Few would have noticed the error had the cleanup efforts not been such a shoddy job. Pepperdine’s efforts to commemorate Black History Month seem forced as if the institution was scrambling to clean up its act.
It began with the school-wide e-mail stating there was a new student life February calendar from Student Affairs at the end of January. Apparently the pink calendar decorated with hearts was defective.
Had someone noticed that Pepperdine was placing the Hallmark holiday Valentine’s Day above Black History Month?
But the new calendar which included black heritage trivia and was decorated in black green and red colors of the black liberation movement sent a clear message from Student Affairs: “Pepperdine cares about diversity.”
Or does it?
The first calendar may not have been problematic if it wasn’t for the tacked-on notice in the upper corner noting that February was Black History Month and to contact Intercultural Affairs for more information.
Had Student Affairs distributed a Valentine-themed calendar without any note of Black History Month it is likely few would have noticed. However the Black History addendum seemed forced – a pathetic attempt to be politically correct. It sent the message “We don’t really care about Black History Month but we better mention it to be safe.”
And then on Feb. 4 four days after the calendar e-mail came Pepperdine’s chance to redeem itself at Wednesday morning convocation. “Who knows what month it is?” asked Chris Collins director of convocation and student-led ministries to the predominately white student body. Collins then announced that he would give a prize to anyone who could name a black figure and say what he or she accomplished.
Collins awarded dark chocolate candy bars – how fitting – to white students who proved their recall for some of the nation’s most prominent figures: Rosa Parks Sojourner Truth and Martin Luther King Jr. who according one of the participating students did many “fabulous things.”
There is real potential in this Chapel strategy. Perhaps next week Collins will award white chocolate candy bars to students who can name prominent Asian Americans or Lily’s burritos to students who can name Latin Americans.
After proving Pepperdine’s commitment to diversity or perhaps that Pepperdine students passed first grade U.S. history Collins showed his solidarity with black students: recalling a time years ago when someone had asked him – when he was ordering T-shirts for what was formerly Black Student Union – if there was a white student union.
Imagine the insensitivity. Thank goodness Pepperdine shows Black History Month the respect it deserves.
While the chapel speaker Fate Hagood senior minister of Metropolitan Church of Christ in Carson Calif. presented some good points about the unique skills that people from diverse backgrounds offer perhaps for future chapels in February Pepperdine should consider recruiting more prominent black Americans to reflect on the struggles and achievements of blacks in this country.
According to the university Web site’s carefully crafted message “Diversity at Pepperdine:” “Pepperdine’s commitment to diversity stems from a Christian heritage that compels us to love justice and to treat every individual equally with respect and compassion.” The hyperlink to “A Christian Rationale for Diversity” provides more affirmation.
By hosting diversity councils and dedicating a section of the Web site to diversity Pepperdine officials show that they are working to improve diversity on campus. Although imperfect Student Affairs’ efforts to commemorate Black History Month are well intentioned.
Maybe the source of the problem is that Pepperdine feels compelled to provide “A Christian Rationale for Diversity as if the university needs to defend its efforts. Until Pepperdine’s efforts to embrace diversity speak for themselves, the entire undertaking will seem forced.
Commemoration of Black History Month – or any heritage celebration – should not rest solely on one or two groups on campus. And it is more than a matter of color schemes and candy bars.
The Black Student Association, SGA, Intercultural Affairs, professors and university administrators should join to host thought-provoking events, similar to those held on Martin Luther King Day.
If Pepperdine chooses to commemorate Black History Month, it should do it right. February is not over yet.