Corvallis, Oregon
The Corvallis Tourism website has a page on media praise of Corvallis:
- “Corvallis is ranked as one of America’s Top 25 family friendly enclaves.”
- “the 8th best place in the nation to live”
- “Corvallis is a country place with a collegiate feel that’s also a high tech center and a hippie haven.”
- “Corvallis ranked 10th of all cities of all sizes in the nation.”
Renee Roman Nose’s editorial on blackface and its subsequent banning by the Daily Barometer staff was recently featured in a news story in Corvallis’ newspaper, the Gazette Times. The commentary by Corvallis residents has been appalling. The article, “Black Out Reser’ raises racial spectre,” has brought out white racist sentiment in droves. A follow-up article by Zel Brook of Corvallis-Albany NAACP, “as I see it: Blackface painting at rally was ignorant,” has been overrun with even more white racists. When I moved to Corvallis, I was told that it was a bastion of liberalism. It turns out that Corvallis is a bastion of white liberal racists who have no problem hiding behind anonymous comments that are filled with racism and sexism. By the way, I do not self-identify as a liberal, and this is exactly why I do not.
A friend sent me the link to the Oregon State University Facebook site for the Blackout Reser (OSU’s football stadium) supporters. The comments are just about as bad as the comments in the Gazette Times. Apparently, Corvallis, Oregon is the best place in the nation to live if you are not a person of color.
Here are a few of the comments from the facebook site. They are eerily similar to the same broken record of racist rhetoric and ignorant comments that are being posted on the newspaper site:
Via Facebook and yep, all white students…and they even say that race has nothing to do with it 
- “I’m still goin all black! whoever brought race into this is just plain dumb “
- “So the football team wears mostly BLACK uniforms for home games. I guess that means all the players, including black teammates, are being racist towards black people too… right?”
- “So i guess Penn State is also racist… I can’t believe they would wear so much white at their game… Being a self respecting caucasian, I was (and still am) greatly offended. Obviously, they were making a statment of hatred towards all people who consider themselves white.
This kind of behavior must be stopped. I suggest we just stop wearing clothes all together. Then nobody will be offended.” - “If someone can…you should post flyers around campus…make this an actual event and make it huge! Maybe that way we can make a point that we are supporting our team, not the bullshit that the gazette apparently deems us capable of.”
- “Well gee… If wearing black is racist, it looks like wearing orange is out of the picture too now, what if we offend all those people who fake ‘n bake. It’s not their fault they turn they have orangy skin. People seriously need to get lives, it’s like they want to constantly live in a state of drama around them.”
- “Waitwait wait….so, being in the army, I am going to paint my face black and green a few times in my career. Does that make me racists against blacks (and greens)?”
- “so what your saying is that just because a race of people has black skin it makes it ‘offensive’ for me to paint my face that same color??? did anyone tell these guys that our school colors happen to be orange and BLACK??? the only people i see being racist are those that are turning school spirit into something dirty…i mean common now” Anyone who’s offended by that is creating the racism. I will be in full black this Saturday because it’s FUN, it looks COOL, and it shows SUPPORT for our team… and not for any other reason.”
- “haha, everyone should read today’s (24th) GT. Apparently we are racist.”
Yes, apparently you are…
Related posts:
Oh come on. You’re going to take the comments of 20 people on the GT website and extrapolate that into saying that the town is a bastion of racism? There are 50,000 people living here; that’s hardly a representative sample. There’s also no way of knowing if these people commenting actually live in Corvallis, since the GT and Albany papers are published by the same company and share webspace on certain articles.
The Facebook group shows a staggering amount of ignorance, to be sure, but Corvallis overall is not a racist town.
Corvallist
25 Oct 07 at 10:12 pm
I don’t see a lot of folks on the GT website arguing against the use of blackface.
Plus, I read the comments on the GT and DH frequently, and many of the handles used are the same folks commenting over long periods, and they are definitely locals.
What are the demographics of this town? How big is the nonwhite population if we exclude the entire OSU population? Anyone know where the sizeable Hispanic population is?
I do – out of sight.
