The Paper Trail

Police Investigate Segregationist Signs at Kennesaw State

By Alison Go

January 14, 2009 RSS Feed Print

Police at Kennesaw State University have no suspects as they investigate two signs placed over Student Center water fountains last month, one that read "whites only" and the other, "blacks only," the Sentinel reports. Discovered on December 9, "the signs bring to mind a painful and oppressive time in our nation's history," said the director of student life. "The person who posted these signs either doesn't know and understand the serious nature of this history or knows and is subjectively and [secretively] expressing contempt for it."

Tags:
racism,
colleges

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hotels in cullera of 11:41PM April 20, 2010

I am an african american and a graduate of Kennesaw State and i agree that we should not be quick to label this incident as racist. However events like this need to be taken very seriously and punishment should be very strong to send a message to others that this behavior is not tolerated. Regardless what people may think if you are not an african american you can never completely understand how offensive this is and how much it can affect a person.

of GA 10:49AM January 15, 2009

My wife and I attended a brilliant exhibit on race at the Smithsonian Museum of American History a few years back in which doors were labeled "whites" and "blacks." It was comical to watch visitors pause in indecision before each door. A white liberal, I steered myself through the "blacks" door, then thought, "Maybe I should have gone through the other door -- to demonstrate my racial neutrality." It's like the old reporter's question: "Is it true you've stopped beating your wife?" There's no good answer.

Bottom line is it made me, and other visitors, think. And as post-racial as we'd all like to be, race is real.

I would be in no hurry to describe the Kennesaw State incident as racist. It may have been intended that way, or not. But it has provoked a discussion.

DT of MD 12:39AM January 15, 2009

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