H -°, L 22° | Tomorrow: 
H 23°, L 4°Before bashing the medium-sized, Midwestern city that I am fortunate enough to call my adopted home, it’s necessary to point out that Madison has many good reasons to be proud of its progressive reputation. Aside from its long history of radical activism, the city today walks right near the front of the march toward progress. From its protection of the social services budget to drug reform efforts to its acceptance of leftist third parties, Madison isn’t a bad place for progressives to live — relatively speaking, at least
There is one conspicuous exception, however, and it is here that we come to the issue of race.
During my freshman orientation in July 2005, I was bewildered as to why we were told to prepare for a new life on a campus with people from all sorts of backgrounds — a lazy glance around the room revealed that, at least in one respect, quite the opposite was true. UW students may be diverse in many ways, but racially diverse we are not.
The same goes for the broader community. As a result, white supremacy has become so ubiquitous that it now seems to dwell comfortably in every alleyway and street corner, while minority political power is banished to the periphery. But perhaps the most disturbing thing is the way in which racism is able to conceal itself behind ostensibly innocent, race-neutral talking points.
Take the issue of crime — always among the weirdest and most common of Madison obsessions. Though all the statistics indicate that this city is among the safest of its size in the country, we are constantly being warned about faceless pickpockets and rapists hiding in the bushes of unlit streets. That theft and sexual assault is far more common at your average Saturday night revelry is apparently irrelevant to the hysteria-mongers — unless one considers the obvious racial connotations surrounding this discussion.
Ever since the infamous Willie Horton advertisement during the 1988 presidential campaign, crime has been inseparable from race, and consequently, fear of crime has been inseparable from fear of racial minorities. African-Americans in particular have faced the worst of this demonization in the form of racial profiling and obscene inequities in their dealings with the criminal justice system. In Dane County, black males are 33 times as likely as white males to be sent to jail — among the worst disparities in the country.
Similarly, the abuse that undocumented immigrants, almost entirely Latino, face in Madison is usually cloaked by such concerns as “law and order” and “protection of the borders.” Most sensible people probably find themselves baffled as to why so small a presence of migrant workers incites such vitriol, until the issue of race is considered. And, please, spare me the usual excuse: If the undocumented were from Canada or Sweden, this would be a non-issue.
Sheriff Dave Mahoney, a Democrat who was easily elected in 2006 with the support of the usual sellout liberals, has continued to report undocumented workers to federal authorities, often resulting in deportation. Madison is one of only a handful of identifiably progressive cities that is not part of the sanctuary city movement — that is, immigrants without the right paperwork are still subject to harassment from law enforcement. As long as this city is unable to engage racial issues in an honest way, this situation is unlikely to change.
On campus, things are not much different. Despite the best efforts of groups like the Multicultural Student Coalition, campus climate remains infected by various modes of white supremacy. Opposition to diversity efforts — from the editorial pages to classroom discussions — is rampant, while a select few are simply unable to get over the fact that the (nonwhite) senior class president stole a few overpriced bus tickets several months back. It’s really no wonder why so many qualified minority students refuse to even consider attending this campus.
It is important to note that many probably do buy into the superficial justifications for racially-motivated policies and causes. That is, there are many who actually do believe that crime is out of control, illegal immigration is a scourge against our great land and a minor crime of a student official is an important enough topic about which to pen an editorial. This does not change the fact that the underlying impulse that forces these issues to the surface is racial, and that an elimination of racism would mute such issues as crime and immigration.
Naturally, Madison’s race dilemma is not unique. Ours is part of a much broader social problem and dependent on the essential mystery that lies at the core of all forms of identity. The point is that a city which is left-of-center in almost every other way should — can — do better.
Kyle Szarzynski ([email protected]) is a senior majoring in history and Spanish.
IP hash: b43eab93
What?
IP hash: 30319eff
Student official stole tickets?? Wow. Way to elect your officials. Didn’t you have more honest and honorable people to chose from??
IP hash: 20e0bdfd
One of the weakest pieces Ive read in the Badger Herald…Kyle, you need some perspective.
IP hash: a903de8f
And what exactly do you suggest we “do”? Pay minorities to come to Madison?
IP hash: f0928888
Kyle, please leave town right now. You are such a dork. White supremacy in Madison? Yeah right, and blacks have completely taken over Coeur D’Alene, Idaho!
Dude, you have got to be the Badger Herald’s most ignorant writer. Just quit. Now. Today. Go. GET THE F*%& OUTTA HERE!!!!!
