Louis Capozzi | An un-civil right

Citizen Capozzi | Why the Penn community failed to denounce Professor Anthea Butler’s racial slur against Ben Carson

By Louis Capozzi 10/26/15 12:31am

Over the previous couple of weeks, members of the Penn community have been especially alert to racially charged commentaries. Yet, those who have taken upon themselves the responsibility of protecting against such rhetoric have been surprisingly silent about a recent racial attack launched from our community.

Last week, Penn professor Anthea Butler, a Religious Studies Department faculty member, made news for tweeting that Ben Carson, the Republican presidential candidate currently leading the polls in Iowa, deserves the “coon of the year award.”

According to David Pilgrim, “The coon caricature is one of the most insulting of all anti-black caricatures ... The coon, although he often worked as a servant, was unhappy with his status. He was, simply, too lazy or too cynical to attempt to change his lowly position.”

What did Carson do to earn this racial slur? When asked about fans bringing Confederate flags to NASCAR events, he said, “I’m not opposed to anyone doing whatever they want on their own private property.” According to College sophomore Gabrielle Jackson, it’s “hard for people to understand defending the Confederate flag because it signifies racism, white supremacy and tyranny.” While Butler has grounds to criticize Carson, we as listeners can criticize her manner of doing so.

However, I fear this will be an unpopular opinion on Penn’s campus. For once, Penn students have had surprisingly little to say about a racial attack made by a prominent community member. Students I interviewed suggested two related explanations.

Some argued that, because professor Butler is black, her comment can be understood as part of an intracommunity dialogue. “When you identify with a marginalized group, if you have an opinion that isn’t acknowledged or accepted, you risk ostracism from people in that group, even if your intentions are good,” said College senior Brittany Marsh. “It’s often more than just a theoretical debate because promoting certain opinions risks actual danger to a community without power. It’s understandable that people would react harshly to stances they think further harm and marginalize the community.” College sophomore Brandon Johnson acknowledged that the “stakes are higher,” but argued that doesn’t justify professor Butler’s comment. “There has to be a rational discussion, and her language hurts dialogue, which is all we have other than violence.”

Other students suggested that Butler has avoided criticism because her target is conservative. According to College senior Kane Pride, many Penn liberals “think heresy when they see a black conservative.” College senior John Sargent, a Republican who agrees with Carson’s defense of property, said, “When I talk about being Republican to other African Americans, I get backlash.” Do black conservatives deserve to be attacked in racial terms because of their political beliefs?

Ask yourself this: Would our community be more upset if the same comment was made by a black conservative professor against President Barack Obama or Sen. Corey Booker? If this is true (and most of my interviewees think it is), then an undeniable double standard exists.

This double standard troubles me. Black lives matter, and so do black opinions. As a participant in political dialogue, I want to hear black opinions expressed freely and without the paralysis that racially charged attacks create. For Pride, “Once you throw around words [like professor Butler] did, it ends productive discussion. It has a chilling effect.” For Sargent, such attacks “make the conversation racially charged where facts are replaced by an ‘us versus them’ mentality.” For Johnson, Butler’s comment is a “common ‘Uncle Tom’ attack, which is toxic to dialogue, discussion and tolerance, which we fight so hard for.” Marsh differed, saying “I understand where’s she coming from and why she made that comment, but I wouldn’t have used that word.”

While I wouldn’t vote for Carson, he has the right to voice his views without excessive abuse. I support the efforts of pundits who identify the absurdity of some of Carson’s statements with facts. Substance, not inappropriate ad hominem attacks, will most effectively topple faulty stances.

Fortunately, professor Butler has the right to make such misguided comments. As John Stuart Mill said, “Wrong opinions and practices gradually yield to fact and argument: but facts and arguments, to produce any effect on the mind, must be brought before it.” Just as we respect professor Butler’s right to speak freely, we should honor the right of others like Ben Carson to do the same. All of us, black or not, deserve that privilege.

LOUIS CAPOZZI is a College senior from Mechanicsburg, Pa., studying classics and history. His email address is capozzil@sas.upenn.edu. “Citizen Capozzi” usually appears every other Monday.

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