I am writing in response to the beating incident that took place the weekend of Oct. 20. I was insulted when I read about the attack of a black student. The next day I was told that the victim was a close friend of mine. Needless to say, I was overwhelmed with anger. The fact that the attack took place was the focus of my response originally, but now it is coupled with the ridiculous idea that the attack was not racially motivated because there were no racial slurs. This added fuel to my fire.

Whatever the circumstances surrounding the event, those circumstances are no excuses for what has been clearly going on right beneath our noses in this great, fair land of America.

What on Earth took so long to make an arrest? We (the police, suspects, the victim and the public) know the obvious facts and clear evidence, yet a whole week went by before even one arrest had been made. There was enough information and witnesses provided early in the investigation to support the victim’s claim to make at least one arrest, just one. What type of investigation is this? What type of justice system have we, the fair Americans, established especially here on this campus?

Well for those lost in the black fog, I am here to tell you the type we have. If the incident had been five black men attacking a white student there would have been hell to pay. Not one week later, but as soon as it would have been reported. Groups of black men would have been arrested for walking crooked; or the license plate number would have been ran, address found and fingerprints taken by the police, yet in this instance, all that was taken was a blow to the head and a black man’s pride.

My final lesson to be taught is to those who truly believe this attack was not racially motivated. Anytime five grown white men beat on one black man, it is racial. Anytime black students push around a white student and steal drugs from him and are arrested within 24 hours it is racism involved. Basically anything that involves the colors black and white in a negative outlook on this campus you can bet your last money it has racial overtones.

We do not need racial slurs ladies and gentlemen to know that this incident is a racial one. We must use our common sense_racism and discrimination are very noticable in this great land of ours, as well as in DeKalb. One does not need racial slurs to know what is going on, nor do we need burning crosses or ropes hanging from oak trees. All we need is to open our eyes.

Malaina Stokes

Senior

Political science