IP hash: 83b6c53e
Are Madison progressives “proud” that Kyle is an unashamed advocate for terrorists’ “right” to kill American soldiers? http://badgerherald.com/oped/2007/09/25/iraqiinsurgentshav.php
Why is this self-confessed co-conspirator in RNC Welcoming Committee violence still walking around at large? http://badgerherald.com/oped/2008/09/09/policeatrnc_saboto.php
IP hash: 635cc77c
Szarzynski says blacks “have faced the worst of this demonization in the form of racial profiling,” since black men are “33 times as likely as white males to be sent to jail” in Dane County. When will liberals understand that blaming racism does not help address WHY people commit crimes in the first place? The tragedy is that the overwhelming majority of black crimes are against other blacks. Those who support a more “liberal” and lax justice system are actually supporting an assault on law-abiding citizens, the sure victims of these criminals. How do we begin to fix the problems? Start with strengthening the family and having good male role models. Crying racism is just not cutting it. Those who dare to succeed ask what can I do to improve or fix the mistakes; those who are determined to wallow in their own misery ask how can I get back at my enemies (real or imagined).
IP hash: 1099078f
You are an idiot. As someone who has not adopted Madison as their city and lived here my whole life, I would like to politely ask you to stop polluting our city with you garbage. In addition, please leave, no just go now.
IP hash: f64fc232
Ever stop to think that maybe minority criminals often have minority victims. If less minorities were arrested then more minorities would be the victims of crime. Either way minorities lose.
IP hash: 63f476f9
Sadly, talking about racial diversity problems at UW Madison has almost become something of a cliche because the school keeps making promises (remember Plan 2008??)but nothing seems to change. I’m really happy to hear that there are other students out there who still care about the issue of racial diversity since it clearly still is a huge problem. I hope that the writer of this editorial and other students who care about the issues raised here will attend the “Plan 2008 Diversity Forum” (Sept. 23)so that the university’s leaders know that we’re aware of the failure of their original 10 year plan, and that we expect much, much more out of the next 10 years.
IP hash: 24dab9ab
Yeah, stop sending blacks to jail for crimes against blacks - that will solve the problem.
Only send blacks to jail for crimes against whites, er, no, wait, that can’t be right - can it?
IP hash: 06bd1e01
11:52,
Very well said. Rare is it for a conservative to be mellow enough in a town such as Madison to produce good points.
We must address problems from the bottom up, here we must not ask, as Kyle seems is important, what color are the people who are arrested? but really “what situation have we created that forces people of color to perform actions that get them arrested?”
IP hash: 63f476f9
Wow. As an ethnic minority who attends UW Madison, I cringe while reading these mostly hateful comments/irrelevant personal attacks towards the writer in response to an issue that I think needs to be discussed. The general response to this article speaks to UW administrators’ claims that one of the main reasons the school fails to attract ethnic minorities, or loses ethnic minorities via transfers or drop-outs, is because of “campus climate.”
IP hash: 3ab752a1
“Start with strengthening the family and having good male role models.”
Male role models are out. Man-hating feminists won’t tolerate it. Males have to play the bad guy in our society. It’s the only liberals can elevate their status as the only ones who mean well.
IP hash: 745499d8
See also “Hating Whitey and Other Progressive Causes” http://www.amazon.com/Hating-Whitey-Other-Progressive-Causes/dp/189062621X
David Horowitz�s Hating Whitey stands in sharp contrast to the plethora of literature that parrots academic mantras about whites being the sole source of racism. Those that crave the predictability of the politically correct will be disappointed with this honest discussion of racism.
�Are African Americans oppressed?� Horowitz asks. �If so, what would explain the desire of so many black Haitians to come to American shores? Why were so many Haitians ready, a few years before their immigration was blocked, to risk life and limb to make the illegal passage across shark infested waters? Was it their desire to be oppressed? Were they longing to be dominated by a master race?�
Although the progressive cause of �hating whitey� bemoans the legacy of slavery and racial tensions as if these problems were unique to the United States, it ignores something that is truly special about America. Blacks are less persecuted and more prosperous in America than in any place in the world�including Africa.
IP hash: 13788092
More blacks should be forced to come to Madison!
A number of Muslim countries still enslave blacks. Perhaps some of those slaves could be purchased and set free on the streets of Madison? It’s win-win!
Of course supporting the market in slaves could have unfortunate after-effects.
IP hash: 68837d55
Recent crime involving guns and knives in the campus area concerns me. According to this article I’m racist? I think people should be held responisble for their actions, especially if they are elected officials at my university. Now I’m a white supremecist for sure, right? Save for one Badger Herald article, I’ve never heard one peep of opposition to diversity programs from anyone. Ever. I guess that figures since I’m one of those horrible white Madison natives. Please stop embarrassing yourself now and if you are going to write an article on race, bring up some legit points next time instead of this name calling, fingerpointing B.S. Yes, there are problems in this world relating to race that need to be addressed. But that is not how you address them.
