Seattlest: UW Grad Student Is Self-Nominated Protector of Africans

guest

Thu, 09 Aug 2007 20:48:28 -0800

I've been to the zoo a lot, and really liked the Maasai Journey this summer. All of the Maasai guys are very knowlegable and have shared many stories and experiences I would never learn in a book or a tv show. It was awesome! It's their life! They showed us pictures and that's how it really is (at least for them) back home. How do the protesters expect other people to learn about each other if they don't talk to each other? And if I'm not rich enough to fly to their village in Kenya-- how would I ever have met them and talked to them?!! I don't feel that there was any 'racism' and 'exploitation' going on. They were great and it just made me want to learn more about them and about Africa in general. I'm embarrassed by the teachers or whatever they are at UW. Why do they think they are the only people who really know what's going on? I think that is rude. If everyone at UW is this stupid and narrow-minded I'm going to choose a different college!

Chnoubis

Thu, 09 Aug 2007 15:13:33 -0800

First off, nobody stated anywhere that there was no racism in Seattle. To do so would be naive at best. There is racism everywhere, and will be until most people stop acting like the scared little primates that they are. There will also be "isms" of all sorts, whether based on genetics, geographic origin, monetary wealth, and anything else that serves to differentiate people from one another. Racism isn't the point. It's a f**king African Savannah exhibit! What is so damn offensive about having the representatives of people who live on the African Savannah telling the zoo visitors about the animals that have been part of their culture for who knows how many hundreds of years? If there were white people born in Africa manning this exhibit instead of black people born in Africa, this would be ok? That would be a different race, according to your classification. Would that be acceptable? And I will gladly insult anyone who stands on their soapbox to spew out something so inane and pretentious on an issue that has absolutely nothing to do with themselves. I have a beer, thanks. Bumper stickers are for people who like to fool themselves that they are making a difference. I feel fine. And by the way, it's spelled "Darfur".

guest

Thu, 09 Aug 2007 13:47:15 -0800

This is so Seattle. Just keep telling yourself, "There is NO racism in Seattle. There IS NO RACISM in SEATTLE. THERE IS NO RACISM IN SEATTLE.". White people here really blow a gasket whenever there is any suggestion of racism in this city. Years ago, I noticed the African Village right next to the entrance to the zoo. I walked around in it. I said to myself this is racist. Go ahead and insult someone who was brave enough to stand up and say what the zoo is doing is wrong. Go get a beer. Put "Investigate 9/11" and "Save Darfor" bumber stickers on your car. You'll feel better. Racism is just so 60's.

Chnoubis

Thu, 09 Aug 2007 12:31:12 -0800

If I get a Masters and a teaching post, can I then begin to display my personal hang-ups over my identity in the newspaper? And wouldn't it be a lot more appropriate to give the weight to an actual African's opinion in this matter, as opposed to someone of "african-american descent"? I've got Irish ancestors, but you won't find me railing against the oppressive depiction of the Irish as drunken leprechauns during the St. Patrick's day parade. Mostly because I'll be too busy puking up pints of Guinness into my pot of gold. And what exactly does a studying for a degree in "public affairs and international studies" entail? An RSS feed to Google News on her Facebook page?

Jeremy M. Barker

Thu, 09 Aug 2007 12:14:17 -0800

Not that I don't partially appreciate the point of these UW academics, but seriously, do these people not realize how patronizing they're being? Isn't treating Africans as too dumb to think for themselves just as bad as treating them as human curiosities?