Corvallis has a friendly face, but it’s a town of privilege, make no mistake.
Dennis
25 Oct 07 at 11:20 pm
Corvallist – So what I hear you saying is that the people who commented just happened to float in from outside of Corvallis and all but a few were racist with their comments?
I think it is representative of Corvallis because I have not seen hardly a peep out of most white Corvallis residents on the GT site.
It is interesting to me that most white Corvallis folks keep saying that Corvallis is not a racist town…
Eric Stoller
26 Oct 07 at 8:23 am
hmmm, interesting topic. i guess I am missing a few key points though. First off I did not go to the football game that day but had I went I would have probably worn at least a black T-shirt. Second off all I am an anthropology major and one of the key concepts in that study is the biological and cultural constructions of race, we should know, because ultimatley it was flawed thinking by anthropologist such as Blumenbach that created a FALSE biological construction of race that ignored social issues. Inherently, painting your face black is not a racist statement at all. the manner that this was presented in was to promote school spirit and unite behind a team that was holding on to a thread. Interviews with many of the African American football players on the team shows how much even they appreciated what was done with the black out. yes, some of the comments from people above are slightly ignorant in there simplicity on the matter. However, ideas that you present behind the blackout perpetuate racial ideas in themselves as well. Had no one brougth up the idea of race in this black out then no one would have had to defend themselves in the first place. The basics behind this is the cultural context in which it is applied and if you want to break away from race sterotypes I would highly suggest understanding cultural constructions, and the fact that black is a color that is associated with OSU, therefor the cultural context is uniting behind your school. In my opinion as someone educated on this manner, your reflection on this issue engages in racism every bit as much as those posts, and you also engaged in sterotypes about Corvallis
Alex
26 Oct 07 at 10:48 am
Oh, and for the record, I am Hispanic and have seen racism first hand Eric, if this is your opnion of what real racism is I suggest growing up in a predominantly white neighborhood in California as a minority, perhaps some of your insight can change their minds
Alex
26 Oct 07 at 10:54 am
Alex,
Thanks for your comments; I got a lot out of them.
However, I would contend that there is a big different between the intention of an action (white students painting their faces black to support their school) and how the action was received (the interpretation, especially by students of color and anti-racist white allies). In this case, I think it is fairly obvious that by and large, there was no harm intended on the part of the participating students. However, that does not mean that interpretations of actions that differ from the intention are illegitimate.
Dennis
26 Oct 07 at 11:54 am
Hello! I am a first-year graduate student in the College Student Services Administration program at OSU and I stumbled upon this site while I was browsing the Internets – and can I just say I am so glad I did! This will be a great learning resource for me as a to-be SA professional!
In response to the “Blackface ‘07 Debate”:
I came from Bellingham, Washington where I attended Western Washington University. I consider the Bellingham community to be pretty accepting and aware of larger issues in social justice – certainly not perfect, but admirable. Therefore, it was particularly shocking to me when not a month after my moving to Corvallis, I am biking through campus and I see groups of people in blackface! I nearly fell of my bicycle!
Certainly some students are ignorant of what blackface means and its significance in history and race relationships, and while that is not excusable, I am more horrified that once the “black-out movement” received criticism from a small but passionate portion of the community that students and community members actually had the galls to defend their actions without even acknowledging the hurt it caused for many. Regardless of their intent, they caused hurt unto others. Instead of becoming defensive and so quick to blurt out “I’m not a racist!” and ban columnists, it would heal the community for them to apologize and explain their intentions were not to cause harm.
Furthermore, in response to the anonymous comment: “The Facebook group shows a staggering amount of ignorance, to be sure, but Corvallis overall is not a racist town.” Well, what does that mean? I find many people say “I am not a racist” because they think it is an identity, that you actively are engaged in racist, prejudicial behavior – like you are in the KKK or Aryan Nation. But many people engage in racist behaviors, whether they are conscious of it or not, and while you may not consider yourself (or your community) racist as a member of the majority, often this perception is very different for those who take the brunt of ignorance. I am white and while I strive to be an ally and self-aware of my privileges, I know I am still ignorant and I would respect any one who told me I was offensive, disrespectful, racist, biased, or ignorant, not brush aside their critiques or defend my hurtful actions.
