,
11 tweets,
6 min read
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1/11
In the debate over what happened between @CovCathColonels students & Native American elder Nathan Phillips, another exchange--with a young man holding up two fingers--has been overlooked. It is more subtle, but may tell us more about our crisis of racial misunderstanding.
In the debate over what happened between @CovCathColonels students & Native American elder Nathan Phillips, another exchange--with a young man holding up two fingers--has been overlooked. It is more subtle, but may tell us more about our crisis of racial misunderstanding.
2/11
PRELUDE: The day's whole ugly affair begins when five self-styled "Black Hebrew Israelites" begin taunting white kids for wearing MAGA hats. (Go to 1:07:00 in their video) There appears to be no other provocation.
PRELUDE: The day's whole ugly affair begins when five self-styled "Black Hebrew Israelites" begin taunting white kids for wearing MAGA hats. (Go to 1:07:00 in their video) There appears to be no other provocation.
3/11
RESPONSE: More than 50 students drown out the insults with chants that the school is famous for--including one resembling a Samoan "haka" war dance. @CovCathColonels call it the "Sumo." (1:10:02 in video)
RESPONSE: More than 50 students drown out the insults with chants that the school is famous for--including one resembling a Samoan "haka" war dance. @CovCathColonels call it the "Sumo." (1:10:02 in video)
4/11
BACKGROUND: The Covington Catholic High "Sumo" can be seen in 2012 on this school video (at 0:48 ). Some students appear to be in a kind of black face. (To be complete, at 3:19, students are also in "white face.")
BACKGROUND: The Covington Catholic High "Sumo" can be seen in 2012 on this school video (at 0:48 ). Some students appear to be in a kind of black face. (To be complete, at 3:19, students are also in "white face.")
5/11
Covington Catholic's history says it dates to the 1920s, was expanded in 1954, and it appears to have had a small number of non-white students over recent decades. This was its "Fighting Colonels" mascot in the 1970s. Today, the Colonel looks Scottish.
Covington Catholic's history says it dates to the 1920s, was expanded in 1954, and it appears to have had a small number of non-white students over recent decades. This was its "Fighting Colonels" mascot in the 1970s. Today, the Colonel looks Scottish.
6/11
THE INSULT: When chants around Nathan Phillips paused, some students moved closer to the Black Hebrew Israelites. A teacher warns them to back up. At 1:19:27, the black group's leaders yells that MAGA hats are racist and the the students are "all white...crackers."
THE INSULT: When chants around Nathan Phillips paused, some students moved closer to the Black Hebrew Israelites. A teacher warns them to back up. At 1:19:27, the black group's leaders yells that MAGA hats are racist and the the students are "all white...crackers."
7/11
THE ANSWER: To prove they're *not* all white, boys call for a black student in the group to come out. The Black Israelite leader, using a racial epithet, (1:18:35) asks: "Ya'll got ONE n---- in the crowd?" Student turns, holds up his fingers and says: "We have two of them."
THE ANSWER: To prove they're *not* all white, boys call for a black student in the group to come out. The Black Israelite leader, using a racial epithet, (1:18:35) asks: "Ya'll got ONE n---- in the crowd?" Student turns, holds up his fingers and says: "We have two of them."
8/11
The black spokesman mocks the students: "Ohhhhh, so you got TWO n----- s in the crowd?"
The white kid says "Yeah."
The black student appears.
The Black Hebrew Israelites taunt him. He disappears.
The black spokesman mocks the students: "Ohhhhh, so you got TWO n----- s in the crowd?"
The white kid says "Yeah."
The black student appears.
The Black Hebrew Israelites taunt him. He disappears.
9/11
An older white student shouts: "Why are you being mean to a 16-year-old?" Another calls the Black Hebrew Israelites racist. These students sound as though they have been taught something about racism.
An older white student shouts: "Why are you being mean to a 16-year-old?" Another calls the Black Hebrew Israelites racist. These students sound as though they have been taught something about racism.
10/11
Then at 1:19:24 in the long video, the black spokesman says again: "That's the only one ya'll could bring to the front?"
A different white student responds:
"Hey we got one at home, but he ain't here."
Then at 1:19:24 in the long video, the black spokesman says again: "That's the only one ya'll could bring to the front?"
A different white student responds:
"Hey we got one at home, but he ain't here."
11/11
It was an #MLK weekend exchange that was profound to my ears. Sadly. Ignorance, bitterness, cruelty, provincialism, naivete scattered across the participants. We are a confused people. Duly proud of 50 years' progress. But willfully blind to what still subtly lurks inside.
It was an #MLK weekend exchange that was profound to my ears. Sadly. Ignorance, bitterness, cruelty, provincialism, naivete scattered across the participants. We are a confused people. Duly proud of 50 years' progress. But willfully blind to what still subtly lurks inside.