IP hash: a8831633
Kyle, quite frankly I thought this article was a piece of crap. You say ‘white supremacy has become so ubiquitous that it now seems to dwell comfortably in every alleyway and street corner’ of Madison. This is simply not true. Do you not remember when the KKK was run out of town on a rail a few years back? You aren’t even from here yet you attempt to classify our entire city, which you probably know nothing about as a haven for white supremacy. You say the weirdest and most common of Madison obsessions is our concern over crime. I have known people in this city that got screwed over, robbed, beat up, you name it. It’s not a weird concern, its a fucking reality. Get over yourself, stop writing p.o.s. articles attempting to be controversial, it makes you look unprofessional. I think you wrote this thing in about 10 minutes.My 2 cents, peace.
IP hash: 715645ed
Here is another comical attempt from a guilt ridden white lackey to try and be a hero to minorities that don’t want or need his support. What a clown you are Kyle.
IP hash: 715645ed
Blacks are stereotyped as criminals and thugs because their pop culture celebrates and promates this image. Prisons are filled with large black populations not because of discrimination but because they are committing the majority of the crimes. You can call it racism or whatever you like, however, the facts speak for themselves.
IP hash: c8d2d6a0
White supremacy in Madison? I did raise an eyebrow, when the National Socialist Movement had a demonstration at the Capitol, but I feel more comfortable in Madison than I do in my hometown of Milwaukee. Our numbers are small, but so are our numbers in the population as whole. Personally, I’ve found Madisonians to be much more open-minded than most, and they are willing to delve into discussions of diversity. That’s not to say that non-white populations don’t have their issues and that we’ve come up with great solutions to every problem (the conviction rate is one glaringly obvious example, which was mentioned in the article), but labeling the city an “unabashed haven for white supremacy” is a bit extreme.
I will say that some of the posts that are made here are rather misguided. Minorities do not commit more crimes than the majority, and you can get those statistics from the FBI. They are, however, more likely to be convicted and receive a longer jail sentence, especially for drug-related offenses. That’s where the racism in the system comes into play.
IP hash: 680141c1
Good piece Kyle.
MOST white people are afraid to acknowledge their own inherent racism.
Just because most whites don’t wear sheets and burn crosses doesnt mean that they’re thoughts/actions dont coincide.
IP hash: 6a068bee
Kyle, you are an absolute clown.
IP hash: f7d0b862
MICHAEL RICHARDS ‘08
IP hash: 28931f80
kyle you’re a joker
IP hash: 8647bca7
Kyle, this was an amazing insightful piece. We need to address these problems and recognize our own contribution to such inequality. Racism (as well as sexism and classism) is so subtly ingrained in our society that many (like most of the people posting comments) are unable to recognize. It takes a conscious effort and a closer look one’s self (me too!) in order to not only identify, but begin to overcome such injustices. Thank you Kyle for taking a step in the right direction.
IP hash: aeedf659
Your article is confused. Perhaps it would have helped to attempt to clarify what how you identify the presence of white supremacism. Your article starts with “white supremacy has become so ubiquitous that it now seems to dwell comfortably in every alleyway and street corner, while minority political power is banished to the periphery”. Yet, you haven’t identified white supremacism anywhere. Are people wearing nazi armbands in the streets? Are blacks not being hired when they apply because or their race? Are there separate but equal bubblers? No. And, to downplay crime awareness and prevention efforts as inseparable from white supremacy is absurd. It sounds like they are fairly successful — you point out that the community is considered “safe”.
While I appreciate your frustration with the University’s inability to fill its classrooms with more minority students and the city’s inability to do the same, you are in no way on solid ground when you label it a “haven for white supremacy”. You are confusing a lack of ability to attract minority interest and participation with what you claim is a strong undercurrent of racism. You could start there to make some points.
In other small college towns, the situation is much the same. The community is welcoming of minorities, however, most neighborhoods are pretty white. That does not establish or equate to a ubiquity of white supremacism.
You wasted cache space and an index on google. I searched for info on the hundreds-strong Krazy Kolorful Klown brigade disruption of the three person strong KKK rally on King’s day in 1999 and was directed to your blather. Are you trying to become a Greenblatt or Foucalt of Madison socioeconomic power structures? Next time you make a powerfully confrontational statement on “ubiquity of white supremacism”, you need to understand what white supremacy is and then present some meaningful and relevant data to back up your accusations. You have not done that work.