Monday, July 31, 2006
Nobody is anxious and excited for the upcoming LSU football season in quite the same way as Collins Phillips. The 23-year-old graduating senior and founder of the Student Equality Commission ignited a firestorm last fall when he organized a number of massive game-day marches in protest of the purple-and-gold Confederate flags that have slowly gained popularity, and notoriety, among tailgaters in the past five years. Phillips sees this as his last chance to affect positive change for the minority community at LSU.
The vandalizing of the Alpha Pi Alpha house just weeks after Katrina displaced his entire family bolstered his intolerance for inequality and prejudice. What started as 400 students marching against the Kappa Alpha house—a fraternity known for flying a traditional rebel flag—spontaneously turned into a march against all purple-and-gold Confederate flags flown in tailgating camps.
Administrators moved quickly to neutralize Phillips and quarantine any negative national press that claims of racist LSU fans might attract. Interim Vice-Provost for Equity & Diversity Katrice Albert asked Student Government President Michelle Gieg and others to encourage Phillips to put an end to the protests. Gieg did not oblige her, and administration efforts only escalated the controversy.
Newspapers from The Times-Picayune to The Harvard Crimson jumped on the story as the latest First Amendment battle. Phillips’ game-day marches to Tiger Stadium turned into weekly stump speeches in the quad and ultimately a 600-strong protest outside of Chancellor Sean O’Keefe’s office.
Fueled by the cancellation last February of several Black History Month events—including the annual LSU-Southern Family Reunion—and a lack of support from Albert’s diversity office, Phillips referred to the university’s diversity agenda as “a bunch of B.S.” and called Diversity and Community Outreach staff “lazy” at an SEC meeting in the quad.
Days later, Albert summoned him by e-mail to her office to answer to charges of five violations of the student code of conduct. Phillips brought two attorneys to the closed-door meeting, and once present, Albert told him he was never officially charged. Phillips believes the phony violations and hearing were an attempt to rein him in.
As a result of the protests, O’Keefe denounced the flag at a press conference—and in person at a football game, according to eyewitnesses—but declined to enact a campus-wide ban out of respect for the freedom of speech.
Now returning for his final semester, Phillips is gearing up for the biggest fight of his life. He will attempt to add a diversity statement to the student code of conduct, garner more university funding for campus minority programs and plan the most shocking protest of the Confederate flag LSU has ever seen.
225: How do you feel when you see a Confederate flag, especially one in your school’s colors?
It’s a slap in the face. When you switch the colors, people think “It’s OK now.” But it’s the same symbol and holds the same value to us. We still see the stars and bars. We still see our ancestors who died under that flag. There are so many negative connotations for that flag that outnumber any supposed good heritage that is linked to it. People who defend the flag say “It’s our heritage.” But guess what, it’s our heritage too. Why are we still holding on to that?
You mentor black youth on Saturdays, and when you walk out, you often see the purple-and-gold Confederate flags flown by tailgaters.
Yes. To leave a program that is uplifting and positive—and see that? Now, that’s a very negative subliminal message for young black kids. Anytime we see that flag, we know there’s probably somebody racist nearby, or that we’re going to be looked at like “What are you doing here?” or just not get the best treatment.
What kind of reactions did you get during your first march?
People were yelling at us “Go back to Africa!” and “Go back to Southern!” We got a good response.
Why do you consider that a good response?
Well, because it’s the truth. It’s honest. That’s the way some people feel, and it’s good to have it out in the open.
What was your most challenging moment during a march?
I know this guy’s still out there, because I know he knows who I am. We were marching on Tower Drive, and I see this real rowdy guy screaming all kind of stuff. We’re walking by him, and I always want the girls marching to be in the middle protected by guys on the end, so I step between him and this girl. I had to wipe spit off the back of my neck because he was screaming “Why the hell are you messing up my game day? You need to get the hell out of here and go back to f---ing Africa! This is my goddamn school, and I’m sick of you damn niggers!” It took everything in me—
Yeah, what are you saying to yourself at that point?
Honestly, I was praying. Praying “Lord, help him, and help me not to retaliate.” I wanted so bad to turn around and say “Why are you doing this?”
Were you shocked that Katrice Albert, an African American administrator, was so out of step with what African American students were trying to accomplish?
I understand she has a job she has to do. But when you represent the minority community and they have a problem, and they’re all in agreement, even if you don’t agree with it, you’ve got to represent us. And we don’t feel like she represented us well at all.
What do you think about administrators trying to persuade your peers and student leaders to change your course of action?
