Georgians Plan Whites-Only Prom Party

[punkgrrrlie10]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=519&ncid=519&e=4&u=/ap/20030501/ap_on_re_us/separate_proms_2

ALBANY, Ga. - A year after holding their first integrated prom, some students at Taylor County High School have decided to again hold a separate, private party for whites only.


While many whites say they still plan to attend next week's integrated prom, the decision to hold the whites-only prom this Friday saddened senior Gerica McCrary, who helped organize last year's dance.

"I cried," said McCrary, who is black. "The black juniors said, 'Our prom is open to everyone. If you want to come, come.'"

Juniors are in charge of planning the prom each year and last year they decided to have just one dance — the first integrated prom in 31 years in the rural Georgia county 150 miles south of Atlanta.

Until then, parents and students organized separate proms for whites and blacks after school officials stopped sponsoring dances, in part because they wanted to avoid problems arising from interracial dating.

This year, a small number of white juniors decided they wanted a separate prom.

"They influenced the others," said McCrary, who plans to major in biology at Columbus State University. "They didn't vote on anything. They said, 'This is what we're going to do.'"

The school has 439 students, 232 of them black. McCrary and a white friend passed out fliers informing students of all races that they would be welcome at the May 9 prom at nearby Fort Valley State University.

The private prom is Friday night 50 miles away in Columbus.

Erin Posey, a white senior, said the entire junior class joined together in hosting last year's prom, but this year's junior class wasn't as unified.

"I think a lot of seniors were disappointed," she said. "Now we have to choose between two groups of friends."

Posey plans to attend both proms.

"I had some white friends who were not going to the other (inclusive) prom," she said. "I wanted to have time with everybody. I'll have a lot of (black) friends there, too. A lot more of the seniors are going to be at the mixed one."

After school integration, separate proms were common in the rural South, but Taylor County was among the last to cling to the practice.

Glenda Latimore, a 1972 graduate, was in the first class to have separate black and white proms. Now her 16-year-old son, Gerard, is preparing for prom night.

As the black junior class president, her son helped organize the open-to-all prom. The class also has a white president.

"I would have liked to see it together this year," said Latimore, an outfielder on the school's baseball team. "My class would have, too. It just didn't happen this year."

Glenda Latimore said relatives in Philadelphia and New Jersey laugh when they read about Taylor County's prom. She said residents here are "nice and friendly," but they still have a problem with proms.

"It seems like it's something secret," she said. "The white people are afraid to speak up against the separation.

"But I went to a black prom and I had fun," she said. "It didn't kill me, so I tell my son, 'Just go to the prom and have fun. Don't come out hating anyone.'"

:tear

[Anonymous]

yeah well that's the south

but I have to say, I think Georgia must be the worst.. because it seems like most of these stories are always out of georgia

[Vibecrewangel]

This is just sad

[Zosimus]

Desmond Tutu: "racism is stupidity"

Too bad that so many choose to remain (so fantastically) stupid after all these years!!

[punkgrrrlie10]

I'm just wondering if they realize that "separate but equal" was overruled quite some time ago. :/

[AChimp]

Maybe they're going glow bowling and don't want to get freaked out by pairs of glowing eyeballs. :eek

[theapportioner]

dumb hillbillies :(

[VinceZeb]

I'm going to play Devil's Avocate for a moment: How is this different than a black college or an Asian graduation ceremony?

[Vibecrewangel]

Asian graduation......just as sad.

Black college.......almost as sad.






(And I don't mean sad as in boohoo either)

[KevinTheOmnivore]

I'm going to play Devil's Avocate for a moment: How is this different than a black college or an Asian graduation ceremony?

black college: probably a private institution, can do whatever the hell it wants.

public high school: not quite the same, me thinks.

[James]

Well, it's my understanding this is a student-planned private event. It's not the official prom put on by the school. So I don't necessarily see a legal problem.

Obviously there's a moral problem. But they're not doing anything "worng." It's a second prom, set up privately by the students. The school has no control over it.

[Zbu Manowar]

Hey, they want to be a group onto themselves, let them. Their loss.

[CyborgDuckPenis]

I would have thought that would be illegal or something, still, it's better than having the racist kids starting fights at a normal prom I guess.

[mburbank]

It's not illegaal at all, it's just repellent.

Are there any "Black" colleges that refuse admission to whites or any other race? I'm aware that there are predominantly and historically African American schools, but somehow I missed their exclussivity. You know, like Golf clubs and all white proms type exclusivity.

same with "Asian Graduations" again, something I haven't heard of before. Are other races actually barred from attending?


A 'whites only' prom. How do you go to that and not feel shamed of yourself? I can't believe there are kids going to both. To me that's totally saying that while you like all kinds of folks, whites only gatherings are fine with you.

