"Equal Rights"

"Equal Rights"

IGA, Black Student Union, Racial Tension

An open letter to IGA member Bill Holland complaining about a student group which "discriminates against whites".

Rick Hindenlang

Quad Angles Vol. 39, No. 18

West Chester University Quad

March 2 1971

Angela Grabosky

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JPG Newspaper Scan

English

Student Newspaper

Equal" rights To the Editor: Open letter to Bill Holland: Before I start commenting on your "Reply to Milton," I would like to establish my position. I am totally against racism of any kind. I am irritated by the term "honky" as well as the term "nigger." I am a strong supporter of equal rights for blacks. When I say "equal" rights, I mean precisely that. At the risk of using a term that will probably be taken personally by some ultra-sensistive individuals, I would like to point out that there is a "certain group" which is racist in nature and is what I consider to be a threat to efforts for black equality. Unfortunately, this group consists mainly of blacks (no generalizations or racist implications intended). This is a group which discriminates against the whites and yells "white racism" when they don't get their own way. This is similar to a child's tantrum and can accurately be termed "puerile." These people are paranoids who are extremely self-conscious. When a group of five people who just happen to be black push me out of the way to get in line first in the dining hall, I am a white racist or a honky if I complain to them. If a group of people who just happen to be white do the same thing, then I am a normal person who doesn't like being pushed. Please forgive any accidental generalizations.My point is that there is a "certain group" which is creating friction because they are overly defensive and take everything personally. I would like to be able to sing "White Christmas" at Christmas time without having to worry about offending anyone. I know Mr. Collier both as a coach and as a past teacher of mine. I know him well enough to recognize the accusations in your reply to him as being "puerile". Apparently, you consider yourself a noble champion of the black cause. Well, Mr. Don Quixote, you can dismount from your high horse because you're not helping a thing. You know as well as anyone that Mr. Collier would have said the same things about whites who refuse to stand for the national anthem.Thank you for informing us, Mr. Holland, that by saluting the flag we are "bowing down to the white establishment." I'm sure most people didn't realize this. I don't know where you get these fantastic misconceptions from, but I can only guess that you represent that type of paranoid individual I mentioned earlier. You, Mr. Holland, are one of the biggest threats to black equality on this campus. I, however, will do more for you than you did for Mr. Collier by giving you the benefit of the doubt and assuming that you don't realize the harm you're doing. Before you accuse me of white racism you might check with Bob Taylor, my fraternity brother who is truly a brother. You might also like to know that it was by my suggestion that Joe Bell, my former roommate, formed the first black fraternity on this campus. I don't care what color you are, Bill Holland, and I couldn't care less, but if you don't stop walking around with a chip on your shoulder, you won't help the black cause one bit. I believe, however, that someday there will be equality for blacks and whites in spite of people like you. Open your eyes, Mr. Holland. Look at the world and face it like a man - - not like a "boy." Rick Hindenlang

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