Comments for Dr. Darron Smith http://www.darronsmith.com Wed, 15 Feb 2012 03:38:21 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Comment on BYU Studies Review, Black and Mormon reviewed by Emmanuel Abu Kissi, 2007 by admin http://www.darronsmith.com/race-and-adoption/45/byu-studies-review-black-and-mormon-reviewed-by-emmanuel-abu-kissi-2007.html#comment-563 admin Wed, 15 Feb 2012 03:38:21 +0000 http://darronsmith.com.s28957.gridserver.com/?p=45#comment-563 I agree the LDS Church does a great job no doubt!! We agree! However there are pressing issues that still need resolution that's all I am saying. I agree the LDS Church does a great job no doubt!! We agree! However there are pressing issues that still need resolution that’s all I am saying.

]]> Comment on ARE YOU SERIOUS? BYU BLACK FACE AND THE MEANING OF RACE IN AMERICA by admin http://www.darronsmith.com/uncategorized/162/are-you-serious-byu-black-face-and-the-meaning-of-race-in-america.html#comment-562 admin Wed, 15 Feb 2012 03:34:16 +0000 http://www.darronsmith.com/?p=162#comment-562 Hi Liv, Thanks for your comments! Hi Liv,

Thanks for your comments!

]]> Comment on ARE YOU SERIOUS? BYU BLACK FACE AND THE MEANING OF RACE IN AMERICA by admin http://www.darronsmith.com/uncategorized/162/are-you-serious-byu-black-face-and-the-meaning-of-race-in-america.html#comment-561 admin Wed, 15 Feb 2012 03:33:02 +0000 http://www.darronsmith.com/?p=162#comment-561 Hi! thanks for the love! Hi! thanks for the love!

]]> Comment on ARE YOU SERIOUS? BYU BLACK FACE AND THE MEANING OF RACE IN AMERICA by Jjana Valentiner http://www.darronsmith.com/uncategorized/162/are-you-serious-byu-black-face-and-the-meaning-of-race-in-america.html#comment-560 Jjana Valentiner Mon, 13 Feb 2012 23:09:52 +0000 http://www.darronsmith.com/?p=162#comment-560 As a practicing Mormon and former BYU student, I'm so very sad to see the blatant ignorance and racism displayed in the video. Thank-you for your thoughtful analysis and for not assuming that this is typical among the Mormon faith. And yet it's very true that mistakes have been made regarding the treatment of our African American brothers and sisters and it's something that myself and many others still grapple with in the attempt to build a more equal, respectful and compassionate church moving forward. I only hope that this terrible display of insensitivity will create opportunities for personal reflection and honest dialogue about the racism that is still rampant in our country. Ultimately, I'm just very sorry that this happened. As a practicing Mormon and former BYU student, I’m so very sad to see the blatant ignorance and racism displayed in the video. Thank-you for your thoughtful analysis and for not assuming that this is typical among the Mormon faith. And yet it’s very true that mistakes have been made regarding the treatment of our African American brothers and sisters and it’s something that myself and many others still grapple with in the attempt to build a more equal, respectful and compassionate church moving forward. I only hope that this terrible display of insensitivity will create opportunities for personal reflection and honest dialogue about the racism that is still rampant in our country. Ultimately, I’m just very sorry that this happened.

]]> Comment on ARE YOU SERIOUS? BYU BLACK FACE AND THE MEANING OF RACE IN AMERICA by DStoke http://www.darronsmith.com/uncategorized/162/are-you-serious-byu-black-face-and-the-meaning-of-race-in-america.html#comment-558 DStoke Sun, 12 Feb 2012 00:22:16 +0000 http://www.darronsmith.com/?p=162#comment-558 Well written. I was most disturbed by Ackerman's blackface, so inappropriate, and the impersonations. I'm not surprised people didn't mention the blackface, it was quite obvious but so unsettling that I think it people wouldn't know how to react to it. I would hope a well executed random study would be a little more positive in its results than a youtube video edited and motivated by someone looking to be in the limelight themselves. I do not doubt that the fundamental general ignorance is correct though but do you think it is a Mormon phenomenon? Frankly I would expect being able to gather similar responses from non-LDS in the intermountain west or northern plain states. Leno has certainly shown that one can quickly find people who can barely answer questions about basic geography or history and then edit their responses for entertainment, but is that an accurate barometer of our society? Stereotypes fall with increased interaction and exposure. Without a large African America population in that part of the country education will be an uphill battle; the Hip Hop music machine has a lot of money and media outlets to reinforce negative stereotypes. Well written. I was most disturbed by Ackerman’s blackface, so inappropriate, and the impersonations. I’m not surprised people didn’t mention the blackface, it was quite obvious but so unsettling that I think it people wouldn’t know how to react to it. I would hope a well executed random study would be a little more positive in its results than a youtube video edited and motivated by someone looking to be in the limelight themselves.