I think it wasn’t brought to the surface right away, because it’s something that happens everyday in some form or fashion at LSU. There are so many allegiances, and I worry who I can trust. It’s a shame how administrators will do everything in their power to stop you and to make sure their comfort zone is not punctured at all.
Have you always been one to question authority?
Um. It’s not a rebellious thing. I’m not a troublemaker or anything like that, because I give solutions. I’d say I’m a critical thinker. I’ve never let anyone walk over me. And never let anybody walk over someone else, especially somebody who doesn’t know they’re being walked over, or can’t say anything about it.
Are you interested in politics?
Man, if I can get into it, I’ll get into it. The only thing that attracts me to politics is “the fight” and the ability to, when one person says something, to delete that by saying something else. And say “Are you serious?” I don’t want to get into politics because it takes time, and I’m impatient. But I respect time. I’m not anxious or reckless that nothing’s being done—no, I respect time.
I think everyone who’s followed your struggle wants to know what the Student Equality Commission has planned for the fall semester.
I want them to tell us we can’t do what we plan to do. It’s definitely going to be an eye-opener. I’m nervous because I don’t know what’s going to happen. But it’s a good nervous. I’m confident. You know, what do we want? Unity. When do we want it? Now.
What can you tell me specifically?
How can I put this? There’s an organization that opposes abortion, and they post signs with aborted fetuses all over campus and put crosses on the Parade Grounds. Just picture a sign on that scale all over campus. That sign is going to push free speech. Everybody has a symbol they don’t like—let’s put it that way. The minority community has its symbols too. So now I have to play their game? OK, but I’m going to play it better. And I’m going to show them how.
That sounds intense.
Every time I find myself talking about this, I think “Man, it sounds like I’m talking about a war.” But it is. It’s just [a war] nobody wants to talk about. But we’re going to make them talk about it.
Note: To read LSU’s response to this article click here.
Comments
Posted by wilbout on August 6, 2006 at 10:22 p.m. (Suggest removal)
It's absolutely no place in the american education system of higher learning for such non-sense and even more disappointing that the university will not not take the high ground/road. Maybe if all minorities attending this university would take a stand, enter another institution, and let their economic power send a resounding message to LSU the school itself would feel the pain, step up and be counted.
Furthermore, I would ask that all african-ameican athletes refuse to play any sports at LSU until they address this situation in the proper manner by banning these flags at all LSU santioned events!!!
"Stand for something or Fall for anything"
Wil
Posted by Truth on August 20, 2006 at 6:53 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I'm a 28 year old male of Slavic descent. My parents survived the horrors of World War II on their very doorsteps, or what was left of them, in their native Poland. They saw the war come to a close only to have any hopes of freedom smothered by the red sea of communism, which they later escaped to become immigrant doctors in America. They had me in San Diego and subsequently moved to Montana, where I grew up. I moved down south to Louisiana in '96 and have been living here ever since. I attended Southern for two years and L.SU. for a semester.
Needless to say, although I grew up like any 'white male' or anyone who looks like a 'white male' in this country does, with the constant reminders from teachers and everyone else under the sun telling me I'm to blame for some events that happened so long ago, I maintained a very strong sense of who I was, that still burns within me today...stronger than ever. This realization,(that came at a very young age for that matter) that I live in a place where people will try to blame me and hurt me for something, me nor my people ever had anything to do with, galvanized me into what I am today...a fighter for truth and justice...whatever the cost...whatever the color.
Which brings me to the issue at hand. Upon reading Mr. Phillips' article, my mind began racing. Naturally, the first emmotions were disgust, anger, pure rage at the fact that some ignorant, grandstanding individual would use such words as 'war' in his explanations of some petty student body tiff! What do you know of war sir?! Do you or your people remember the holocaust?! No!! Talk to my mother. Talk to my grandmother. They can take you and show you pictures of our family members on the cocentration camp walls or the house where my mother's mom hid jews in the attic. But do you hear any complaining?! Huh? Do you?! No!! Do I get my college or expenses paid for, because of what 'my' people had to go through as recently as 65 years ago?! No!! As a matter of fact I had to drop out of L.S.U. and am currently doing manual labor because I couldn't make ends meet. But do you hear me complaining?! Does 'the man' got me down?! No again!! I am a man, and you won't hear me cry. I don't need a hand out or 'reparations'. I have pride!
(Due to space constraints, I had to finish on the next post. Please read the rest below.)
