Support NeoGAF

[pants]

She mentioned rich white males in her buzzfeed interview long after the incident took place. She didn't say anything about white males when she posted the photo.

lmao, sure bro

 

[timetokill]

Somebody says "confederate" means states rights and everyone says that's bullshit and it's racist.

Now she uses #confederate and people are trying to say it has nothing to do with racism?

 

[RatchetWhiteGirls]

The black power movement was a movement of advancement for black people. The salute by itself can be symbolic for a desire to do that at her prep school.

Nazis and KKK fucking kill people that they view as subhuman.

Idiot.

Exclusion and racism to advance black people? Im not buying it. The peak of the KKK and Nazis were 50+ years ago, just like the black power movement. None of it has a place in todays society. Advancing yourself to a position of power and then creating, or magnifying an already existing racial divide in the school doesn't seem like a black power movement to me.

 

[BradC00]

Well, RatchetWhiteGirls, there's that whole thing of how whites used to treat blacks in America. There used to be a time when the jokes weren't just jokes, and white people mocking black people is an all-too familiar reference to that horrible history (not to mention that discrimination exists to this very day)

i'm not answering for what i didn't do 60+ years ago.

 

[captmcblack]

Somebody says "confederate" means states rights and everyone says that's bullshit and it's racist.

Now she uses #confederate and people are trying to say it has nothing to do with racism?

Well, if people can argue it in defense of that flag or that image, technically people should be able to argue it in defense of that hashtag, right?

 

[Trojita]

Somebody says "confederate" means states rights and everyone says that's bullshit and it's racist.

Now she uses #confederate and people are trying to say it has nothing to do with racism?

I don't really understand people that are blind to racism in any aspect or situation.

 

[BruiserBear]

Anyone caught mocking some of the people they represent should probably be stripped of whatever title they hold. The race aspect is kind of irrelevant.

 

[see5harp]

I don't know whether it was racist or just stupid. I wasn't at all offended by the Justin Beiber non controversy and this is even tamer. She should have gone with top sperry boat shoes with no socks, a yale polo, and a lacrosse thingy.

EDIT: and yea, I'd probably mock all of these rich fucks. I mean who the fuck pays 50k for high school? All I did in high school was drink zima and get high.

 

[Angelus Errare]

Who do you think she was mocking at a $53K annual tuition private prep school outside Princeton, NJ when she dressed up as a typical Lawrenceville boy, poor Colombians?

The same group of people we mock on GAF under the guise of "hipster fucks/frat douches/dudebros"?

 

[BlackJace]

i'm not answering for what i didn't do 60+ years ago.

Lovely, no one said you have to.

 

[RatchetWhiteGirls]

i'm not answering for what i didn't do 60+ years ago.

yep

 

[Deified Data]

I suppose it makes sense. I don't know what she expected. White on black and black on white racial taunting may have different historical contexts but that doesn't mean either one is acceptable.

 

[timetokill]

The same group of people we mock on GAF under the guise of "hipster fucks/frat douches/dudebros"?

I consider people of all races under those monikers.

 

[MIMIC]

i'm not answering for what i didn't do 60+ years ago.

Nobody asked for your reparations. Not being able to freely mock people in a socially unacceptable manner isn't "answering" for anything.

EDIT: And racism/discrimination ended for blacks 60+ years ago? I didn't know that.

 

[Cagey]

The same group of people we mock on GAF under the guise of "hipster fucks/frat douches/dudebros"?

Right, a subset of white dudes

 

[see5harp]

I think we're confusing groups now. She's the hipster, soon to be philosophy majoring NYU student. I think she's mocking the rich jocks soon to be majoring in business at yale.

 

[meltingparappa]

Opening the floor to twitter is the most intentionally hurtful act in the article.

 

[Drake]

Yeah, what she did was pretty offensive. Hopefully this teaches her to be a little more sensitive to people's feelings in the future.

 

[wildfire]

Somebody says "confederate" means states rights and everyone says that's bullshit and it's racist.

Now she uses #confederate and people are trying to say it has nothing to do with racism?

That's how Bernoulli distribution works.

There will be an equal amount of idiots on both sides.

 

[freeofgreed]

Exclusion and racism to advance black people? Im not buying it. The peak of the KKK and Nazis were 50+ years ago, just like the black power movement. None of it has a place in todays society. Advancing yourself to a position of power and then creating, or magnifying an already existing racial divide in the school doesn't seem like a black power movement to me.

Sigh...

