BY COLBY FRAZIER
DAILY SOUND STAFF WRITER
The surge of outrage from Carpinteria residents over a recent decision by the Carpinteria Unified School District’s Board of Education to strip the school of its Native American imagery continued last night, when nearly 1,000 people packed the board meeting to urge a revote.
After five hours of heated debate, the board opted to stick with its earlier decision and said they would instead form a committee to determine what images are offensive and remove them by November, a source told the Daily Sound last night.
John Diaz, a man of Chumash Indian descent who wants the imagery to remain at the school, said the board meeting got ugly when board member Beverly Grant likened the imagery to black people referring to each other with a racial epithet.
Diaz said at that point a young black man began shouting at Grant and was escorted from the building by police. He said several others were also removed from the meeting.
“A lot of people had taken offense to it and yelled recall,” Diaz said. “It was pretty crazy.”
The board decided to stick with their earlier decision despite a recommendation from district Superintendent Paul Cordeiro to reconsider.
“I’m asking these wonderful board members and the majority of the last vote to reconsider their action,” he told the board.
The decision by the board in April sparked a flurry of protests, one of which came the day after the vote when about 700 students walked out of class and marched to Cordeiro’s door at the district office.
Cordeiro said the students felt as though they were left out of the process. Over the past two weeks, he said he’s urged students, parents and board members to refrain from being impolite.
“[The students said] we’re upset because we had not voice in this decision and clearly the community feels the same way,” he said.
Cordeiro asked the board to rescind its vote and form a committee that would convene in September to look at all sides of the issue. If it was then determined the imagery, which includes a Native American in a headdress, is offensive, it would be removed. That way everyone would be included, he said.
“That’s what really matters to people,” he said. “That they have a sense they were included.”
Craig Price, legal counsel for the district, said he combed over the legal issues per a request from Cordeiro and determined there is little legal responsibility for the district to remove the imagery.
In order for such imagery to be forcefully removed, Price said a person would have to show that the images created an environment of discrimination and unrest.
“There are many things in our society that are offensive to a great number of people but that does not necessarily make them illegal,” he said. “The bottom line, as things stand, there is no bases for for a conclusion that either the name Warriors, [or the Native American imagery] violates any state, federal or local law.”
The crowd cheered after Price made his remarks.
The issue of the imagery being offensive was first raised by Elias Matisz-Cordero, a 15-year-old sophomore at the school.
Matisz-Cordero told the board yesterday they should stick with their original decision. He said the imagery has always offended him and that, as a Chumash Indian, fellow students have been prejudiced against him.
“I’ve received scorn because I’m a native,” he said. “I live with the pain and happiness of being Chumash and I am proud of being Chumash.”
Monique Sonoquie, a Chicano Studies professor at UC Santa Barbara, wondered how all the Mexicans in the audience would feel if the mascot was a mustached person in a sombrero throwing beans at the crowd at a football game.
“That’s how it makes us feel when we see someone in face paint in a headdress,” she said over the booing crowd.
Though there were some who spoke in favor of the board’s decision, the vast majority lambasted the board.
Evangelina Diaz, a 75-year-old member of the Yaqui Tribe, pulled a crumpled piece of paper from her pocket, her birth certificate from 1933, and told the board that under the word race, it says “red.”
“Don’t you dare touch that statue out there or your going to have to move me with it,” she said.
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Carpinteria keeps ban on high school mascot
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6 comments:
I was at the so called meeting tonight. I am shocked at the racial slurs used by Beverly Grant. ( N---r) I won't even spell it out. Calling Aliso the little Mexican school, comparing this issue with Hitler. This woman has no business making decisions about ...anything! RECALL NOW Mary class of 73
I emailed the board moments ago this
Dear School Board Members,
I am shocked by the use of the "N" word at the school board meeting last night.
This word should never be used by anyone especially in a public place by a public official.
This has nothing to do with the mascot/images at the schools.
I am asking that Beverly Grant make a public apology at the next school board meeting and an apology to the student that was escorted out of the meeting after the "N" word was used.
I am also asking that Beverly Grant take a course/class to assist in educating those who use that word in a public place not to mention anywhere.
If Beverly Grant does not make do so I ask the school board to make a vote of no confidence with Beverly Grant
Even if the board member knows she is going to be recalled I suggest the board member steps down before making another comment like that.
Jon Diaz 22 year Carpinterian
Please view www.carpinteriatown.com
Mrs Grant does not DESERVE to serve on the Board.
Her attitude is not only HORRIBLY inappropriate, it undermines the very institution (and people) she was elected to represent.
Apparently the way to remove racial bias in our school system is to remove a racially biased member of the school board.
We've been focused on removing the WRONG item.
I'm glad to see that people are sensitive to the use of the "N-word." I wish that sensitivity could extend to words and images that are offensive to Native Americans. Please do not mischaracterize the board member’s comments. She was answering a question regarding why Native American schools have the right to use Native American names and imagery. She was discussing the importance of groups being able to have control over their own images and self-identity. It was in this context that she referenced the right of African Americans to reclaim the "N-word". She clearly made her point since hearing a non-African American person use this term was incredibly uncomfortable. This shows our collective understanding of how these sensitive terms and images do not belong to the community at large to use as they wish. I notice that no one reacted adversely when speakers used the terms "redskins" and "diggers" which are equally offensive.
When she discussed Aliso School, she spoke about reading the historical statements made by people who attended this school under segregation. She talked about the overt limits imposed on students of Mexican descent and the pain that this segregation caused.
She mentioned Hitler when she discussed her own people's experience of genocide and her empathy and understanding for those of Native American descent as survivors of genocide here in America.
I feel that this kind of intentional mischaracterization of the board member and the comments she made is evidence that some people are very resistant to engaging in the learning process that is required to move forward as a respectful community. I hope that people can open their hearts and minds to others in their community who have different experiences than their own. And I hope that the parents and teachers of Carpinteria advocate increasing the empathy and awareness of their children and students who look to them for guidance as they transition into adulthood.
It is dehumanizing to Native Americans to use Indian mascots. It is also very humilating for some Native Americans to see Native Americans portrayed in this manner. Essentially being made fun of. The chief doesn't wear a war bonnet, it is a honor bonnet. The eagle feathers are earned when the person gives something back to the community or other persons. It is a very sacred spiritual ceremony. If other religious groups such as Christians and Jews were portrayed in the same manner, there would be such an uproar. It wouldn't be allowed. One's spiritual practices shouldn't be made fun of. It is time that Native Americans weren't portrayed in this manner. It is too much of a stereotype. Time to end it.
You people make me laugh at your desperation to keep the imagery of fake indian! Whites cannot honor the Native American for they have no honor! Native Americans only honor Native Americans through our ceremonies, dances, and powwows in the sacred circle. I bet you morons didn't know that? You will never see the true Native American honoring the white man for the white man has no honor!
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