I do not doubt that the fundamental general ignorance is correct though but do you think it is a Mormon phenomenon? Frankly I would expect being able to gather similar responses from non-LDS in the intermountain west or northern plain states. Leno has certainly shown that one can quickly find people who can barely answer questions about basic geography or history and then edit their responses for entertainment, but is that an accurate barometer of our society?

Stereotypes fall with increased interaction and exposure. Without a large African America population in that part of the country education will be an uphill battle; the Hip Hop music machine has a lot of money and media outlets to reinforce negative stereotypes.

]]> Comment on ARE YOU SERIOUS? BYU BLACK FACE AND THE MEANING OF RACE IN AMERICA by Blaque Swan http://www.darronsmith.com/uncategorized/162/are-you-serious-byu-black-face-and-the-meaning-of-race-in-america.html#comment-557 Blaque Swan Sat, 11 Feb 2012 18:48:46 +0000 http://www.darronsmith.com/?p=162#comment-557 I read this piece over at racism review. I received an email from a wichita.edu account. I'm just checking to find out if it were spam or if it would be safe to message back. BTW, I'm just finishing "These House Negroes." I feel for ya, teaching under those circumstances. The intransigent denial of racism is one reason I just can't imagine myself teaching middle or high school history. I had always imagined being a college professor would be easier to manage. I guess that's not always the case. I read this piece over at racism review. I received an email from a wichita.edu account. I’m just checking to find out if it were spam or if it would be safe to message back.

BTW, I’m just finishing “These House Negroes.” I feel for ya, teaching under those circumstances. The intransigent denial of racism is one reason I just can’t imagine myself teaching middle or high school history. I had always imagined being a college professor would be easier to manage. I guess that’s not always the case.

]]> Comment on ARE YOU SERIOUS? BYU BLACK FACE AND THE MEANING OF RACE IN AMERICA by Liv Guthormsen http://www.darronsmith.com/uncategorized/162/are-you-serious-byu-black-face-and-the-meaning-of-race-in-america.html#comment-556 Liv Guthormsen Fri, 10 Feb 2012 14:26:46 +0000 http://www.darronsmith.com/?p=162#comment-556 This is beautifully written, sad and not surprising at all. The comments I get from people validate this. I actually had some one question me when talking about the black panthers and I said, they were reacting to the racism directed at them". This person said, "Racism?". What are we teaching people about the 60's - hippies, love and rock and roll? I honestly do not believe anyone over 40 is that ignorant-I think our politicians know damn well what they are saying and just don't care. Great job. I am booking marking your blog, I found you via racismreview.com. Peace. This is beautifully written, sad and not surprising at all. The comments I get from people validate this. I actually had some one question me when talking about the black panthers and I said,
they were reacting to the racism directed at them”. This person said, “Racism?”.

What are we teaching people about the 60′s – hippies, love and rock and roll?

I honestly do not believe anyone over 40 is that ignorant-I think our politicians know damn well what they are saying and just don’t care.

Great job. I am booking marking your blog, I found you via racismreview.com.

Peace.

]]> Comment on Photo Gallery by Bryce Walker http://www.darronsmith.com/photo-gallery#comment-28 Bryce Walker Fri, 15 Apr 2011 18:22:34 +0000 http://darronsmith.com.s28957.gridserver.com/?page_id=115#comment-28 Hi Dr. Smith, I took your class in Diversity during the summer of 2004 at BYU. I was an Art Education major. Since that time, I have extended my schooling on the east coast at Boston U. (M.Ed.) and George Washington U (Ed.D.). I was disturbed to hear that you were dismissed from BYU. I am glad to hear that you have taken a position at Wichita State and that you continue to endure as a faithful Latter-day Saint. I work with several Black LDS Youth in my ward here in DC, one of which is being mildly recruited by BYU for football. I am hoping to touch on this topic of race with them, before these youth here them through the media. Would you have any literature that I can read to them. I appreciate that you are working as a critical theorist to examine some of the tough issues Black college students face at BYU. I just want you to know that there are a lot of us (who are active LDS) who think that these issues need to be addressed. Please keep up your work. Hi Dr. Smith,

