December 3, 2007

Georgetown U.'s NAACP President Gets Attention for Her Race (She's White)

The president of Georgetown University’s chapter of the NAACP is thoughtful and determined. Also, she is white.

The national organization has had several white presidents, but Ellie Gunderson is making headlines — in the Washington City Paper and the Detroit Free Press — for leading Georgetown’s chapter.

Ms. Gunderson, a sophomore, is from Southfield, Mich., a predominantly black suburb of Detroit. In audio clips on the City Paper’s Web site, she talks about having celebrated Black History Month and studied the civil-rights movement in school. “That was always, always emphasized, like from kindergarten,” she says.

What she learned outside the classroom influenced her perspective, too. “Growing up kind of, like, poor … even though I’m not a minority, made me more sympathetic towards people that aren’t treated equally for whatever reason,” she says, in an inflection the City Paper calls “unmistakably ‘urban.’”

Black classmates at Georgetown were initially taken aback by her voice and mannerisms, says the City Paper, but later they nominated her to lead their NAACP chapter.

This fall Ms. Gunderson helped to defuse a tense episode with a campus student newspaper, The Hoya. Black students had criticized the paper for giving a Jena Six rally short shrift and then publishing an unsympathetic column. “The Hoya Is Racist” was scrawled in chalk on a campus square.

Ms. Gunderson had long discussions with the columnist, after which they agreed that The Hoya should reach out to minority students. —Sara Lipka

Comments

1. Why is it that African Americans could get away with discriminating other races? In predominantly African American universities, faculty from other races experience racia, ethnic and social discrimination.

   — Kan Chandras    Dec 4, 07:56 AM    #

2. Kan Chandra: What does your comment have to do with this article? This article shows that many blacks are pretty accepting of whites, even to the point of voting a white woman to head the NAACP chapter. All races can be bigoted. How are YOU bigoted and condescending to blacks? Your comment is patronizing and off-topic.

   — Johnny de los Reyes    Dec 4, 08:27 AM    #

3. This is an encouraging sign that if we take the time to understand fundamental issues of social justice from each other’s perspectives not just our own, then we can reach across the artificial barriers of race. This may still leave us with class barriers but progress in one arena may contribute to progress in another arena. I agree with Johnny’s assessment that this points to greater acceptance of whites by blacks than might otherwise be perceived.

   — Rick    Dec 4, 09:39 AM    #

4. A couple of points. First, comment #1 was neither off topic nor bigoted and to label it as such is inappropriate. Doing so is simply a method for cutting off debate.

   Second. The fact that this is a news item shows that it is an unusual situation. Diversity is rarely seen as necessary or appropriate in minority institutions. How many whites are employed at BET? What affirmative action is being taken to increase white enrollment at traditionally Black colleges? Many colleges have scholarships for which only minorities are eligible. (Can you imagine having a scholarship that only whites could receive?). As we saw with the situation at the University of Delaware, there are people who will contend with a straight face that only whites can discriminate or be prejudiced; that no matter how egregiously bigoted the behavior of a minority group member, it can’t be racist.

   Having not heard her speak, it’s impossible to know, but the news article implies that her mannerisms and speech patterns would lead you to believe she is Black if you couldn’t see her. Why is this considered relevant to the article and what does it say about race relations? If she spoke with a British accent, but had the same beliefs and experience, would she be less qualified? Or if she had a “rural” rather than an “urban” accent? At any rate, it’s an interesting situation and one can only hope that it works out to the benefit of both the institution and all of the students.

   — Bill    Dec 4, 10:40 AM    #

5. It is reallya welcome step. One does not have to belong to the same ethnic group in order to understand and serve them.
   Having said that, I agree with Kan Chandra’s comment. When we raise objections against racism, we tend to ignore racism if that is practised by African Americans. People who live in Detroit or NY know well that when it comes to racism, African Americans are as much racist as all others.

   — Mohan    Dec 4, 11:32 AM    #

6. Comments 1,4, and 5 have an inherent flaw: the very definition of RACISM is prejudice/discrimination perpetrated by those with power/in the majority against the powerless/those in the minority. Since racial minorities in this country control very little power, they are unable to perpetrate racism. Comment 4 is particularly laughable/insidious since historically most jobs/scholarships have been distributed as “Caucasian Only” – either overtly or covertly…
   The real tragedy is the fact that this is even newsworthy in the so-called “American melting pot”...

   — Roger    Dec 4, 11:46 AM    #

7. Mr. Bill, you are certainly a trouble maker. What do you gain from being so critical and trying to read into something that is not there? You give an appearance of knowledge and expertise on BET, black colleges or institutions, and on programs geared to helping people that have often had the short end of the stick. Why not you trade places for 1day with a black man that is discriminated against and not given the same opportunity as a white man because of the color of their skin in America and see how it feels?