So when a student tells me they are offended by the black out game, I would never tell them “Well, Corvallis is not a racist town, so you’re wrong.” And that’s what I feel the OSU student body is doing when they criticize and ban the voice of those who took offense.
Britt Q. Hoover
26 Oct 07 at 12:32 pm
Both points well taken Dennis and Brit. I do not deny what either of you are saying at all. However based on these idea,s to call a color not right to use to support a school seems as if it goes above and beyond this call of morally right. I am in agreement that there should not be things such as the Atlanta Braves, Washington Redskins, etc. Those are direct attacks against a group of people that easily show stereotypes. However, I do understand the cultural significance of the “black face” idea but to say that a color is of a taboo for a school football game places things out of cultural context (of course that being in my opinion). Now I am in agreement that if certain people were offended that were of an African descent then that issue should be discussed most intimately with them until feelings of ease can be reached, no one should ever feel discriminated against for an entertainment value. However, I fell that attacking the students who participated (not saying that any one here besides what seems like Eric directly has) has little effectiveness. If we are to call Corvallis a racist town for painting black for school spirit I will guarantee you that I could go to ANY community in the United States and come up with some reason for there racial discrimination. Like I said previously, the reflections of race are a very deep-seeded contention and we constantly have to redefine what the line of acceptability is but in this case I feel that line was stepped on, but people who were not even of the race that were offended felt that they spit on it and then shot it out of a cannon which is why I am defending this issue in such a manner that I am ( i do admit that the black face and afro wigs was excessive and could be viewed as racist in nature but not one all by themselves). In either case I am glad that this discussion is happening since we all define these view points in different manners and I think I would be safe in saying that none of us have want to come to someone based on a false ideology of biological diffrences rather than cultural discrepancies.
alex
26 Oct 07 at 3:08 pm
oh, sorry I forgot a point that I wanted to comment on in Brit’s ending statement. Coming from a minority group in California I stated before that I know racism. My personal opinion on this is that to a certain extent there is always a certain feeling evoked by the idea of someones race, weather that is pity, anger, acceptance, or anything else in between is widely debatable. But I do recognize that in Corvallis I have had wonderful experiences with the people…even when my friends decide to call me esay…..even though I have no accent which is part of the idea of that cultural context. I have never had a stranger (from Corvallis) that has said this to me to be racist, they have always been close friends who do it as a common joke. Race is not a joke but in order to get by painful persecution lingerings we need to a CERTAIN extent be able to enjoy the simple things that race constructions have not taken from us. Until recently I thought the color spectrum was one of those but apparently I am ahead of my time in thinking
alex
26 Oct 07 at 3:14 pm
Eric, they may well be locals. I’m just saying there’s no proof either way, unless you are the GT webmaster and can shed that insight firsthand. However, I do know that very few people comment on the GT website at all. Most of the liberals in this town don’t read the GT because it is so provincial. They’re busy reading the NY Times or Oregonian. The GT circulation is absurdly low… less than a fifth of the population reads it on a given day, and very few read it online. So there’s not even a way to assess how many people saw the article. (I worked there, remember. The readers are not representative of Corvallis.)
As far as the types of comments posted, yeah… most are from the other side. Any time an article expresses an opinion, the noisest voices will be those who feel insulted or slighted. In this case, people are rebelling against being called racist, so they will be noisy and charge “PC Police!” If an article was posted suggesting that Corvallis would be better off with no minorities, the vast majority of comments would reflect how appalled most of the citizens would be, don’t you think?
I’m not defending the blackface event at all, by the way. But I think most of the people involved were ignorant, not malicious. That’s an opportunity to educate, which would be preferable to this weird escalation and name-calling on both sides.
