
Kristi Merriweather (7:24:46 PM): Boy had little positive racial identity, can you imagine a deaf person with strong positive deaf identity
Kristi Merriweather (7:25:07 PM): Writing hearing-impaired and dumb on a deaf person's body?
Kristi Merriweather (7:25:31 PM): It's not even the same because the word "KKK" is usually
Kristi Merriweather (7:25:53 PM): Associated with, you know, lynchings and all that, but you get the point.
Kristi Merriweather (7:26:23 PM): This boy is staying at the dorm. He is not
Mike McConnell (7:26:54 PM): Yeah. But I am wondering whether it could also be a lack of knowledge, knowing the history behind the "KKK" and the Swastikas. If you don't know your history, you cannot appreciate them. And
Kristi Merriweather (7:27:11 PM): With his black parents. Who is teaching him black history, importance of being content with his blackness? We don't know but we can see how that can happen.
Mike McConnell (7:27:17 PM): I am also wondering just what kind of history does MSSD teach at the high school anyway?
Kristi Merriweather (7:27:28 PM): No, no, that boy had to know. How can you write
Kristi Merriweather (7:28:24 PM): Something and know it was negative, it wasn't liek they were trying to draw flowers and peace symbols on him, the intent was not of a positive nature. He had to know.
Mike McConnell (7:28:33 PM): We don't know who wrote that "KKK" down. But I believe they were playing "war" and one group was named "KKK" or something like that?
Kristi Merriweather (7:29:05 PM): Your question about teaching history at MSSD-
Mike McConnell (7:29:16 PM): They might know the "history" but do they really know the history and understand the seriousness? Well, they do now.
Kristi Merriweather (7:30:03 PM): Most likely it's your general history, and it does cover slavery, Civil War, Reconstruction, Civil Rights, but often it's told in a way
Kristi Merriweather (7:31:06 PM): that overlooks the innumerous ways of resistances we employed during these times. It's framed in a way like we were all victims all the time. Black people who were schooled in
Kristi Merriweather (7:31:34 PM): Black history knows about the other framwork.
Kristi Merriweather (7:31:54 PM): Well, how can they not know? Katherine J said that
Kristi Merriweather (7:32:32 PM): MSSD had discussions about Jena 6 (for real? We don't know), and how can we discuss Jena without
Kristi Merriweather (7:32:50 PM): Mentioning the nooses? They had to know.
Kristi Merriweather (7:33:06 PM): Perhaps not to what extent, but they knew enough that
Mike McConnell (7:33:20 PM): who are "they"?
Mike McConnell (7:33:43 PM): oh, the MSSD students.
Kristi Merriweather (7:33:45 PM): Those symbols were of very negative nature. "They"- the seven students now in trouble.
Kristi Merriweather (7:34:02 PM): All of them should be expelled, my opinion.
Kristi Merriweather (7:34:28 PM): Even without hate crime, they committed a crime of
Kristi Merriweather (7:34:47 PM): Kidnapping, holding someone hostage against their will.
Mike McConnell (7:35:19 PM): Perhaps but first all of the facts must be gathered first and see exactly what really and how it happened.
Mike McConnell (7:35:44 PM): If it turns out the way you think happened, sure, expulsion is one severe option.
Kristi Merriweather (7:36:14 PM): I agree. And if it turns out as the media reported it, then expulsion would be a viable option.
Mike McConnell (7:36:46 PM): Well, the media isn't always factual. Better to wait and see the next MSSD memo from Jankowski.
Kristi Merriweather (7:36:55 PM): It's 2007. We ought to have less patience for such things.
Kristi Merriweather (7:37:42 PM): I know, I know. Wait and see.
Mike McConnell (7:37:44 PM): Sure. Derogatory symbols, intimidation or just plain attacking without provocation should not be tolerated at all.
Mike McConnell (7:38:28 PM): What was the first thought that went through your mind when you first heard the news. And where did that news come from?
Kristi Merriweather (7:38:33 PM): You have to wonder why the boys were sent home and why KJ had to call in a national diversity expert if it wasn't true.
Kristi Merriweather (7:39:19 PM): I found out early this morning while getting ready for work, and my first thought was
Kristi Merriweather (7:39:53 PM): "Why am I not shocked? That's not good."
Mike McConnell (7:40:01 PM): Well, I'm sure after all this MSSD will probably have to design a mandatory course work covering areas about KKK, racism, etc..