Posted by Truth on August 20, 2006 at 6:54 a.m. (Suggest removal)
As I write this I inadvertantly reach down and rub on the hardened scar tissue down around my left calf...where three years ago a bullet from a .45 went through...and I think of another 'war'. The leg still bothers me sometimes. I still can't feel my foot at times, but at least I ain't 'got a limp'. I took two bullets that night, out on the levee, over there by The Argosy. Got hit in both my legs when a black man thought he was gonna rob two 'white boys'. Fortunately, the friend I was with had a gun, and he pulled it out so we wouldn't get robbed. The black man started shooting and I got hit twice. My friend shot back and unfortunately missed. Today most people I talk to can't understand why we didn't just give the guy the money. Why? I'll tell you why? Pride, my friend...pride. I would take those bullets again and again and again, just to see the look on his face, when he realized he wasn't gonna be able to just 'roll' us! If you don't believe me, look it up. Do the research. I'll meet you and show you the scars, or the bloody pants. The police records. The doctor bills I still owe!! The letters from my father warning me of the 'wrong' path I was on.
So yes Mr. Phillips. There is a war alright. But it doesn't involve you, or the idiotic frat boys and tailgaters you're fighting. It involves the poor, regardless of race or background or opinion. I could care less about some stupid flag. That flag wasn't responsible for my getting shot. It wasn't responsible for my friend getting robbed at gunpoint last week. It wasn't responsible for another friend getting carjacked and thrown in the trunk while his girlfriend got raped in the front seat by some 'gun tottin' hip gangsta wannabe'! And it wasn't responsible for the post Katrina madness and neither was I or FEMA or Bush! But I'm sure Spike Lee, with all his Hollywood ignorance will find a way to make it 'the white man's' fault with his new H.B.O. series. Now won't he?! Yes there's a war alright Mr. Phillips. Just be happy you ain't in it. Stay in school 'brotha'. Get you an education. Be grateful that this system is made so you can. And if you think for one second that I'm not real. Find me. We'll sit down and have us a looooong talk. My e-mail is seraxsaria@hotmail.com. You can contact me that way...but you won't ;)
Posted by Hammondite on August 21, 2006 at 4:20 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Truth like you I grew up like any other "white male". I do not have the same memory of being blamed for anything. I remember being taught what the African American experience was like in America, but no blame was ever cast on me. I remember blame being cast on the people in power. Many of whom were members of the Ku Klux Klan and terrorized people while flying the flag of a DEFEATED nation. I have to wonder how your grandmother would have felt if after she made it to the US she started seeing Nazi flags being flown when she wanted to go enjoy herself at some entertainment venue? There are many symbols of the south and I am very proud to be from the south. With that said I have to say that I cringe every time I see that flag because I know that every time I see that flag that there is a ignorant hillbilly behind it. After reading the interview I find so much more to be mad about like the “go back to Africa” and such. This proves to me that racism is still alive and well. I would have to say if I were an African American athlete I would not attend LSU.
Posted by truthlives on August 21, 2006 at 11:39 p.m. (Suggest removal)
First of all, I'd like to thank and applaud 225 for leaving my posts up this time. I don't feel I wrote anything offensive or inflammatory, although I will say that I was emmotional in what I wrote and blunt for that matter. But that is not offensive, if anything it's real.
Posted by truthlives on August 21, 2006 at 11:40 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Now to address the above comment by Mr. Hammondite, I'll say this. While I'm not from here, I have had experiences with alot of different sides since living here and that is what my opinions are based on. My first question is, how is the blame 'not' cast upon you, or me for that matter, because of the color of our skin? (Mind you, I no longer classify myself as 'white'. Rather I call myself what I am, a slav. The term 'white male' in this country is something I unfortunately no longer want anything to do with, because it, to me, is synonymous with so much negativity and degradation. An emmasculated, weak, evil creature, who according to 'them', can't jump, can't fight, can't flow, ain't got game, etc. etc.. Plus is responsible for anything bad that's ever happened in this country or the world for that matter.) As for my afore mentioned question about the 'blame' game, well maybe I just happen to notice things a little more than your average person but for starters, have you ever heard of reparations? Well here's a quick explanation for ya. That's pretty much saying that because of the color of your skin, you will pay for the wrongs that were done to another people, by people that looked like you but weren't you. Now here's my retort to that idiocy. Do you not feel reparations have already been payed with the blood of the 'white male' when he fought the civil war to free the slaves? What more do 'these people' ( yeah I said it) want?! It's over! It's done! Stop bringing this garbage up! We have bigger problems to worry about in the streets of Baton Rouge alone!! There is so much black on white crime in this city, it's ridiculous. One could almost make the case that there's some sort of agenda. Not only do I speak from experience, but I can list countless instances where white friends or white folk I've known have been victims of the violence and crime by blacks. Just as recently as last week one of my friends was robbed at gun point just down Aster. Even more humorous, I have white and black friends, almost the same amount of each. But did you know that out of all of them I know more white males who've been shot than blacks, and the perpetrators were always black. Now am I missing something here?! Maybe I've had to associate with the street element a little more than I'd care to admit, but to me facts are facts! Look in the latest almanac and you'll see some shocking statistics! For instance, did you know that approximately 65% of all violent crime in America is commited by the black male? Now how's this for shocking? They only make up 11% of the population! Now I don't know about you, but I know countless immigrants who are first generation Americans and they didn't have to resort to crime to make it in this country.