Besides, you have no idea about my race or ethnicity. Perhaps you’ve unknowingly made a racist assumption in deciding that I am white simply because I am complaining about the accusation that Corvallis is a racist town. And we are all entitled to our opinions, no? Minority or not? Are you really ready to say that one group has more right to express an opinion than another?
corvallist
26 Oct 07 at 5:08 pm
Eric, I will surely comment more later. But one quick thing I notice is that so many white folk are saying that the black paint is “the same color” as the skin of black people. I’m finding this both hilarious and anger-inducing. I don’t think I know anyone who has pure black skin. In fact, people of all races have a wide range of skin tones and pigments. It’s sad that people can’t see the cultural citation behind the blackface (of minstrel shows) and the historical maiming of dignity attached to it, and instead laugh that the black face paint is the same color as someone’s skin (which it’s not actually) and focus on that. *shakes head*
I will surely add more later when I have a bit more time.
Michael Faris
26 Oct 07 at 7:55 pm
A few things in regards to this portion of Alex’s comment:
1. I am starting to wonder about a resolution here – is the idea of having white OSU students paint their faces black going to be or remain a problem? Is it possible to have OSU painted black and still be socially just and responsible about it? I’m not suggesting that this is my determination to make (though certainly I have an opinion on it), but if the answer is no, how is that answer and the reasoning behind it going to be communicated to the students involved? My instinct is to say that it’s likely to remain a problem because the students who are doing this are not going to take the time and spend the energy to understand why it’s extremely upsetting to others…so the cycle will continue.
2. Why do the people offended have to be of African descent? Blackface offends me, because I think that it strips people of dignity, and I am offended and bothered when I see that happen. In other words, I don’t think that only people of color are “allowed” to get upset about racism. That suggests a serious lack of understanding of some of the underlying reasons that racism is wrong.
Dennis
26 Oct 07 at 10:55 pm
I wonder why some of those readers of the GT don’t get it? It wasn’t the donning of blackface, per se. It was more the sentiment of having a black face “scares” someone that’s what I found offensive. I grew up hearing that sort of sentiment often, so yeah, I do find it offensive and hurtful to think that someone is playing off the “black is scary” thing…and calling it school spirit! It’s not so much the action as it is the intent. It’s too bad some people care more about having their “fun” spoiled than actually learning something about cultural sensitivity.
Sabrina
27 Oct 07 at 6:48 am
[...] « Corvallis, Oregon White liberals [...]
White liberals » Eric Stoller’s blog
28 Oct 07 at 7:18 pm
I remember when I used to be really good at responding to comments on the same day or even hour that they were posted… [sigh] My blogging time is getting queued up by my new full-time gig at OSU, working out at Dixon (the metabolism and I are getting reacquainted), spending time with Wendy (we’re life partners, we used to be classmates, and now we both work in advising…), hanging out with friends, cleaning the apartment, cooking, etc. This blog and the folks that read it are important to me, so please be patient with me as I negotiate the constraints of the 24 day
Alex – I agree that race is a social construct. Race should not matter. However, race-based discrimination and oppression exist and for that, race does matter…a lot.
I agree that painting your face black is not inherently racist. Devoid of historical context, it is merely an act. History gives us the reason for why white folks painting their faces black is discriminatory.
Once again, I agree with you that the intent of the Barometer article/photo saying that students should wear all black and paint their faces black was not to promote racism. I would separate intent from impact. The intent was harmless as countless commenters on the GT have stated. The impact is what matters. It is not something that can be measured statistically as each person perceives impact in their hearts as something unique to their experience. Renee and Wolof were impacted by the photograph on the Barometer’s front page. It reminded them of blackface, a historically racist and damaging thing that took away the dignity of African Americans.
I think I perpetuate racial ideas from an anti-racist, social justice framework. The fact that people are upset that they have to “defend” themselves from being accused of perpetuating racism is very telling to me. I appreciate it when my friends call me out for using language that is not affirming. I have been socialized, like most white folks, to not listen to people of color or to realize that I have perpetuated an “ism.” My anti-racist identity is one that is constantly learning and growing.
Black is one of the school colors for OSU. The context of students wearing black to sporting events does not supersede or erase the historical context of blackface.
I feel that my education has helped me to realize how I have contributed to racism and that I cannot ethically be anything other than an anti-racist educator.
In speaking about Corvallis as a place that is not free of racism, I feel that I am merely posting what many in Corvallis already know. Corvallis is not bereft of racism and white racists.
