Open Letter to the University of Florida and Gainesville
Community
September 18, 2005

In response to the continuing controversy surrounding the
offensive cartoon recently printed in The Alligator, I write this
letter as a concerned graduate student and president of the Black
Graduate Student Organization at the University of Florida. While
the cartoon (along with others printed in The Alligator about
Hurricane Katrina) is offensive and unacceptable, I am even more
disturbed by the comments of The Alligator cartoonist in the
Gainesville Sun. These comments assert stereotypes and assumptions
about black people and black culture that clearly reveal the
author's ignorance of history, race, and culture. This combined
with The Alligator's refusal to acknowledge its lack of judgment
and insensitivity has added fuel to the burning fire.

I remain deeply troubled by the media coverage of the tragedy in
the Gulf Coast, which is reflected by this cartoon. In order for
our community to discuss this local controversy, we must talk
about the racial tensions surrounding what has happened and is
happening in New Orleans. And we must also discuss the reasons why
this cartoon is so offensive, insensitive, inappropriate, and
unacceptable. The casual use of the n-word in this cartoon is
highly insulting, and albeit consciously or not, it supports
symbols of hatred by using a derogatory word that carries a very
specific history of institutionalized racism and oppression.
Despite its use in popular culture today, many people with an
awareness of history, social and economic injustice, and the
struggle for equality consider any use of the n-word to be
problematic and insensitive. And certainly, the debates in both
popular and scholarly contexts will continue about the use of this
word.

Most importantly, the cartoon (along with others by the same
cartoonist) insults the people of the Gulf Coast region who have
suffered greatly and who are now displaced. Specifically, the
choice to use "the race card" as the point of contention in the
cartoon dismisses the complexity of race and class in discussions
about poverty, socioeconomic status, and working-class issues. The
depiction of Kanye West and Condoleeza Rice is not funny, and in
fact, it is completely offensive because the racial divide
surrounding the debates of Hurricane preparedness and response in
Louisiana are serious matters. Regardless of what your perspective
may be on what Kanye West said on NBC, the accusations that he
"played the race card" trivializes the seriousness of the fact
that the people of the Gulf Coast were dying and suffering as a
result of the U.S. government's inadequate response. These issues
have not been addressed sufficiently in most media, which has made
this time very challenging for those of us who care deeply about
human rights and social justice.

Although many University of Florida faculty, students, and
administrators have spoken against the cartoon, this issue still
remains a major concern for people on this campus because of the
larger implications here. Firstly, students of color are already
marginalized and often feel a lack of support on this campus.
Secondly, many student organizations and centers at the University
of Florida work very hard to recruit and retain students of color,
and given the current climate, this will be an even more arduous
and difficult task. If President Machen is serious about his
dedication to diversity, then I hope he will officially address
this issue and support our calls for respect and tolerance. To
conclude, I urge the UF community to support the following
efforts, among others: Boycott The Alligator and encourage local
businesses not to advertise with them, and continue to demand an
apology and retraction from the paper; Attend the demonstration on
Monday at 12pm in front of Turlington Hall; Particpate in the
Forum on Wednesday at 6:30pm at the Institute of Black Culture.
During this challenging time, let us support each other and be
united against intolerance, racism, and discrimination.

Angelique V. Nixon, Ph.D. Student
Black Graduate Student Organization, President 2005-06