Mike McConnell (7:40:17 PM): Not good?
Kristi Merriweather (7:40:23 PM): I hope so.
Kristi Merriweather (7:40:33 PM): It is not good that I am not surprised.
Mike McConnell (7:40:36 PM): And you said that your other black friends and family had the same reaction?
Mike McConnell (7:41:00 PM): as yours?
Kristi Merriweather (7:41:13 PM): I didn't ask my family, my black friends were
Kristi Merriweather (7:41:49 PM): more like, those who did not go to Gallaudet raised their eyebrows and say "I see", and
Mike McConnell (7:42:08 PM): One thing I'm thinking. Do you think that deafness may have played a role on ignorance or lack of understanding the seriousness of the KKK symbol and such?
Kristi Merriweather (7:42:30 PM): Threw a "knowing look". Those who went to Gallaudet- heck no, they weren't surprised.
Kristi Merriweather (7:43:43 PM): Not really. I think deafness may make audism a more important issue for white deaf people but it is also
Mike McConnell (7:43:53 PM): So, those who didn't go to Gallaudet were suprised but not those who once attended Gallaudet? Is that what you're saying?
Kristi Merriweather (7:44:26 PM): The fact that we are not setting up an environment where different forms of racism is part of the discussion is causing the problems.
Kristi Merriweather (7:45:01 PM): Yes, those who didn't go to Gallaudet were surprised but *up to a certain point.*
Mike McConnell (7:45:25 PM): I believe that's true on the campus of Gallaudet. A lack of real serious discussion and discovery.
Kristi Merriweather (7:45:25 PM): Am I making sense?
Mike McConnell (7:45:44 PM): kind of..surprised but not really that surprised.
Kristi Merriweather (7:45:53 PM): Right, right
Mike McConnell (7:45:58 PM): more of in a disappointed way I guess.
Kristi Merriweather (7:46:07 PM): Bingo!
Mike McConnell (7:46:37 PM): I think a lot of the alumni people felt that way, too.
Kristi Merriweather (7:46:50 PM): And at the heels of Jena, it was like okay, here we go...
Mike McConnell (7:46:54 PM): What did you think of my blog?
Mike McConnell (7:46:58 PM): yeah...here we go again.
Kristi Merriweather (7:47:02 PM): Oh I'm sure!
Kristi Merriweather (7:47:56 PM): Hold a sec because I read a blog after yours, need to separate the two
Mike McConnell (7:48:14 PM): would you be disappointed if no black leader come to the campus of Gallaudet in light of the MSSD incident?
Mike McConnell (7:48:15 PM): ok
Kristi Merriweather (7:49:08 PM): I would be disappointed if nobody from NBDA investigated it but
Mike McConnell (7:49:51 PM): Have you tried to contact the NBDA?
Kristi Merriweather (7:49:55 PM): I've spoken with the new President- Fred Beam- who just took office 3 days ago and he is in communications with one of the Board member trying to get to the bottom of it. He
Kristi Merriweather (7:50:18 PM): Is not one to jump the gun, wants to have all the facts first, which is good.
Mike McConnell (7:50:50 PM): Right. People need to be calm in situations like this and gather the facts first.
Kristi Merriweather (7:51:07 PM): Okay, your blog, I am aware of the
Kristi Merriweather (7:51:53 PM): Complexies surrounding the Jena 6 situation, and while I'm not crazy about Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson using it to
Kristi Merriweather (7:52:19 PM): Make themselves feel important again, it doesn't
Kristi Merriweather (7:52:59 PM): Remove the fact that there were blantant imbalances in how punishments/charges were being meted out, and
Kristi Merriweather (7:53:45 PM): I do not consider the fact that nobody reported the nooses until a year later as a statement that there was no significant relevancy, keep in mind that
Kristi Merriweather (7:54:21 PM): Black people take into consideration of who they are likely to deal with if they want to report something
Kristi Merriweather (7:55:16 PM): Of that nature, and if we're talking about them reporting the incident to the DA, the very same man who charged the boys with attempted murder, then you can see why they didn't bother to report it.
Kristi Merriweather (7:55:43 PM): Really, those white boys should have been expelled and that would have been the end of it. Ironically enough,
Mike McConnell (7:55:48 PM): Almost like a catch-22 situation.
