Another group of privileged White college students thought it would be a good idea to wear blackface in 2015. According to the Los Angeles Times, UCLA’s Sigma Phia Epsilon Fraternity and Alpha Phi Sorority put on a party called “Kanye Western” on Oct. 6.
The students dressed like exaggerated versions of rappers and Kim Kardashian. But several of the White students revealed their true attitudes when it comes to race by wearing blackface at the party.
Members of UCLA’s Black Student Union protested the party at Chancellor Gene Block’s office and created the hashtag #BlackBruinsMatter to raise awareness of the incident on social media.
This isn’t the first time White students have been exposed after wearing blackface during a fraternity party. In 2013, Arizona State’s Tau Kappa Epsilon students wore blackface and dressed in urban clothes at their MLK Black Party; In 2013, U.C. Irvine’s Lambda Theta Delta frat wore blackface at an event; and the University of Florida’s Beta Theat Pi’s frat wore blackface at a party where the students dressed up as members of the Bloods and Crips. There are other unfortunate examples of racist acts by White college students who mocked Black culture.
It proves that millennials face a different type of racism. The millennial racist doesn’t consider themselves to be racist because they have one Black friend and listen to rap music. Instead of espousing overtly racist ideas, they are racist in their actions, which is often scarier.
Sigma Phi Epsilon’s fraternity chapter has been suspended and Alpha Phi’s social activities have been suspended. However, there haven’t been any direct punishments handed to the students who were involved.
