In the wake of last spring, we as an institution are terrified of the media hordes that might descend at the slightest whiff of racial intolerance. Thus I reacted with shock, anger, and sadness when I discovered that the Union Visual Arts Committee was hosting the exhibit "Redneck Riviera" in the Bryan Center's Brown Gallery. Since then, I have seen the exhibit and spoken with the photographer, Patrick Davison. His intent was to portray the unique culture of Carolina Beach before it is ravaged by corporate America. His sincerity in this purpose is as laudable as his photography is masterful.
I understand that neither Davison nor the Visual Arts Committee anticipated that the title "Redneck Riviera" could hurt anyone. I ask: Why are they surprised I am angry and consider the r-word to be every bit as hateful as any other racial slur? Why am I seemingly the only person outraged on a campus that aims to ooze with cultural and racial sensitivity?
Let me tell you what the r-word means to me. Redneck is synonymous with "white trash" and is used in popular culture to refer to someone who is white, poor, ignorant, uneducated, incestuous, racist, warmongering, anti-gay, radically religious and mentally impaired. I doubt anyone will deny that most or any of those connotations exist. So even if one is not so bigoted to intend those meanings, why is it acceptable to apply such a charged word to others?
Because of the power of the n-word, most of us find it too loathsome to even vocalize. This is rightfully so. Such words hurt; such words can kill. Yet, somehow there has formed a societal disconnect between the known connotations of the r-word and the word itself. People speak it freely, often, and without malicious intent. Duke cherishes addressing problems through dialogue. I invite one now. Please tell me why we permit one racial slur while banishing all others.
Bradford Morris
Trinity '07
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