Blackface on Campuses: Yale and Mizzou

Yale University's pristine ivy is in a bunch. All is not well in the hallowed halls of this academic haven. Controversy struck when an email was sent to students regarding Halloween costumes reminding that "poor decisions can be made including wearing feathered headdresses, turbans, wearing "war paint" or modifying skin tone or wearing blackface or redface. These same issues and examples of cultural appropriation and/or misrepresentation are increasingly surfacing with representations of Asians and Latinos." If you are an adult and work in the real world, this is similar to your orientation training where you were warned about inappropriate speech or conduct that could lead to allegations of sexual harassment.

However, Erika Christakis , a faculty member and administrator of a residence hall, took a different stance. Ms. Christakis posited "whether blond toddlers should be barred from being dressed as African-American or Asian characters from Disney films." No one would be upset with a child of any race coming to school dressed as Tiana from the Princess and the Frog. However, there would be outrage if that child came as Tiana in blackface. Yet, Erika Christakis' husband, Nicholas, maintains that if one finds the costumes offensive then just look away. This sounds exactly like the behavior Martin Neimoller spoke out against in his essay "First They Came for the Socialists ." Unfortunately, Christakis is not alone in her ill-conceived dissent to the University email admonishing sensitivity. An elementary school teacher decided to teach Civil War history by auctioning students . Another teacher makes math problems out of slaves. Yet, wearing costumes promoting racial stereotypes is okay?

I was a college writing instructor. The mission of my class was to improve students' academic writing skills by engaging in critical thinking, reasoning, reading, discussion and writing. I warned the students that some of the topics were controversial. However, they were to respect the opinions of classmates whether or not they agreed with them. That did not mean students had free reign to say whatever entered their minds. "Come let us reason together" is a catch phrase for my blog. Reason has been replaced with what old folks called "diarrhea of the mouth." As a kid, you are told that everything that comes into your head should not come out of your mouth. That is the mark of intelligence and maturity. Reason is the filter. Unfortunately, we have made celebrities out of people who are notorious for blurting out stupidity.

I take offense against Erika Christakis, Nicholas Christakis and their supporters. If students had a party themed "Come as a Jew, holocaust victim or Hitler," there would be a collective uproar, no "Look away and stop being overly sensitive." A couple named their children after Hitler and lost custody . Yet, Christakis says it is okay for college students to come in blackface , redface or as Mexicans .

If Christakis wants student to explore being "a little bit obnoxious... a little bit inappropriate or provocative or, yes, offensive," then release the hounds. Let them find out firsthand the consequences of such exploration like Gerod Roth , Erika Escalante , Paula Deen , and Benjamin Golden . Please continue to have diarrhea of the mouth and be offensive. Experience and social media are good teachers, as Christakis will soon discover for her insensitive email espousing obnoxious and racially charged behavior in an environment that is supposed to be welcoming to all students. As my father warned, "Book sense without common sense is just an educated fool."

This originally appeared on Ronda's blog, Ronda-isms .