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Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Vibe writers Aliya S. King and Alex Martinez caused a flood of controversy last week over "The Mean Girls of Morehouse", an article written about effeminate gay men at Atlanta's prestigious Morehouse College who prefer wearing women's clothing versus the more traditional attire expected of male students.
The article focused on a small group of black gay men on campus who call themselves The Plastics. "Within the openly gay community at Atlanta's Morehouse College, there's a subgroup: gender benders who rock makeup, Marc Jacobs tote bags, sky-high heels and Beyonce'=style hair weaves. Can a man of Morehouse be gay? Absolutely. But can he be a woman?"
This was the lead-in for an article based on the controversial dress code implemented by Morehouse College faculty last year that made national news over it's explicit barring of women's clothing at the all male-campus.
Read the entire article here: The Mean Girls of Morehouse
Morehouse President Robert M. Franklin addressed the article prior to it's publication.
"As president of this institution, as a Morehouse graduate and as a father, I am insulted by what is to be published. Addressing our young men as “girls” is deeply disturbing to me, no matter what the remainder of the article may say. Morehouse has for 140 years developed men—men who are equipped to live and contribute to an increasingly diverse, global and complex world.
Let me be clear. I believe in the freedom of the press and its critical role in examining all facets of our society to foster reasoned discourse and to promote understanding of topics both popular and unpopular. We will not always agree with what is written. I disagree, however, in journalism that attempts to malign and distort, rather than inform and enlighten."
The students of Morehouse went further and brought their frustration out in the open by engaging in an intelligent and at times heated dialogue about the article, gays, and the image of Morehouse College.
Watch the video below:
h/t Drama Dupree
3 Comments:
"Ain't no homos beatup out here."
Thanks for reminding us that not only could morehouse ban women's attire but they could also tolerate violence towards those men who choose to wear women's attire.
Ugh.
The privilege in that statement astounds me.
October 19, 2010 10:55 AM
Anti-Intellect,
I think that your statement alone sums up the main problem a lot of people/students/supporters of Morehouse have with the publishing of the Vibe article.
While I did hear that ignorant statement made so nonchalantly, I don't think that all the focus should be put on that one statement.
A lot of great things were said in this video, it would be a shame to overlook them. This is not an issue that will be solved overnight or in one group discussion. The correct approach and sensitivity must be used.
Darian, I love your blog. As a straight black woman, I have an appreciation for what you do. Keep it up!
October 20, 2010 1:43 AM
testing comment
December 31, 2010 5:06 AM
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