   — Mike    Dec 4, 12:02 PM    #

8. # 6, Roger, “the” very definition of racisim??? Who is doing the defining? Isn’t there diversity of opinion on this matter? Are you saying that just because Jews have incomes and power proportionately greater than non-Jews that anti-semitism cannot exist among non-Jews? Let’s inject a note of reality into this discussion. Flights from reality really do not help understanding.

   — reality check    Dec 4, 12:14 PM    #

9. Just for the record, semites are caucasians, so technically anti-semitism is not a racial issue, and as applied to Jewish semites appears to be a religious-based phenomenon mainly confined to Christian and Muslim bigots.

   — marci    Dec 4, 12:34 PM    #

10. rac·ism /ˈreɪsɪzəm/ Pronunciation Key – Show Spelled Pronunciation[rey-siz-uhm] Pronunciation Key – Show IPA Pronunciation
    –noun 1. a belief or doctrine that inherent differences among the various human races determine cultural or individual achievement, usually involving the idea that one’s own race is superior and has the right to rule others.
    2. a policy, system of government, etc., based upon or fostering such a doctrine; discrimination.
    3. hatred or intolerance of another race or other races.

    — dictionary.com    Dec 4, 02:30 PM    #

11. Before the rest of you get your holiday knickers in a bunch, remember that the founders of the NAACP, in 1909, were blacks and whites. And for the record, many of those whites were Jewish. The thinking behind the group arose from the mind’s eye of a core group of black intellectuals led by celebrated civil-rights activist and scholar Dr. W.E.B. DuBois and William Monroe Trotter, the esteemed black newspaper publisher famously banned by former President Woodrow Wilson from the White House.

    That said, perhaps black Georgetown students were surprised by this young woman’s desire to lead the group after being jaded about the casually dismissive way many of their peers, administrators and faculty often regard their presence on campus.

    Having been on the receiving end of that kind of behavior at an Ivy League school that shall go unnamed, I know it can screw with you psychologically. At the same time, you know you’re there for an education and $100,000+ price-tag worth of connections — as well as a way to build your net worth. Over time, one thing I’ve realized is some people allow alumni affiliations to trump their prejudices of old — up to a degree. You gotta play the game and grab on to what you can to get where you want. I suggest those Georgetown students do the same. Give back when you can so the experience doesn’t make you completely bitter.

    (Personally, I found the way this topic has been depicted rather offensive. For those who don’t understand, the news peg for this story is tackling why any aspiring white student in this day and age want to be caught alive running the campus NAACP? I mean, doesn’t she care about her social standing and job prospects? Worse, the City Paper author writer details the cadences in her voice. Ugh. The writer may have meant well, but give me a break. )

    — simcha    Dec 4, 03:46 PM    #

12. Simcha – nice post.

    Mike – It’s not Mr. Bill, it’s just Bill. And all I did was ask questions . . . speculate. As for this: “Why not you trade places for 1day with a black man. . .” The answer is – I’d love to! How about with Bill Cosby? Michael Jordan? Clarence Otis? Even Clarence Thomas! If none of them is available, let me know and I’ve got plenty more suggestions.

    The point is that this isn’t the 1950s. The civil rights movement was successful. You’ll pardon me (or perhaps you won’t) if I don’t buy into the Jesse Jackson/Al Sharpton/liberal hype that racism is out of control. Are there problems in the Black community? You bet! But it isn’t “whitey” holding people down. . . it’s a dysfunctional culture that must be repaired. It isn’t an old white DJ like Imus using ‘Ho,” it’s young Black boys and men using that as an everyday term for Black women. Black on Black crime is rampant. Too many Black kids have “learned” that educational success is a white waste of time. The teen and illegitimate birth rates are out of control. Don’t take my word for it. . . Ask Bill Cosby after he gets back from trading places with me for a day.

    — Bill    Dec 4, 04:11 PM    #

13. Ms. Gunderson is in good company. Not that she was seeking one, but should she wish a role model, she might consider Kivie Kaplan, the president of the NAACP from 1966 until his death, in 1975. As his biographical sketch from the Kaplan Papers collected at the American Jewish Archives notes: “As President of the N.A.A.C.P., Kaplan actively worked to make the organization successful. He spoke throughout the United States on its behalf and sought financial contributions wherever he could. Kaplan was trustee of two black colleges: Lincoln University in Pennsylvania and Tougaloo College in Mississippi.” Anyone can be bigoted, and anyone can be philanthropic and caring. We do not have to look very far to find examples of both among people of all races. The news headline from the Chronicle’s article makes much of Ms. Gunderson’s race. In terms of working toward the advancement and betterment of any disadvantaged group, I can’t think of anything less important than one’s race.

