Prescott, Ariz., elementary school to 'whiten' image of child in mural

[Tripper11]

Source: Yahoo

An artist's decision to prominently feature a non-white child on an elementary-school mural in Prescott, Ariz., sparked so much controversy that school administrators asked him to "lighten" the child's face after a city councilman launched a campaign against the mural, according to the Arizona Republic.

The Prescott episode isn't likely to help Arizona's growing reputation as a battleground of racial and ethnic confrontation, as the state faces a widespread boycott campaign over its harsh new immigration law.

The mural, which was funded by a state grant, features the faces of four actual students at the school and is intended to promote biking and other environmentally sustainable modes of transportation. The most prominent face on it belongs to a Latino student.


Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ynews/20100604/ts_ynews/ynews_ts2425

[Scuba]

1. Cowards.

[dgibby]

2. Racist cowards. n/t

[blondeatlast]

16. Racist, despicable cowards. nt

[pinboy3niner]

17. Racist, despicable, morally-challenged cowards nt

[Cirque du So-What]

3. The gloves are off

I will lend support to any & all boycotts of Arizona until its racist laws are deemed unconstitutional, overturned, and blatant racists are booted from public office. Sorry if this affects good people who depend upon tourism in Arizona, but perhaps it will bring even more pressure to bear and hasten the reform process. Messin' with economics is the most surefire way to bring about an attitude adjustment.

[Downwinder]

4. +++++

[blondeatlast]

18. From a longtime Arizonan--the boycotts will work. It will take some time

to see the effect, as natuatrally, our tourism plunges in the summer, but when winter comes, and conventions are relocated and tourists go elsewhere, the tourism indutry will cry foul to the legislature and something will be done about the law. It happened regarding Martin Luther King day and it will happen again.

Thanks for fighting the good fight. I'm not directly impacted by tourism, but there is no denying its importance here. And sadly, we deserve this for what's happened.

[marshall]

5. I'd like to hear from the parents of the child depicted

They chose four actual students to represent. Is this an accurate representation of the child's skin tone?

[pinboy3niner]

15. It never was about whether skin tone was "accurate"

The drive-by racist epithet-hurlers were not expressing their *artistic concern* about realism.

The accuracy "issue" was a rationalization invented by the principal as a supposedly valid justification for his caving to the racists.

[mikekohr]

6. But it's a dry hate nt

[left is right]

8. funny

(I tried to use a smiley only to be told apple didn’t allow them)

[1Hippiechick]

7. Here is the link to the actual newspaper article. Write a comment! It's had over 6k "likes" on FB

http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2010/06/04/20100604arizona-mural-sparks-racial-debate.html

[IndianaGreen]

9. Here is the 'offensive' mural

[Hamlette]

10. more pics and good editorial

http://www.dcourier.com/main.asp?SectionID=36&SubSectionID=1118&ArticleID=81766

and article here:

http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2010/06/04/20100604arizona-mural-sparks-racial-debate.html

The principal says he asked the faces be lightened to make them appear "happier and brighter." Which is probably right. Can't be happy in AZ if you are a person of color.

The racist who stirred the pot is a real piece of work. And a city councilman who has a radio show and has said:

"To depict the biggest picture on the building as a Black person, I would have to ask the question: Why?"

"Some guy calls me and says “Doesn’t that look like a big old black guy in the middle of that picture” and I says, “It does, maybe it has something to do with the guy who’s in the White House. Whether you like it or not, he’s our President and he is black.” There’s nothing racism about what I just said. It’s a statement and it’s a fact."

"I'm not a racist by any stretch of the imagination, but whenever people start talking about diversity, it's a word I can't stand."

(PS he got fired from his radio gig yesterday over this)

[No Elephants]

12. "There’s nothing racism about what I just said."

I remember when people in broadcasting AND politics knew how to speak.

[Hamlette]

13. Me too. The dumming down of America.

I've been saying for years that Rush is the most dangerous thing in America because he glorifies ignorance, bigotry and bullying. He lowered the level of discourse to such a degree that this guy now passes muster. And Beck.

[rotund1]

14. Uh, "dumming" down?

eek

[blondeatlast]

19. You used your very first posting since joining on May 20th for that. Nice.

Really great contribution you've made there; I can't wait for what follows.

[rotund1]

28. I find that examples of true irony are rare enough to be recognized.

Is that against the rules here?

[blondeatlast]

24. I've taken to interrupting any sentence that starts with "I'm not a racist..."

by saying "... but you are about to say something overtly racist and I'd just as soon not hear it, thanks."

I love the dumbstruck looks on their faces and the approval of others about to be subjected to the same stupid hatred.

[fascisthunter]

11. I had no idea how racist AZ was... how pathetic

now I know

[Blue_Tires]

20. folks in AZ aren't even trying to pretend anymore...

[Name removed]

21. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[blondeatlast]

22. We gave the country Mo Udall, you know. Say what you will, I'm staying and doing my damndest to

reverse the trend.

[Atticus]

23. Sincerely, good luck! "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change

the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has."
Margaret Mead

[pinboy3niner]

26. More power to you--literally!

And I hereby sincerely apologize for all the whackjob carpetbaggers CA has sent you. I don't mind their leaving here, mind you, but it's a shame what they're doing to harm your lovely state.

Here's to all the WONDERFUL Arizonans who had nothing to do with the racist legislation, and are fighting it with all their hearts.

:toast:

:yourock:

[WolverineDG]

27. Proof that the right-wing doesn't have a lock on being ignorant

Might want to check out a map before engaging in region-bashing.

dg

[Terra Alta]

25. What the hell is wrong with Arizona?

First the immigration bill, now this? I feel bad for the progressive Arizonans out there.