Posted by truthlives on August 21, 2006 at 11:40 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Where am I going with all this? well I'll tell you. It appears to me that while certain people are worried about petty issues such as a piece of colored fabric we're missing the bigger issues, and that is that we have a country that is so immersed in the idiocy of pop culture and hollywood, that they have a disgustingly warped view of what reality is! A young black male today more than likely stands a snowball's chance in hell that he won't have the pressure of rap videos telling him how to act rather than a teacher or a father or other role model. . I am not blaming a race here. Rather I'm blaming a culture that promotes lack of accountability. Every able bodied male must work. If he does not work, he will not eat. And don't say there isn't work for all! there is! you don't believe me? Come dig some ditches with me sometime! Yet this country promotes laziness for minorities especially through it's countless government aid programs that enable perfectly healthy people to sit on their asses. Take black Africans for example, who come to this country. They have no cocept of what this country purports to be 'normal' for American blacks. African blacks are used to working hard and getting paid for what they do, not for what they don't. These are 'real' African Americans not leaches like the others. In fact I know for a fact, many of these real African Americans have an intense dislike for the blacks in this country that act like they're owed something.
Posted by truthlives on August 21, 2006 at 11:40 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Secondly, your comment, 'I know that every time I see that flag there is an ignorant hillbilly behind it', strikes me as kind of ignorant itself. Seriously man, isn't that an ignorant comment buddy? It's funny I read an article recently where a man was fighting on the Southern side of a civil war battle and guess what? He was black! His reasoning was that, if you look at history, the war wasn't about slaves. It was about states rights, and I didn't know this, but he said there were actually wealthy black land owners who owned slaves and fought for the South themselves. That's just a bit of history for you. I'm not condoning slavery by any means. I will say this though, and that is that many peoples were slaves in the history of man. Do you know what 'slav' stands for? It means slave. My people are the oldest slaves ever and still have a very slavic mentality that keeps them unfortunately an impoverished people, because unfortunately in places such as Eastern Europe the peoples are still enslaved in some way shape or form. Whether it's by each other or their impoverished circunstances. It's only in America that bogus complaints are actually given any sort of platform.
Posted by truthlives on August 21, 2006 at 11:41 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Lastly, I'm disgusted by the fact that you would actually dare to compare the rebel flag with the swastika. That's apples and oranges man! We're talking about a flag that represented one country's cecession from another and unfortunately advocated something like slavery and comparing it to a symbol like the Swastika that represented GENOCIDE??!! I'm sorry but that's idiotic! The fact that we're even debating the rebel flag proves that it wasn't near as evil as something like the Nazi's symbol of the annihalation of whole peoples! Furthermore the swastika 'is' allowed in this country. It's unfortunate, but I guess that's why you call it a 'free' country.
Posted by truthlives on August 21, 2006 at 11:41 p.m. (Suggest removal)
But I'll tell you what. Since I could care less about any symbols at all for that matter (all I care for is truth), I'm willing to support the 'anti-rebel flag at L.S.U. platform', but it's conditional. And here are a few of them: First of all, it has to be equality across the board. This means that anything deemed in any way, shape or form racist or discriminatory must also be condemned! For starters, no more racist rap music can be listened to by the players, students or anyone for that matter. Notoriously racist rappers such as Nas and Kanye West will be banned, amongst others. Secondly, if there can't be a white culture day then there can't be the African American one. Why is there allowed so much emphasis on the 'black' culture days or weeks or months etc. and there isn't one for whites, Indians, Middle Easteners, Slavs, Italians, Armenians, you get the point. Thirdly, if the coaching job position is subject to the race over merit clause that we've seen so much of recently, then the player position thing should be also. Because isn't it racist that the majority of L.S.U. running backs are black? Well we should subject it to the system of race over merit. So fire your boy Les Miles and replace him with Pete Richardson, and fire the staring halfback (whoever that is) and replace him with Matt Flynn! Hee Hee ;)
Posted by truthlives on August 21, 2006 at 11:41 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Now isn't that all a little ridiculous? So in conclusion, who cares what a bunch of toolbag, drunken, idiotic frat boys do anyways. As long as they're not breaking the law or harming anyone. I mean they're in a fraternity. Do you actually take them seriously?!