Kristi Merriweather (7:56:09 PM): Most if not all of those 3 boys were expelled for something else later on.
Kristi Merriweather (7:56:41 PM): Right, right. So that's why I can see how things like that can
Kristi Merriweather (7:57:52 PM): Go unchallenged, that's how systematic racism works because you have some people in the system that makes those kind of incidents hard to be resolved. And people are surprised at the end!
Kristi Merriweather (7:58:28 PM): They can't see it because the system worked for them at their end.
Mike McConnell (7:58:33 PM): Well, the principal wanted the boys expelled but the board turned that decision around regarding the noose incident.
Kristi Merriweather (7:59:27 PM): Yes, based on the superintedent's "advice", yes. It didn't help matters any that only one member on the board was black.
Kristi Merriweather (7:59:44 PM): Today, the board is saying,
Mike McConnell (8:00:32 PM): But then again the Jena 6 situation, 6 guys going after one guy and cold cocked the guy from behind ("sucker punch") of which the guy had nothing to do with the noose thing. Which makes it a bit puzzling why bring up the noose which happened months earlier.
Kristi Merriweather (8:00:37 PM): In hindsight, they should have expelled those three boys, but they were, according to them, following "wise counsel" from both the superientedent and the DA.
Mike McConnell (8:00:54 PM): maybe fearing a lawsuit?
Mike McConnell (8:00:59 PM): over the expulsion?
Kristi Merriweather (8:01:25 PM): *shrugs* or maybe they were being chickens.
Kristi Merriweather (8:01:31 PM): Now about your noose question,
Kristi Merriweather (8:02:39 PM): Keep in mind that things happened in a sequential manner, and keep in mind that black adults *do not* forget something like nooses, burning crosses, KKK easily, even a year later-
Kristi Merriweather (8:03:29 PM): It's been one year and I still remember the image of the burning effigy of JKF. But really what happened to that white guy was that
Mike McConnell (8:04:02 PM): yes. I understand that but that isn't justification for attacking anybody unprovoked, as far as I have read so far, who had nothing to do with it.
Kristi Merriweather (8:04:36 PM): 2 days earlier, some of the Jena 6- including Mycheal Bell- were at a convenience store and a white young man who had some connection with some white Jena students
Kristi Merriweather (8:05:00 PM): Got into words with them and he went out to get his shotgun,
Kristi Merriweather (8:05:54 PM): Bell and his boys grabbed ahold of it and then beated him up. The police charged the black boys with theft and charged the white boy with nothing.
Kristi Merriweather (8:07:20 PM): Keep that in mind, that was just 2 days before. Justin, the white boy who got beated, bragged outloud that the white boy from 2 days ago beated up Bell and his friends. What state of mind do you think Bell and his friends were at that moment they overheard him?
Mike McConnell (8:08:22 PM): They have a right to be angry but it's not justification to attack a person.
Kristi Merriweather (8:08:46 PM): Does that make it right, no, but I can see how some immature boys can just lose it just like that, after seeing unfair consquences.
Kristi Merriweather (8:09:24 PM): It's not about justification. It's about understanding how things can be connected to the nooses. The nooses
Kristi Merriweather (8:10:02 PM): Sent a certain message, which was never resolved, and manifested itself into a series of fights, culminating into this incident.
Kristi Merriweather (8:10:35 PM): And let's not forget we can't really believe Justin's word either. He went to a party the same night.
Mike McConnell (8:10:35 PM): Sure, they can lose it. But there are consequences afterwards. What if that person died because they were angry in the first place? I don't care who or what color of the skin, there is no justification to attack a person.
Kristi Merriweather (8:11:27 PM): I understand that. But you don't throw a match into a room full of gas and then claim no mea culpa.
Kristi Merriweather (8:12:21 PM): Would you go into a KKK room and say you love black people and then expect to walk without a scratch on you? Legally,
Kristi Merriweather (8:12:46 PM): You should expect that, but in the real world, you know you're playing with fire if you do that.
Mike McConnell (8:13:09 PM): Like I said, there are consequences to one's own action...anybody's. A physical attack is still not justified. I'm sure it's hard to hold back when people get angry and that's the nature of the game. But it shouldn't be an excuse is what I'm saying.
Kristi Merriweather (8:13:38 PM): Oh I agree with that
Kristi Merriweather (8:13:50 PM): That wasn't the reason we protested
Mike McConnell (8:14:10 PM): yes, I know. In the real world those things happen and people do play with fire. Does it make it right? No. But, as the old popular phrase go, shit happens.
