Another Year of Segregated Proms

[n yusef]

A Prom Divided. Be sure to view the audio slide show.

In 2009, there are still racially segregated proms in the United States. In Mount Vernon, GA, prom is a private party financed and organized by parents. There is a longstanding tradition of two proms, one for white students only, and the other for black students, but inclusive to everyone (in one of the photos, there is a young man who looks to be Latino).

Defenders of the segregated prom appeal to tradition. In the words of Harley Boone, a white student, the prom isn't racist, it's "what we know and what our parents have done for so many years." Just as troubling as those who are pro-prom segregation are the students who are against it, but still attend the whites-only prom. Cierra Sharpe, a white student, and Kera Nobles, a black student, are best friends, yet they attended separate proms. Sharpe says,

The fact that I didn't get to spend prom with Kera was, it was kinda hard for me because, she's my best friend, and she's been through everything with me the past four years, and we didn't even get to spend our senior prom together, and it was like our school doesn't even care.

I feel that a huge problem in our society stems from a feeling of helplessness to the status quo. Things may be bad, but if you don't think that you can change them, why try?

It's troubling to me that these students feel helpless to the segregation. Sharpe, and other white students with similar viewpoints, could have boycotted prom, or attended the black prom (which allows students of all races). If she were really against prom segregation, she should have done something about it.

Where there are segregated proms, we can safely assume there are other racial problems. "The prom is the least of our problems," says Angel Howard, a black student, "We can't fix the prom until we fix the school. And then when the school comes together and no longer sees color, then the prom can come together and no longer see color."

 

[piasabird]

This is kind of like freedom of choice. I dont get the prom. I never went to one.

 

[frostedflakes]

Pretty messed up that stuff like this still goes on. At least the students seem to have their heads on straight, hopefully the next generation will put an end to this "tradition" (would be nice if it came sooner, but especially with stuff like this change can be slow). I tend to agree, though, that if the white students were really upset about this they would do something about it. Recognizing a social injustice isn't enough, if the students don't stand up to their parents and are just complicit, they really aren't much better off than their parents IMO. Change back in the 60s didn't just happen, people had to do something meaningful about the injustices that existed, not just sit around and complain about them.

 

[brandonb]

Its only racist when white people do it.

 

[Phokus]

Red state... not surprised. I remember when Alabama finally completely removed their anti-miscegenation laws in 2000. The south always lags behind when it comes to progress.

 

[Slick5150]

Originally posted by: brandonb
Its only racist when white people do it.

You should try reading things before posting next time.

 

[Double Trouble]

Originally posted by: Phokus
Red state... not surprised. I remember when Alabama finally completely removed their anti-miscegenation laws in 2000. The south always lags behind when it comes to progress.

Phokus, you really are a sad sad person.

It's amazing to me that this kind of stuff still goes on. Of course, it's a private party and they are certainly well within their rights, but I don't think I'd want to attend a prom where people are only admitted based on their skin color... but to each his own.

 

[frostedflakes]

Originally posted by: Slick5150

Originally posted by: brandonb
Its only racist when white people do it.

You should try reading things before posting next time.

Don't feed the troll.

 

[cKGunslinger]

My High School in Louisiana had separate proms, and as far as I know, still does. There's always some "cross-pollination" between the two, and no one minds either way, so even though it sounds kinda weird, I'm guessing there's no harm done.

No one seems upset with the setup. *shrug*

--

Update: Checked-in on my hometown. OK, there is now only one prom at my old HS. But this is because the public school is now 100% non-white. There was a charter school opened a few years ago and apparently that's where the entire white population of the town sends their children.

That's pretty messed up...

 

[n yusef]

Originally posted by: cKGunslinger
My High School in Louisiana had separate proms, and as far as I know, still does. There's always some "cross-polination" between the two, and no one minds either way, so even though it sounds kinda weird, I'm guessing there's no harm done.

No one seems upset with the setup. *shrug*

:roll:

 

[CycloWizard]

Heritage, not hate! Same reason South Carolina still flew the Stars and Bars over their capitol building until recently. My wife is a transplant to SC and it's an ongoing sick joke with our families now every time we see a restaurant there that still has a sign up saying "No coloreds served here," or similar.

My question has always been: if it's not hate, why would you want to maintain such a heritage?

 

[cKGunslinger]

Originally posted by: n yusef

Originally posted by: cKGunslinger
My High School in Louisiana had separate proms, and as far as I know, still does. There's always some "cross-polination" between the two, and no one minds either way, so even though it sounds kinda weird, I'm guessing there's no harm done.

No one seems upset with the setup. *shrug*

:roll:

Thanks, n yusef! I've taken your oh-so-helpful response to my post relating my own similar experiences in a small, southern town and used it to further dev..


..oh wait, no I didn't. What I really did was see your useless reply and realize you're another useless *^#head P&N poster with a broomstick up his arse that I can remember to ignore from now on.

:roll: , indeed.

 

[n yusef]

Originally posted by: cKGunslinger

Originally posted by: n yusef

Originally posted by: cKGunslinger
My High School in Louisiana had separate proms, and as far as I know, still does. There's always some "cross-polination" between the two, and no one minds either way, so even though it sounds kinda weird, I'm guessing there's no harm done.

No one seems upset with the setup. *shrug*

:roll:

Thanks, n yusef! I've taken your oh-so-helpful response to my post relating my own similar experiences in a small, southern town and used it to further dev..


..oh wait, no I didn't. What I really did was see your useless reply and realize you're another useless *^#head P&N poster with a broomstick up his arse that I can remember to ignore from now on.