p.s. Oh and by the way, I'm a Notre Dame fan anyways, and we don't have stupid problems like these ;)
Posted by jason on August 21, 2006 at 11:52 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I am sick, sick, SICK, SICK to death of this argument. First of all, the "Stars and Bars" that Mr. Phillips refers to is a completely different flag. The Confederate Battle Flag, which is commonly referred to as the "Rebel Flag" is the one in contention here. I would expect someone to have done at least a small amount of research on the matter they are so passionately protesting. You haven't done the research, you don't know what you are talking about. You are just on your soapbox trying to get your name in the paper. Just because the flag that you choose to protest happens to be used by a certain hate group, you think that everyone that flies that flag is a racist and is out to get you. I can't control the actions of the klan no more than you can control me, but it is my right to fly my school's colors in the pattern of a flag that is near and dear to my heart. I had a relative wounded in the War Between the States (or War of Northern Agression, you choose) and I stand beside my family name in connection to that effort. Mr. Phillips sounds like a very well-educated man, but he is just another pawn that believes that the War Between the States was all about slavery. That war was not about slavery, but about the states' right to choose. Slavery was an issue at the time, but it wasn't all.
I understand that as one who flies the purple and gold Confederate Flag that I am in the minority as well. If you take a look around campus, there aren't that many flying, but you don't see us banding together and protesting you and raising a big stink about something do you? We can't because we are white and will be branded as racists. It's simple reverse racism. People can be proud to be black, Mexican, Puerto Rican, Bolivian, or whatever, but if I decided to be proud to be white and marched on the capital steps or have a holiday in memory of Robert E. Lee, I would surely be branded a racist. What do I do instead? I raise my flag, say a few words, and go on about my day. We have that right. We love that flag and the only way you will ever get mine down is if you pry it from my cold, dead hands.
Mr. Phillips, I admire, in some small way, your passion for what you believe. I also support your right to protest under the First Ammendment of the Constitution, but the thing about that ammendment is that you have to support someone else's right to speak words that go against everything you have been raised to believe and that absolutely make your blood boil. Unfortunately, we find ourselves on different sides of those words. Simply know this: I will speak, until I have no voice, the belief that the Confederate Flag is a symbol of my Southern heritage and should I choose to combine two things that I am very proud of, my alma mater and my heritage, and this offends you, you need simply turn your head. My flag will continue to fly.
Posted by jm on August 23, 2006 at 3:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I am another white male chiming in on this...
It seems to me that the people I have encountered, flying various versions of this flag and claim that it has nothing to do with race, have one thing in common... they are the ones who blame liberal politicians for giving black people the white man's jobs, the white man's places at universities, and so forth. They are also the one's who find it socially acceptable to drop the "N" word in casual conversation. And let me address the use of that word before one of them responds to this with the argument that "they say it to one another... so I don't see why I can't." That is a rediculous argument... If you call a member of your family a name, that is far different than me calling them that same name.
Unfortunately, the few rebel flags that fly on campus are not indicative of the culture of our university, but those of us who have respect for one anothers' race, creed, and religion have no flag to fly in reponse. Therefore, they further strengthen the backwoods image that the rest of the world has of us.
You who fly that flag shame the 99% who do not.
Posted by por_deni on October 11, 2006 at 10:48 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Bruno Marasco's letter to the editor in the Oct '06 issue has incensed me. "He [Collins Phillips] should spend his time addressing the high illegitimate birth rate...and high drop-out rate of the black race."
These are only issues for African-AMERICANS? How about every citizen of the United States? We are equal, after all.
There are disadvantaged citizens of every color in the lower socio-economic classes, and if LSU fans donated 10% of what they spend to feed their fat faces on gameday to charitable organizations, there would be a whole lot less misery and more education in this community. Because isn't that what college is all about? EDUCATION?
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