Kristi Merriweather (8:14:32 PM): The reason we protested was the disparties in how white people and black people were being punished.
Mike McConnell (8:15:31 PM): I agree that disparities do exist. Unequal treatment.
Kristi Merriweather (8:15:48 PM): Well, Justin got his ass kicked because he played with fire, fine, the boys are in trouble, but attempted murder with sneakers as murder weapon while the white boy with the shotgun going scotfree is wrong
Kristi Merriweather (8:16:04 PM): Wrong, and that was the true reason we protested.
Kristi Merriweather (8:17:22 PM): Even the courts agreed that they shouldn't have been charged as adults and such, makes you wonder about the DA's mentality. Really. He ought to be fired.
Mike McConnell (8:18:28 PM): Well, all I can is that it was unfortunate to see these series of events take place. We can only hope to learn from them.
Mike McConnell (8:18:40 PM): BTW, what did you think about my use of "Gally 7"?
Mike McConnell (8:18:45 PM): just curious.
Kristi Merriweather (8:19:26 PM): I could see why it was used, although
Kristi Merriweather (8:20:08 PM): People will argue those are not Gallaudet students, "technically". I don't see a separation, not culturally anyway.
Kristi Merriweather (8:20:29 PM): But Gally 7 is the wrong term, know why?
Kristi Merriweather (8:21:05 PM): Jena 6, Little Rock 9, Scottsboro 7- those are victims. Those students are not victims.
Mike McConnell (8:22:13 PM): Yeah, I know but the irony was that there was a black student involved in the attack. Just putting a twist on this and get people to discuss this problematic racism issue.
Kristi Merriweather (8:22:26 PM): I'm sorry, it's Scottsboro 9, not 7
Kristi Merriweather (8:22:40 PM): Not really
Kristi Merriweather (8:23:00 PM): If you apply my point about racial identity development
Kristi Merriweather (8:24:14 PM): , it's still a hate crime even when he's in the picture.
Kristi Merriweather (8:24:33 PM): Let me use your gay example, if you'll humor me
Mike McConnell (8:24:35 PM): yes, i see what you mean.
Kristi Merriweather (8:24:44 PM): Let's say we have a gay man, and
Mike McConnell (8:24:49 PM): I may humor you...but others might not.
Kristi Merriweather (8:26:11 PM): (Smile) and he hates being gay, why, well maybe he's in some rural country, or in some strict religious home, whatever, he just doesn't have positive gay identity. Is it possible that he could be involved
Kristi Merriweather (8:26:26 PM): In a hate crime against another gays? Absolutely.
Kristi Merriweather (8:27:35 PM): He killed a gay person because they were gay, so it doesn't really matter that he was gay himself.
Mike McConnell (8:27:38 PM): Reverse-identity of some sort? Projecting himself in some way?
Kristi Merriweather (8:28:21 PM): I guess so but more like lack of exposure to messages that gayness is okay
Mike McConnell (8:28:26 PM): Not a psychologist here...heh.
Mike McConnell (8:29:31 PM): Ok...well, maybe we can continue with this discussion some more at a later time. Lots of info here for me to separate and organize for my blog.
Kristi Merriweather (8:30:01 PM): Sure, good idea! Anytime
Kristi Merriweather (8:30:14 PM): Hope Some things were clarified
Mike McConnell (8:30:20 PM): It's great share perspectives here. very important!
Mike McConnell (8:30:40 PM): yes, many were clarified. if there's more question or need of discussion I'll let you know.
Kristi Merriweather (8:31:01 PM): Alrighty, and thank you for asking me for my opinion
Kristi Merriweather (8:31:08 PM): I appreciate that
Kristi Merriweather (8:31:19 PM): We'll be in touch then!
Mike McConnell (8:31:44 PM): yep!
Mike McConnell (8:31:51 PM): great talking to you!
Mike McConnell (8:31:58 PM): don't be a stranger.
Kristi Merriweather (8:32:07 PM): Same here, you take care!
I met Kristi for the first time in person earlier this year while at Gallaudet University's vlog/blog conference after we had informally gotten to know each other through blogs, emails, VPs and forum discussions. We both hit it off quite well and naturally respected each other's opinion and perspective. So, if you ever get the chance to meet her, please do.
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