The difference between the black power movement and the Nazi's/KKK is that the black power movement was born at a time where blacks were treated as sub human second class citizens. The whole point of the movement was to try to combat potential self hatred and to tell black people that it's perfectly okay to be black and that they should be proud. The KKK/Nazi were born out of no such oppression and the main difference is that black power is suppose to uplift a group of people while the Nazi/KKK were meant to put down other groups of people.

 

[Angelus Errare]

Right, a subset of white dudes

So as long as we don't actually say 'white people' then it's okay to mock white people?

So basically she messed up when she spoke on it after the fact and said it was aimed at people who fall under both her picture and the associated hashtags. If she would have just kept the picture up and not said anything, everything would have been okay am I correct?

Because again the interview happened AFTER the school incident to include her having to step down. She was forced to stepped down not because of any interview she did with Buzzfeed but specifically because of the picture and hashtag.

So if I go on gaf and say 'hipster fucks' #confederate am I being racist? D:

 

[EulaCapra]

#peakedinhighschool is golden.

I find this more funny than anything, but I could definitely see the certain targeted young, white males getting offended. That is, if they have souls in the first place.

 

[poppabk]

She's mocking white people. She says as much. Did you read the OP?

Well then she sucks at it. I read the OP and other than the confederate hash tag this seems purely aimed at rich kids regardless of what she intended.

 

[ishibear]

i'm not answering for what i didn't do 60+ years ago.

You feel so attacked right now, don't you?

 

[akira28]

freedom of speech!

but yeah she would probably have to do something as the class president. This is something that most people would get away with, but not the class president.

(and yeah she really should have used a lacrosse stick.)

 

[GungHo]

At first glance I thought it was one of the members from Wutang Clan.

When was the last time you saw anyone from the Wu-tang Clan?

 

[Cagey]

So as long as we don't actually say 'white people' then it's okay to mock white people?

So basically she messed up when she spoke on it after the fact and said it was aimed at people who fall under both her picture and the associated hashtags. If she would have just kept the picture up and not said anything, everything would have been okay am I correct?

Because again the interview happened AFTER the school incident to include her having to step down. She was forced to stepped down not because of any interview she did with Buzzfeed but specifically because of the picture and hashtag.

So if I go on gaf and say 'hipster fucks' #confederate am I being racist? D:

I don't understand what it is you're trying to say here.

 

[pants]

So as long as we don't actually say 'white people' then it's okay to mock white people?

So basically she messed up when she spoke on it after the fact and said it was aimed at people who fall under both her picture and the associated hashtags. If she would have just kept the picture up and not said anything, everything would have been okay am I correct?

Because again the interview happened AFTER the school incident to include her having to step down. She was forced to stepped down not because of any interview she did with Buzzfeed but specifically because of the picture and hashtag.

So if I go on gaf and say 'hipster fucks' #confederate am I being racist? D:

For someone I considered to be racially aware before today you're showing a remarkable streak of incredibly agile mental gymnastics.

Still, according to student publication The Lawrence, after a group of students alerted dean of students Nancy Thomas to the post, Thomas met with Peterson and decided it would be best for her to step down as president.

What do you suppose the students complained about? What do you suppose they discussed here? How do you suppose she answered, given the context of all the information provided? Or do you think they were simply having a spot of tea?

 

[MHWilliams]

Damn. To have risen so high at that prep school despite all obstacles and then to throw it away on Instragram foolishness.

 

[MIMIC]

Damn. To have risen so high at that prep school despite all obstacles and then to throw it away on Instragram foolishness.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Wew6ljPbrM

 

[Angelus Errare]

I don't understand what it is you're trying to say here.

For someone I considered to be racially aware before today you're showing a remarkable streak of incredibly agile mental gymnastics.


What do you suppose they discussed here? What kind of tea they were going to have?

I'm very much being obtuse on purpose here. I'm mostly fascinated at how like non issue this is but how much of an issue this is. The girl for all intents and purposes isn't the brightest bulb in the box, I mean warning signs should have been obvious when she said she wanted a gender neutral bathroom.

As for what was being discussed I wouldn't pretend to know. However if story of opposite nature are any indication, she could very well go in there and say "I mean nothing by it" and they'd still ask her to step down regardless simply because others were offended.

 

[CarpeDeezNutz]

Is "gender neutral" bathroom a new name for "unisex" bathroom?

 

[pants]

I'm very much being obtuse on purpose here. I'm mostly fascinated at how like non issue this is but how much of an issue this is. The girl for all intents and purposes isn't the brightest bulb in the box, I mean warning signs should have been obvious when she said she wanted a gender neutral bathroom.