    — Victor Lieberman    Dec 4, 04:25 PM    #

14. In response to post #4. You say “can you imagine a scholarship that only whites could apply for?”. I say yes I can. Just like I can imagine people not being accepted to institutions because they were black. (I have historical examples if you want them.) Black schools were created for the purpose of educating African Americans when white institutions would not. So what if they aren’t trying to diversify their institutions. They were created to serve a specific population because no one else would. Just like women’s colleges. Should they all go coed for the sake of diversity, too? The purpose of affirmative action is to level the playing field. To make a way to reverse the extensive period of discrimination that LEGALLY plagued this country.

    I apologize for the tangent. In response to the article, I think it is a wonderful thing that Ms. Gunderson is the president of that chapter. During the civil rights movement, white Americans were allies in the fight toward equality. Why should things be any different now?

    P.S. I find it hysterical that you asserted your desire to trade places for a day with a wealthy, publicly respected Black man. How about trading places with an African American male at a predominantly white institution or a private family man or the Black high school student trying to make a way for himself and get into college, but has his white counselors telling him he should apply to a state school instead of an Ivy League? Would you like to have that experience?

    — SDG    Dec 4, 04:33 PM    #

15. Bill you have a point, I have always said that Blacks need to congratulate themselves more on the great strides they have made in the face of constant unrepentant oppressive White racisim.
    State and local government would abandon services when a neighbourhood became predominantly black, which was easy because of white flight.
    The Banks would red line Black areas. Black are still last hired, first fired.
    Black neighbourhoods have been and still are the most integrated areas of America, (Jews, Hispanics, Caribbeans, et al) there is no one burning crosses/noosestying/trying to make a racial statement on their neighour in the Black community.
    So who did you say was racist again..I forget?

    In many white community there is still the fear/hate of having a Black person move in next door.
    On the job Blacks earn 75 cents for every dollar a White person earns for the same job.

    — Seth    Dec 4, 08:46 PM    #

16. Bill, Bill, Bill! (deep sigh) Would you like some cheese with that (white) wine? It’s a pity. Some people with never, ever, ever GET it.

    Alas, Tim Wise does.
    www.zmag.org/Sustainers/Content/2004-04/20wise.cfm

    — veritas    Dec 5, 06:34 PM    #

17. The question was raised about the number of white faculty being hired on HBCU campuses. I’d like to invite you to the Atlanta University Center in Atlanta, GA, where there are three HBCU’s (Clark Atlanta University, Morehouse College, and Spelman College). You can start by visiting Morehouse where I attended and visit the English department. No, first go to www.morehouse.edu, then to the English department’s web site where you will find ten faculty members, one them being the chair of the department. I think the point is already well taken. Please stop the generalizations. When you visit the campus, I’ll take you lunch.

    — Danny Bellinger    Dec 6, 09:48 AM    #

18. Sorry, but I need to bring clarity to comment I just made about the ten faculty members, in the English department at Morehouse College. They are white faculty members.

    — Danny Bellinger    Dec 6, 09:52 AM    #

19. There are “whites” only scholarships, they are for those of Polish, Italian, Irish, Russian, etc ancestry. Anyone who pretends that a black person can apply for a “Sons of Italy” scholarship is dishonest. Frankly, people who complain about historically black institutions don’t know American history.

    The NAACP has always been an organization with blacks and whites. Only stupid people don’t know that.

    — Betty Chambers    Dec 6, 11:09 AM    #

20. Naivete? That’s interesting. As if the expression of ideas deserves the respect of being labled “bobbleheads”. Let’s hear what you have to say about how Obama will deal with the “powerlesness” of “Blackness” when he’s president. The floor is yours…

    — Danny Bellinger    Dec 7, 09:53 AM    #

21. I will tell you this…

    NOT IN ANY LIFETIME...
    WILL YOU SEE A BLACK PERSON PRESIDENT OF THE JEWISH
    DEFENSE
    LEAGUE!

    EVER!!!

    That’s is why we have nothing…History, common sense, love for one another, self-love, Black owned institutions (Apollo), nationhood or a ho0meland run by blacks.

    NOTHING! STUPID FOLKS is what we are.

    — CFGodwell    Dec 10, 04:42 AM    #

22. Speak for your self. I hope this is not the message you’re giving your children. I’ve never thought about being head of a jewish organization and probably never will; and I don’t live in a homeland “run by blacks”. But it certainly doesn’t make me “NOTHING”. It certainly didn’t make Dubois a “NOTHING”, even after being kicked out of the organization he founded to help uplift the race of black people in this country.

    — Danny Bellinger    Dec 10, 08:05 PM    #

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