I took your class in Diversity during the summer of 2004 at BYU. I was an Art Education major. Since that time, I have extended my schooling on the east coast at Boston U. (M.Ed.) and George Washington U (Ed.D.). I was disturbed to hear that you were dismissed from BYU. I am glad to hear that you have taken a position at Wichita State and that you continue to endure as a faithful Latter-day Saint. I work with several Black LDS Youth in my ward here in DC, one of which is being mildly recruited by BYU for football. I am hoping to touch on this topic of race with them, before these youth here them through the media. Would you have any literature that I can read to them. I appreciate that you are working as a critical theorist to examine some of the tough issues Black college students face at BYU. I just want you to know that there are a lot of us (who are active LDS) who think that these issues need to be addressed. Please keep up your work.

]]> Comment on BYU Studies Review, Black and Mormon reviewed by Emmanuel Abu Kissi, 2007 by Robert http://www.darronsmith.com/race-and-adoption/45/byu-studies-review-black-and-mormon-reviewed-by-emmanuel-abu-kissi-2007.html#comment-25 Robert Fri, 15 Apr 2011 15:26:52 +0000 http://darronsmith.com.s28957.gridserver.com/?p=45#comment-25 So your about silencing people. Hmmmm, I thought you were about having people open up to the truth. You are no different than those you are chastising. Rascism is alive. I bet you don't see the letter. I bet it doesn't exist. One of those urban legend things---"I have a friend who has a friend who knows the truth." Why would this guy have the letter and why would he show it just to his friend. Come on Darron, as an intelligent man, you know that you need more proof of things, yet your response "Wow! That's deep." I think it would be nice for you to start treating others the way you want to be treated. That seems to work for most of us. If you think there is this great persecution by the LDS faith, it is a drop in the bucket to the persecutions going on around the world. The good the LDS Church is doing far outweighs any racism you see. Look inward man! So your about silencing people. Hmmmm, I thought you were about having people open up to the truth. You are no different than those you are chastising. Rascism is alive.

I bet you don’t see the letter. I bet it doesn’t exist. One of those urban legend things—”I have a friend who has a friend who knows the truth.” Why would this guy have the letter and why would he show it just to his friend. Come on Darron, as an intelligent man, you know that you need more proof of things, yet your response “Wow! That’s deep.”

I think it would be nice for you to start treating others the way you want to be treated. That seems to work for most of us. If you think there is this great persecution by the LDS faith, it is a drop in the bucket to the persecutions going on around the world. The good the LDS Church is doing far outweighs any racism you see. Look inward man!

]]> Comment on Photo Gallery by Adam Bluth http://www.darronsmith.com/photo-gallery#comment-24 Adam Bluth Fri, 15 Apr 2011 03:38:31 +0000 http://darronsmith.com.s28957.gridserver.com/?page_id=115#comment-24 I am a white BYU alumnus, and I appreciate you bringing the racial nature of honor code enforcement to light. I don't think that BYU will ever change unless it is challenged. I think the honor code office is a problem. I do believe in the past non-mormon minority athletes were not adequately prepared for what BYU was, and were therefore likely to fail. I also believe former players when they say white players got away with things. I watched drunk white BYU football players stumble into our dorms on a regular basis. I didn't agree with everything in the article though. I don't think interracial dating is as "taboo" as was described especially with all the exposure returned missionaries have to other cultures. My wife is not white and many of my friends married non-white girls at BYU. I think things have improved under Bronco in terms of preparing potantial recruits. I appreciate you tackling the subject even if I didn't agree with everything you said. Unfortunately, I am stuck in a position where I loved my time at BYU, but I am deeply concerned by the way the Honor Code is enforced. Thank you. I am a white BYU alumnus, and I appreciate you bringing the racial nature of honor code enforcement to light. I don’t think that BYU will ever change unless it is challenged. I think the honor code office is a problem. I do believe in the past non-mormon minority athletes were not adequately prepared for what BYU was, and were therefore likely to fail. I also believe former players when they say white players got away with things. I watched drunk white BYU football players stumble into our dorms on a regular basis. I didn’t agree with everything in the article though. I don’t think interracial dating is as “taboo” as was described especially with all the exposure returned missionaries have to other cultures. My wife is not white and many of my friends married non-white girls at BYU. I think things have improved under Bronco in terms of preparing potantial recruits. I appreciate you tackling the subject even if I didn’t agree with everything you said. Unfortunately, I am stuck in a position where I loved my time at BYU, but I am deeply concerned by the way the Honor Code is enforced. Thank you.

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