As for what was being discussed I wouldn't pretend to know. However if story of opposite nature are any indication, she could very well go in there and say "I mean nothing by it" and they'd still ask her to step down regardless simply because others were offended.

I dont know why you're trying to invent a hypothetical. Lets be real here, she obviously did and she likely admitted as such when approached by Thomas in private like she did later to an internationally published news/website. She obviously has zero shame of her racial prejudice.

I'm fascinated how you find racial profiling to be a non issue. Never expected this, but it's good to know.

 

[Lucario]

Why is a black person mocking white people different than a white person mocking black people? I don't get it.

So a group of white kids wearing KKK hoods or doing the Nazi salute for a yearbook photo would be okay?

what the fuck is wrong with you

 

[The Crimson Kid]

When someone is elected as student body president, they are expected to represent the entire student body. If it becomes clear that the student body president believes some nasty things about certain groups of people, especially when those beliefs are defined by race and/or gender, it raises some serious questions about their competence in their position.

Also, people shouldn't be engaging in negative stereotyping of large swaths of people to try and make some kind of point or to "start a conversation." If certain behaviors or attitudes are problematic, then address those specific behaviors and attitudes.

I think she's rich herself going to that school, so that makes no sense. Like what was mentioned before, confederate is a dead give away who the (perceived or real) audience is.

Yeah, it's a guarantee that every kid going to a private high school that costs $56,000 a year comes from a rich background. Along with these quotes:

“I understand why I hurt people's feelings, but I didn't become president to make sure rich white guys had more representation on campus,”

“I’m not saying what I did was right,” Peterson tells Buzzfeed. “But it wasn’t racist. I was just calling those guys exactly what they are. And Lawrenceville is the type of place where those kids are idolized.”

It's pretty damn clear that she was engaging in negative stereotyping specifically towards white boys at the school with this incident. It's also clear from these statements that she really believes this stuff and that it wasn't a joke.

While it was clear that some people there were angry at her since she was elected (probably due to her race or sexual orientation) based on the accusations of "fraud" in the election and what seems like a negative reaction to a "diversity representative" she wanted to put on the board, it's clear that those people were a pretty small minority. After all, she did get elected by that same student body, and I think that if there was a movement to remove her from the position before this happened, it would've been reported on. But through all that it still seems that most people thought she was representing the entirety of the student body.

But once she posted this picture, suddenly it became clear that she wasn't interested in representing the whole of the student body. In fact, it was clear that she thought pretty negatively of the "typical" white boy there by implying that they were racist, entitled, and untalented.

This does several things. First, it obviously angers the people who would fall into that stereotype by either hitting close to home or by disagreeing with parts of the stereotype because it doesn't fit them. Second, it alienates the other white boys who aren't like that because now they are unsure if their student body president would think that stuff of them just because they are white males. Third, it shatters the image that people have of their president that they are there to represent and help everyone and people start to question whether this person would help them or represent them if necessary.

 

[Angelus Errare]

I dont know why you're trying to invent a hypothetical. Lets be real here, she obviously did and she likely admitted as such when approached by Thomas in private like she did later to an internationally published news/website. She obviously has zero shame of her racial prejudice.

I'm fascinated how you find racial profiling to be a non issue. Never expected this, but it's good to know.

Let's be real? As I said, I'm not arrogant enough to pretend to know what was said behind closed doors. What she states in an interview months after an incident isn't really an indication of what she might have said behind closed doors at the heat of the moment where she might face reprimand and expulsion, you're assuming because you're outraged over her actions.

As for racial profiling, I do find it to be an issue. But in this situation? No it's not an issue because she's been removed from her position and punished. So why would anyone continue having issues with it? What else would you like the school to do? Sue her? Make her pay reparations to those poor marginalized victims of her horrendous Instagram post? Should she be kicked out of school? She should have to make yearly donations to GOP? Force her to work for free? None of those things are going to help foster better views of these people she hates. At the end of the day she's black, she probably goes through much more than the offended party went through on a daily basis. As a fellow minority I have days like that were I want to do such ignorant shit but can't because I know I have to be better than the people who put me down (and to be honest, I actually am better than them but that's another story). So when I say "I can't even get mad" I'm not cheering because she's a racist, I'm saying I can't get mad because I have days I feel/felt no matter what I do nothing changes; fuck it fight fire with fire #YOLO. But therein again, I'm an adult, she's a HS student; she by default is immature as fuck so what exactly more do you want done to someone who's cognitive awareness and views of society are still being shaped?