[kellychaos]

And the number one reason on our "Top Ten List" as to why an all-white prom party is better:

1. The bouquet comes with "his" and "her" spit cups! :)

[sspadowsky]

It's good to see we've come such a long way in the last 50 years. :rolleyes

This makes me physically ill. I look to the parents of these kids, who weren't smart enough to point out to their kids that this sort of shit is wrong.
________
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[mburbank]

I wonder if Jews are allowed at the all white prom. I always thought it was pretty hard on whitey that Jews aren't some other skin color, like Ecru, or Mauve.

[Vibecrewangel]

You know what is even more depressing....

That the prom the year before was their FIRST integrated prom.

[punkgrrrlie10]

*law nerd alert*

Actually, just making something private doesn't automatically keep it from being challengeable under the law. If something is traditionallly done by the gov't and they stop doing it and it gets relegated to the private sector, it can be challenged b/c they are just trying to bypass law.

It happened with the JayBird party in Texas where they privatized the nominating of political party candidates in order to keep blacks from nominating black politicians and guess what, the Supreme Court struck it down. Now if this is truly a private party, it wouldn't be organized through the school. If you open your doors to the public, you can't all of a sudden say "essept yu cuz yu blak". This would be a case I'd LOVE to see argued b/c it walks that line of private and traditional public function. Then again, I wouldn't want it argued in front of the current Justices. :(

[Ronnie Raygun]

I think these people should be allowed to have their own prom if they want. I don't see how it's anyone else's business or why anyone else cares. I mean, if there were people who didn't want to go somewhere because you were there, would you really care? I sure as hell wouldn't. I don't believe in the government trying to force people to get along in the private sector. It's none of the government's concern.

I find these actions disgusting and ignorant but in the end you can't force people to change their minds and hearts. They have to evolve on their own.

[AChimp]

Maybe the white kids are afraid that the black kids will out-groove them.

:booty

[VinceZeb]

The whole idea is tacky, but I do hope people remember this when we talk about having all this "diversity" by having black only, Asian only, Gay only, Male only, etc types of groups and activities that are doing nothing but making people hate each other instead of tolerating one another.


If you FORCE people to "accept" others, you won't get anywhere. If people tolerate differences, then the world will be fine.

[KevinTheOmnivore]

The whole idea is tacky, but I do hope people remember this when we talk about having all this "diversity" by having black only, Asian only, Gay only, Male only, etc types of groups and activities that are doing nothing but making people hate each other instead of tolerating one another.

This is different than having, for example, cultural groups on a college campus that emphsize their given culture, nation, religion, etc.

From experience, those events are generally open to EVERYONE, despite their stated purpose (my girlfriend, who is not Haitian, just went to a Haitian dinner/dance last night).

This is an event geared towards excluding others, not educating others on culture and society.

If there's nothing LEGALLY problematic with it, then I agree with you and Ronnie. It's just unfortunate that people are still this stupid.

[VinceZeb]

Kevin, how does an Asian Graduation Ceremony education a country bumpkin like myself about “Asian” culture, which is bullshit to begin with because Asia encompasses Oriental, Russian, Indian and many other cultures. It should be Oriental culture, but I digress.

[KevinTheOmnivore]

If I could understand this "sentence," I would respond to it.

[VinceZeb]

What is there not to understand, Kevin? Or are you too busy avoiding the question.

[KevinTheOmnivore]

Right, great point. Oriental. I'll tell that to my Korean girlfriend.

[ziggytrix]

A private party is a private party. The host has the RIGHT to refuse admission to any person he likes. That does not mean I do not find it reprehesible to treat people of a different ethnicity than yours like they aren't the same fucking species. WE are all human. Race is a social construct.

Also, I hope the following will clear up why it should NOT be called an Oriental Graduation Party, unless perhaps, you are from the deep south, where that sort of mentailty is not considered disgusting.


Asian
Usage Note: Asia is the largest of the continents with more than half the world's population. Though strictly speaking all of its inhabitants are Asians, in practice this term is applied almost exclusively to the peoples of East, Southeast, and South Asia as opposed to those of Southwest Asiasuch as Arabs, Turks, Iranians, and Kurdswho are more usually designated Middle or Near Easterners. Indonesians and Filipinos are properly termed Asian, since their island groups are considered part of the Asian continent, but not the Melanesians, Micronesians, and Polynesians of the central and southern Pacific, who are now often referred to collectively as Pacific Islanders. See Usage Note at Oriental.

