Black students at American University in Washington D.C. are outraged that their are racist trolls on social media and are demanding that white students take a class to understand their privilege and minority victimhood.
The Washington Post reported that this all stems from a backlash over some trolls on a social media app called Yik Yak where trolls put up some racially charged comments–that’s why their trolls.
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Tensions had been growing on campus since the death of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Mo., the 18-year old black male who was killed by officer Darren Wilson after the young man robbed a convenience store and tried to take the policeman’s gun.
The facts of the situation didn’t matter, black students started chanting “hands up, don’t shoot” on campus, after the myth that Brown’s said that to Wilson before being killed.
Soon after the protests black students began hearing stories from friends of friends of friends that witnessed white students calling them racial slurs.
The real problem though was on Yik Yak where trolls were relentless-because their college-aged trolls. Black students launched a hashtag #TheRealAU hoped it would expose those comments in effect to make them harder to ignore.
But even the Washington Post disputes the severity or seriousness of social media comments.
“Some students are dismissive of these controversies; much of what’s said on Yik Yak is dumb and crass in all sorts of ways. Anonymity brings out the trolls. And there’s a lot of sarcasm there, too.”
Black student activists are now demanding that the university enforce a mandatory education for whites to learn about their victimhood and the white privilege.
“We really want American University to have a mandatory education program so white students and students of privilege have a space to understand issues that affect students of color and marginalized students,” said Daniel Marks, a senior who complained that white people are dismissing the #BlackLivesMatter movement.
So far the campus has rejected any calls for new mandatory classes. Instead, they hope for a more open dialogue, but open conversation is what Mark’s has a problem with–he needs people to just always agree with him.
Some students took to Twitter to call this complacency and the school being complicit in the racist harassment of black people.
University officials were quick to make a statement on the situation.
“We don’t believe a mandatory course will effect change as some students have suggested. We believe a multipronged approach is the answer and, as an institution, we are committed to creating an inclusive community,” said Assistant VP of Campus Life Fanta Aw. “First and most importantly, we encourage dialogue. We want all students to work with us and with one another to effect the climate on campus. Orientation for all incoming first-year students includes diversity and microaggression discussions to set the tone for interactions as students proceed through their years at AU.”
Aren’t any of these kids spending the $43,000 in tuition to get an education? Maybe they should focus on that.