Like Chris Rock says. 'I'm not saying I agree...but I understand'.

The girl is utterly dumb and has worked hard only to throw it all away over this stupid act; she has slight anger issues towards them for many reasons, some you can assume based on her race and gender contrast to the local area she's at and American society at large, others not so obvious. If she had issues with the people in the school there were better ways to vent frustration.

So yes, it's very much a non issue

 

[RatchetWhiteGirls]

what the fuck is wrong with you

Ya the kkk/Nazi salute thing was not thought out, at all. I will stand by the initial white/black double standard comment. :shrug:

 

[char0n]

#peakedinhighschool

Ironic.

 

[pants]

Let's be real? As I said, I'm not arrogant enough to pretend to know what was said behind closed doors. What she states in an interview months after an incident isn't really an indication of what she might have said behind closed doors at the heat of the moment where she might face reprimand and expulsion, you're assuming because you're outraged over her actions.

Look brah, you're starting to seriously annoy me here. Why are you refusing to read the article and still trying to engage in conversation here. If you spent two minutes reading you wouldnt come up with bullshit like months after. I know it's a small gripe, but how on earth do you expect me to take you seriously if you wont even do the bare minimum here? Just admit that you are in here to defend whatever bullshit was going on. It's obvious and plain as day.

The announcement came twenty-one days after Peterson posted a controversial picture on Instagram

http://www.thelawrence.org/news/student-body-president-steps-down/

As for racial profiling, I do find it to be an issue. But in this situation? No it's not an issue because she's been removed from her position and punished.

I'm not even going to bother reading the tripe you posted further after this gem of a post. She's obviously STILL unrepentant after the fact so YES it is still an issue. The only thing I am disappointed with here is people's disgusting need to cover this up in this thread. What the fuck is wrong with you people 'no it's no issue!' 'i aint even mad' it's all of our fucking responsibility to react negatively in the face of blatant and open racial profiling, not fucking fist bumping the perpetrator. Fuck this.

I'm not going to reply to you further brah, not worth my time. In case you sincerely relook at this situation, this is all I was saying

It's obviously different. Black people are and have been the victims of actual systematic racism for centuries, they are literally being held down by the structures in place. Racial profiling from her towards white people is obviously less problematic because she doesn't have the power of an oldboy network behind her to enforce her prejudice in any significant way that would harm white people beyond being annoyed/offended here and there.

That being said though, SMH at some of you coming in here and making this the racism Olympics, the fuck is wrong with you people? Racial prejudice should be discouraged and met with resistance in every form even if it does come from a black lesbian. Just because X thing is more problematic than Y doesn't make Y not problematic. Fuck outta here with the 'im not mad' 'why is this a problem' bullshit and fuck outta here with trying to make this a competition.

 

[MWS Natural]

#confederate has some unfortunate implications

but but but..I thought the confederate flag had nothing to do with race!!!

 

[GodofWine]

I used to run at one track meet per year at that schools indoor sports facility (its as nice as you imagine),...Im not even sure how a very middle class high school from philly got invited their to race vs them one on one...but yea the guys there were as elitist as you could imagine (when we'd inevitably beat them handily you could see in some of their eyes the combination of seeing the first time they ever didnt win at something).

so I get what she was saying, but I also dont agree with her self critique of 'it wasnt racist' either.

 

[DoktorEvil]

Hmm. Yeah that's not a good look.

Whoever didn't win the Class President race got theirs...

Political sabotage?

 

[VoxPop]

reminded me of this for some reason

 

[Jenenser]

Ol' Dirty!

OH baby i like it RAW.
UH baby i like it RAAAW!

this is how i kinda feel right now:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XH_GmGiYGdA


back2topic:
well, if it did offend someone then steppin down is ok. but i personely don't think its that offensive.

 

[Indrid Cold1]

It's racist. The confederate thing is a dead giveaway. Smh at all double standards-having hypocrites defending this.

 

[GeordieMark]

If you are representing others from a multitude of backgrounds, you need to be diplomatic. I think she made a mistake here, but I'm sure she will learn from it.

 

[Angelus Errare]

Look brah, you're starting to seriously annoy me here. Why are you refusing to read the article and still trying to engage in conversation here. If you spent two minutes reading you wouldnt come up with bullshit like months after. I know it's a small gripe, but how on earth do you expect me to take you seriously if you wont even do the bare minimum here? Just admit that you are in here to defend whatever bullshit was going on. It's obvious and plain as day.