Source: The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition


Oriental
Usage Note: Asian is now strongly preferred in place of Oriental for persons native to Asia or descended from an Asian people. The usual objection to Orientalmeaning “eastern”is that it identifies Asian countries and peoples in terms of their location relative to Europe. However, this objection is not generally made of other Eurocentric terms such as Near and Middle Eastern. The real problem with Oriental is more likely its connotations stemming from an earlier era when Europeans viewed the regions east of the Mediterranean as exotic lands full of romance and intrigue, the home of despotic empires and inscrutable customs. At the least these associations can give Oriental a dated feel, and as a noun in contemporary contexts (as in the first Oriental to be elected from the district) it is now widely taken to be offensive. However, Oriental should not be thought of as an ethnic slur to be avoided in all situations. As with Asiatic, its use other than as an ethnonym, in phrases such as Oriental cuisine or Oriental medicine, is not usually considered objectionable.

Source: The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition

[punkgrrrlie10]

It's good that you got the dictionary and missed the joke.

[ziggytrix]

I was replying to Vince who has displayed a clear lack of understanding of the terms Asian and Oriental. >:

[VinceZeb]

I understand the terms. I just like to be more descriptive in my describings of people.

And yes, kevin, go tell her. Should I get offended and go huddle in a corner when people talk about Italian sausages, Italian food or Italian Mafia members? Is the term Italian "possessive" and my "feelings" should be hurt? Hell no. It is used to DESCRIBE something! And God forbid I be able to describe something with a bit of detail. And oh man, you should describe your girlfriend's ethnic nature! You may be too obessed with it, since we know how many people can even tell the fucking difference between the various types of Oriental peoples.

If I had a paper right now, I'd hit you like a dog that shit on the floor.

[mburbank]

Vince:

You have a hissy that people insult you and won't 'prove' you wrong. Ziggy absolutely showed you have no idea at all when to use Asian and when to use Oriental in terms of the words ACTUAL MEANINGS and your response, straight out of 'Alice in Wonderland' is that a word means what you wannt it to mean.

"I just like to be more descriptive in my describings of people. "

What does that MEAN? How is confusing these two terms MORE descriptive as opposed to say, less?

As if the above doesn't demonstarte why conversation, let lone argument, is next to impossible becuase you can't express yourself with any clarity;

"You may be too obessed with it, since we know how many people can even tell the fucking difference between the various types of Oriental peoples. "
What does THAT mean?

[VinceZeb]

No, max, the only reason I made a big deal out of the words in the first place is because one of my first posts here I had metioned something about having had a girlfriend who was "oriental" and someone made a big fit out of the word. I was being cute.


And max, I was typing fast the past few posts so I typed some crap. Moreso than I usually do, but at least that is my excuse today.

[kellychaos]

And so am I left to conclude by Vince's remarks that he has never had the string of wanton asian women that served as the foundation for his "lady's man" image. My image of him has taken a right serious blow, gentlemen. :eek I'm verclempt. I'll need a minute. Talk amongst yourselves. I'll give you a topic: stereotyping.

[VinceZeb]

What the hell are you talking about, kelly?

[mburbank]

" And max, I was typing fast the past few posts so I typed some crap. Moreso than I usually do, but at least that is my excuse today."

An excuse is exactly what it is. A lot of stuff you type is crap, but you're too lazy to do anything about it, and yet you have a hissy coniption fit if people find you laughable and won't take you seriously. Why should anyone give you any respect when you give yourself so little.

Ego and self respect are two very different things. The first you treat yourself to like an deranged sow on steroids at a make your own sundae bar and the second you demonstrate no sign of whatever.


EDIT: You honestly don't understand the point Kelly is making? Seriously?

[kellychaos]

It's called sarcasm. People who've never any meaningful relationships with those of another race, creed, religion, ect. tend to stereotype them. As you tend to do this a lot, I tend to think you've had little or no contact with asian women ... or asians in general ... yet you continue to speak on a topic you know little about. This doesn't really suprise me as that is the case in most subjects that you talk about. It's just that bigotry has no purpose and it's one of my pet peeves. I have a friend whose uncle was a Vietnam POW for several months. Consequently, he developed a hatred for Vietnamese. THAT I can understand somewhat. I don't necessarily agree with him but human emotion isn't always reasonable ... but YOU, who doesn't appear to have even MET an asian person, speak on the topic like you have a PhD in asian studies and just suceed in spreading ignorance, and possibly hate in some cases.

[mburbank]

Kelly, man, that is WAY off base! Vince has repreatedly stated that he is HOT for asian chicks! He's sad it again and again and again. How you can see tht as some kind of bigotry is beyond me!? How can you be bigooted against a whole race of people you are HOT for?!? How is it RACIST to want to DO chicks if they are HOT ASIAN CHICKS?!? And what about HOT LI'L LATINAS?!?