:roll: , indeed.

I admit my reply was not particularly mature, helpful or polite. But what mature, helpful or polite reply can one give after reading that segregated proms do no harm? What mature, helpful or polite reply can one give after hearing interracial relationships (or whatever you meant) referred to as "cross-pollination?"

Segregated proms send a simple message: people of different races shouldn't associate with each other. I don't think it takes a broomstick up one's arse to see this, and I hope it doesn't take a broomstick up one's arse to see this as harmful.

 

[cKGunslinger]

Originally posted by: n yusef

I admit my reply was not particularly mature, helpful or polite. But what mature, helpful or polite reply can one give after reading that segregated proms do no harm? What mature, helpful or polite reply can one give after hearing interracial relationships (or whatever you meant) referred to as "cross-pollination?"

Segregated proms send a simple message: people of different races shouldn't associate with each other. I don't think it takes a broomstick up one's arse to see this, and I hope it doesn't take a broomstick up one's arse to see this as harmful.

My "point" was that, unlike the story in the OP, in my scenario that was no one complaining. No one was trying to change the system. Everyone seems to like the system.

I'm certainly not saying that it's good or healthy (but by all means, don't that that little fact dampen your righteous indignation,) but what can you do about it? Send in the National Guard and force 2 completely private functions to cease or merge?

And "cross-pollination" was a quick way to write "members of any race were free to attend either/both private functions and often did." Pull that stick out.

 

[imported_Champ]

usually there is one prom and 2 after parties...the safe one and the drinking one

I guess they have 2 proms and 4 after parties, I wonder if anyone will go with a date of a different race, and what would happen?

 

[Phokus]

Originally posted by: Double Trouble

Originally posted by: Phokus
Red state... not surprised. I remember when Alabama finally completely removed their anti-miscegenation laws in 2000. The south always lags behind when it comes to progress.

Phokus, you really are a sad sad person.

It's amazing to me that this kind of stuff still goes on. Of course, it's a private party and they are certainly well within their rights, but I don't think I'd want to attend a prom where people are only admitted based on their skin color... but to each his own.

"There's no such thing as racism anymore, even the president is black! Why do black people whine about racism still?" - GOP platform.

 

[SlitheryDee]

My HS here in Louisiana did the same thing. The "black prom" was the actual official prom held in the gymnasium, while the "white prom" was in a nearby rented meeting hall. I went to both of them. I think we would have all been just fine with having one prom together, but I didn't set the thing up and thought it was kinda cool to have 2 scenes to make an appearance at anyway. If it were up to me I would end the practice, but I don't think any of the black or white students at my school were seriously put off by it. Thinking about it now, it seems childish to go out of your way to make such an obvious statement about your feelings on race as to set something like that up. It was meaningless in the end anyway, because none of us students even cared whether or not the prom was mixed. It was done apparently for the sole purpose of allowing our parents to assert their bigotry. I suppose there is also the element of tradition, which may be a bigger factor in its own right than many give credit for. In this case I'd say to hell with tradition though. Doing something for many years is not excuse enough to ignore the message being sent.

 

[Schadenfroh]

In Mount Vernon, GA, prom is a private party financed and organized by parents.

Well, looks like it is out of the government's hands and up to the private citizens that help fund it to change it should they desire.

For what it is worth, my HS in Mississippi had one prom shared by both whites and blacks. A black friend of mine even helped hook me up with a gal to take to it. Unfortunately, I had a "falling out" with the lady I was originally going to take shortly before prom, but the last minute replacement got the job done.

 

[FaaR]

Originally posted by: Champ
I wonder if anyone will go with a date of a different race, and what would happen?

There is only one race of human beings on this planet right now; homo sapiens sapiens.

All other races of humans are now extinct, possibly the last to go was the neanderthals, which died out (either naturally somehow, or through extermination or possibly absorbtion) around 10.000 years ago.

 

[woodie1]

Segregated Proms - Now there's something to worry about. If my tax dollars aren't involved I could care less.

 

[CanOWorms]

Where do the Asians, Hispanics, etc. go?

 

[Docnasty]

Big deal.

A bunch of private citizens pooled their money to have a part with only white/black/yellow/purple people - what are you gonna do? arrest them? lolz

 

[babylon5]

Originally posted by: CanOWorms
Where do the Asians, Hispanics, etc. go?

Sorry, this battle is for Black and White only

 

[n yusef]

Originally posted by: woodie1
Segregated Proms - Now there's something to worry about. If my tax dollars aren't involved I could care less.

Then why post in this thread? I haven't advocated any policy changes. I just think that racial segregation is troubling, and that it doesn't exist in a vacuum. I doubt that prom segregation is the only form of racism in this community.

Let me repost a quote, "The prom is the least of our problems," says Angel Howard, a black student, "We can't fix the prom until we fix the school. And then when the school comes together and no longer sees color, then the prom can come together and no longer see color."

Originally posted by: CanOWorms
Where do the Asians, Hispanics, etc. go?

That's a good question. Discussions of race in America are often framed as a white/black binary which can erase the presence of other people of color. I did see a student who looked Latino in one of the photos of the black prom, and the article says that everyone is welcome there.

 

[frostedflakes]

Is this really that common down south? Didn't realize things were still so ass backwards in that part of the country.

Originally posted by: Sacrilege
A lot of "segregated" proms are because the different races want to listen to different music. The majority of whites want to hear rock or the latest emo hits, and the majority of blacks want to hear rap and hip hop. Of course, as usual, this is construed by some to be repression by the white occupation forces.