I think there are a lot of examples of racism in this country and that “real racism” exists in many different forms. I appreciate that you have shared a bit of your story and I am glad that you commented.
Dennis – I think your comment really encapsulates what has happened, especially in regards to the GT and Facebook comments. I don’t think anyone has said that the intent of the students who wore black or painted their faces was motivated by racism. However, ignorance of history does not excuse anyone from the impact of their actions. One theme that I have seen throughout a lot of comments is that white students did not know about blackface. It would seem to me that perhaps this is a reflection of history being taught to the dominant majority through a dominant majority lens that is devoid of the histories of marginalized groups.
Britt – I hope you enjoy my site and my portfolio
I think you point out another theme that I have seen on the GT and Facebook: the labeling of racism as only being overt and intentional. Covert racism that lies at the periphery is something that is difficult to see but the effects can have long-term social implications.
Alex – I’m not sure how I have attacked the students who participated in blackface at the football game. My original critique was directed at the Daily Barometer for posting the photograph and banning Renee’s editorial. The comments on Facebook have been extremely prejudicial. The cultural context of white students wearing black face paint at a football game does not excuse them from engaging in something that has a long, historical record of racism.
I also do not feel that it is up to the African American community at OSU to tell non-African American’s that the photograph was racist. White people need to be able to realize when they are engaging in something that can be seen as racist. People of color have told white people over and over again, and we still do not listen. Renee, who is Native American, and Wolof, who is African American, have stated that they found the photograph in the Barometer to be reminiscent of blackface and that it bothered them. I just wish that the majority community at OSU, white people, had listened to them.
PS: This is getting to be the longest comment I have ever written…
Corvallist – Please be patient with me as I am running a little low on energy at the moment (let me know if I miss anything that you wanted me to comment on…).
I agree that there is no proof as to the geographical location of the GT commenters. I do think that it is sad that majority of people who are commenting on the blackface at OSU articles are engaging in extremely bigoted discourse. I do wonder though about the Corvallis blogging community. I feel that the majority of Corvallis bloggers would identify as being liberal or progressive in their views. They seem to be fairly connected to Orblogs.com and I would think that some of those readers would have found their way to the GT article for an anti-racist comment… In my opinion, white people (even those who self-identify as liberal) do not often speak out against racism as they have been socialized that it is a “problem” for people of color to deal with.
I am in complete agreement that this is an opportunity to educate. I wish there was some way to reach all of the students who have commented on the Facebook sight…
You are correct. I do not know your race or ethnicity. However, you know mine – white, Swiss-German, and I feel that it is usually white people who do not wish to out themselves. Most people of color that I know have stopped using the word “minority” because it denotes a “less than status” when compared to the word “majority.”
Yes, we are all entitled to our opinions. That’s a standing policy that cannot be erased from the books or blogosphere.
I think it says a lot about the mindset of white people when they keep saying over and over again that this town is not racist. Racism (prejudice + power) targets people of color. White folks can go through their daily routine and never have to acknowledge the existence of racism because it does not directly affect them.
Michael – I’m looking forward to another comment. I appreciate your cool-headed, paradigm three demeanor…
Dennis – Great thoughts/comment. It made me think…a lot.
Sabrina – I think a lot of the readers of the GT don’t “get it” because they have been socialized that they should not listen to people of color. Resistance to listening and empathy is a very large hurdle. I hope that some of the white folks who have been engaged in critical thinking and awareness of this issue will be affected in a positive way.
Thanks for commenting.
Eric Stoller
28 Oct 07 at 9:40 pm
[...] I went to college at Western Washington University in Bellingham, WA. It’s an interesting city with a lot of personality, so I’d have to say that my standards for college towns are pretty high. What is the city of Corvallis like? What makes this city so unique? What’s appealing to someone who likes the draw of local businesses, proximity to wilderness, and a great sense of a community? I did my undergraduate degree at the University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls, IA. I loved it. Corvallis is definitely a college town. It gets a lot of press for being safe, environmentally conscientious, and bike friendly. Corvallis is not perfect though. [...]
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