How are you going to tell me to read it when you haven't? She met with school officials 21 days later, but this article happened months after the incident. The incident took place in March. How the hell do you expect me to take YOU seriously when you don't even read the article?

http://www.buzzfeed.com/katiejmbaker/what-happens-when-a-prep-schools-black-student-president-moc

One day last March, Lawrenceville School Student Body President Maya Peterson donned L.L. Bean boots and a Yale University sweater to pose for an Instagram photo depicting what she described as a typical “Lawrenceville boi”: white, Republican, and cockily holding a hockey stick.

Although the Student Council did not play a part in Peterson’s decision to step down, according to Thomas, they were informed of the decision the following night and decided not to appoint a head of the Council for the remaining two months of the school year.

The incident happened in March; this article didn't happen until June 30th.
As I stated I'm not going to be so arrogant to assume that what she said in an interview months later is what she said behind closed doors with the school staff; and from the actual Buzzfeed article and not the stupid Yahoo link that you people have been going off of.

This is her actual statement on the picture

“Yes, I am making a mockery of the right-wing, confederate-flag hanging, openly misogynistic Lawrentians,” Peterson responded. “If that’s a large portion of the school’s male population, then I think the issue is not with my bringing attention to it in a lighthearted way, but rather why no one has brought attention to it before…”

Why did she do it?

It was a joke, she said, inspired by classmates who complained to the school’s dean of students about Peterson’s own senior photo, in which she and 10 friends, all black, raised their fists in a “Black Power” salute.

Was she dumb for taking the pictures considering her position as Class President? Arguably yes. Racist? Honestly? I'm not sure and I lean towards no. Does she need to be punished? She was given a choice, receive punishment or remove herself from her position of influence. Either way she was going to have to step down from her position. So I ask you yet again, what else should the school have done that would make you feel better and hopefully fill her full of regret for her actions as misguided as they were?

I'm not even going to bother reading the tripe you posted further after this gem of a post. She's obviously STILL unrepentant after the fact so YES it is still an issue. The only thing I am disappointed with here is people's disgusting need to cover this up in this thread. What the fuck is wrong with you people 'no it's no issue!' 'i aint even mad' it's all of our fucking responsibility to react negatively in the face of blatant and open racial profiling, not fucking fist bumping the perpetrator. Fuck this.

Her being unrepentant doesn't mean she hasn't been punished. Again what else do you want the school to do? She's already graduated; should they take back the degree but stick her with the bill? You want her to continue to be punished until she has a change of heart. What if she never does? What do we do at that point? Personally once they remove someone from their position of influence I'm generally satisfied. You can't expect every one to have a change of heart once they've been punished; if it were that easy then America's prison system would be the best thing ever. Her punishment relative to her crime and position of power is apt. You're making her out to be a much bigger asshole than she is in reality; you want to punish the idea you have of her in your mind not the person in the article.

This is absolutely no different than any other news article about someone being a racist or insensitive, you remove them from their position of power/punish them and hope they learn from the error of their ways but that doesn't magically mean they're going to have a fucking moment of clarity and realize how shitty of a person they are.

Also please stop calling this racial profiling, a cop stopping you and assuming you're up to no good then proceeding to stop and frisk/detain you because of your skin color racial profiling. Posting a photo on instagram is not. She hasn't enacted any policy that disadvantaged her white classmates nor has she systematically suppressed them or their voice nor has she used the law to marginalized them. Despite her idiotic photograph her actual actions at the school have hardly been an indication of a racist or else she wouldn't have been elected by this predominately white school. At worst she's an idiot for wanting a gender neutral bathroom. But giving black men and women and assumingly LGBT (since she's Lesbian) a voice as President in a school in which their percentage is so low the school combines the Hispanic and Black numbers together is hardly grounds for blood. Smart girl making a dumb decision? Absolutely, but some vile racially profiling asshole? Hardly.

My attempt at mentioning GAF in a earlier post I admit was pretty poorly thought out though, not even remotely sure where I was going with that.

 

[Sami+]

I don't think it's unreasonable to make the student body president step down for being racist. The problem here though is that it doesn't seem like she's making fun of white people, but rather the rich, preppy, conservative lax bro stereotype.

I phrased that badly - I agree.

 

[magnificent83]

Just read about this but wow, people really didn't like her winning

Because fabricating racist tweets and sending pictures of her half naked in her room to students seemed to be be the hallmarks of an intimidation and bullying campaign to get her removed and it eventually happened.