[kellychaos]

You're right, of course, Max. It can NEVER be considered bigotry if you're HOT! for them. Well ... that settles it ... if you generalize in a good way, then it's NOT bigotry. I'm glad we this little talk to clear things up. ;)

[mburbank]

Hey, I'm a Jew, so I'm really, really good at explaining things.

If I were black I'd have done a dance for you instead.

[kellychaos]

And I'm mostly Irish ... and so I probably would have invited you to drink until we forgot about the topic altogether.

[KevinTheOmnivore]

And yes, kevin, go tell her............ And oh man, you should describe your girlfriend's ethnic nature! You may be too obessed with it, since we know how many people can even tell the fucking difference between the various types of Oriental peoples.

You are a stupid, stupid man.

[Protoclown]

If I were black I'd have done a dance for you instead.

:lol

[AChimp]

You may be too obessed with it, since we know how many people can even tell the fucking difference between the various types of Oriental peoples.
Duh! There's the hot chicks and the uglies. :rolleyes

[VinceZeb]

Sorry I have a rich life filled with various people. Forgive me for not saying with my "kind" as you all would put it.

[Vibecrewangel]

Bringing up race to use in a description of another person is one thing. But some people seem to bring it up like it's a badge of honor for themselves because they have contact with people of other varying ethnic backgrounds.

People who truly don't think it's a big deal don't feel the need to talk about it at every opportunity.

[GAsux]

Well I don't know about you but I had some flan today to celebrate ya dig?

Viva La Puebla!

[mburbank]

Well, as a Jew, I agree with you, a Caucasin Woman.

And is it my imagination, or have you, GA, a Caucasian Man, not been round much lately?

And a big shout out to Vince, a cognitiively challenged causcasian male.

[Protoclown]

I (being Caucasian and pasty white) was just talking to my black friend (who happens to be an African-American) about this the other day and he said "HEY, YO! DAT SHIT AIN'T COOL UP IN THIS PIECE, BIZZNITCH!"

I thought you would appreciate that, humerous Jew.

[Ronnie Raygun]

Everyone who is black that I've spoken with about it or heard talk about doesn't care one way or the other.

[mburbank]

Seriously? That shows a frightening lack of intellectual curiosity amongst you Black acquintances. They don't care one way or another? They are not pro or con, they are not interested or moved in any way? They don't have an opinion, or do they just think it's uninteresting, or not their concern?

Because I'd think (and hve found) most people regardless of the skin they walk around in have an opinion on this one. Huh.

When you talk about it, how does the conversation go?

[punkgrrrlie10]

I was being cute.


And max, I was typing fast the past few posts so I typed some crap. Moreso than I usually do, but at least that is my excuse today.

1. If you were being cute...um...I guess it depends on what you think is cute.

2. Then what's your excuse every other day?

and ziggy: ma' bad.

[ziggytrix]

pg10: no hard feelin's ;)

[The_Rorschach]

I don't partilcularly find this reprehesible or disgusting.

Over here we have Frat Houses with racial requirements. I don't feel discluded or disenfranchines. He have two honour societies, one is open to all, one is dedicated to Asian Excellence -Whiteys need not apply.

If they want their own prom, give it to them. Freedom means allowing others to make their own choices, even ones of poor taste. I'd rather live in a country with racist enclaves than one with enforced equality.

[mburbank]

What about one with both? I'm an inclussive guy.

[Ronnie Raygun]

"When you talk about it, how does the conversation go?" - Maxi

They just don't have much to say about it and when they do they don't seem that concerned about it and move on to more important things.

[mburbank]

Huh. Well, I guess we run into different sorts of folks.

[VinceZeb]

Yes Max, I imangine we do. You encounter elitists leftist pricks who worry about ever little thing in life, and I encounter people that have real issues to worry about, like their job, family, etc.

[Spectre X]

I think this separated prom thing is just a big stupid thing. I'm sorry, that's the best insult I could come up with right now. :(

[mburbank]

I'm sorry, Vinth, is your name Ronnie now?

All I can say about those white's only prom folks is that they must not have penises. The boys I mean. The girls must just be all figid an' shit not to notice how HOT black guys are.

[The_Rorschach]

"real issues to worry about, like their job, family, etc"


If these are the highest priorities in your life, you live a sad, meaningless existance and I hope your self-centered life comes to s swift and immediate end.

[VinceZeb]

Ror, you are joking, right?

[mburbank]

No, he's just saying he pities the kids you don't have.

OR...

He might be pointing to things like morals, principles and ethics. It's very, very hard to say.

[The_Rorschach]

You're wrong Burbank. . .IT WAS BOTH

:) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :)