'Black Is a Disease': Racist Posts Roil Arkansas University

[Celerity]

A Black student’s interview with a local news channel was interrupted by shouts of “white power” this week.

https://www.thedailybeast.com/racist-yik-yak-posts-roil-arkansas-state-university

Black fraternities and sororities at Arkansas State University were targeted in racist attacks online this week—but students say the posts are just part of a much larger problem on campus.

“On behalf of the entire Arkansas State University community, I condemn the recent statements of anonymous individuals,” Chancellor Kelly Damphousse wrote in a statement released Thursday. “The language and labels used by persons posting about the weekly [National Pan-Hellenic Council] events on campus is simply unacceptable and disgraceful… The type of statements made recently related to Black students and members of NPHC organizations are shameful and unwelcome at Arkansas State University.”

KAIT 8 ABC reported that anonymous messages were posted on Wednesday night to the social media platform Yik Yak, which serves as a community-discussion site for users within a 5-mile radius. The posts reportedly targeted the nine National Pan-Hellenic Council Greek organizations, which historically center around the culture of the African diaspora. According to the Arkansas State University chapter of the NPHC, statements were made telling Black students to “get back on the boat” and that “Black is a disease.”

“Whomever is making these comments are outliers,” Arkansas State University Chief Communications Officer Bill Smith told The Daily Beast. In a statement posted to Instagram, the university chapter of the NPHC condemned the “hostility” and “belittlement” directed toward Black students.

snip