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#146794 - 06/29/07 08:44 PM
Rasicm/sexism in the line
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Anonymous
User has negative Karma.
![Tenure]()
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Hi, I'm Anup Subramahnian from Miami, Florida. As a freshman I played cymbals, and then as a sophomore I was in pit and played timpani since the line was full. Now as a junior, I was supposed to play snare, but got moved down to cymbals because my spanish muscles aren't strong enough to cary snare, according to my captain.
I'm one-half mexican and one-half indian, and everyone on my line makes fun of me calling me "curry beaner." I also happen to be the only female on the line too. It really hurts, and everyone else on the line is white. Our instructor doesn't care either, he's just like "Get over it."
Our BD is white himself, and he doesn't care. There is racism all over the drumline, and my black friend also got placed in the pit because apparantely the white drummer was better. Last year at a football game, a band member even bought me a sombrero to wear. I'm just frusturated and want to be treated like everyone else. What should I do?
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#146795 - 06/29/07 09:30 PM
Re: Rasicm/sexism in the line
[Re: ]
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Registered: 05/16/07
Loc: Ft.Mitchell KY
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Wow, that really sucks that you are treated that way. I believe that a man/woman should not be treated by the color of their skin but by the actions of their personality. Very sorry about that. The only suggestion that i have is to ignore it. You see, the result of ignorance of a verbal situation is less conflict. If they see that calling you "curry-beaner" doesn't affect you, they will stop doing it. Let me know if this isn't working out. P.S. - You don't have to announce where you live, we know. 
_________________________
Dixie Heights Marching Colonels
8th grader - Top bass (first year)
9th grader - Snare (second year)
Steve Vai - “Besides being a guitar player, I'm a big fan of the guitar. I love that damn instrument.”
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#146796 - 06/29/07 11:56 PM
Re: Rasicm/sexism in the line
[Re: ]
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Registered: 05/15/07
Loc: Ontario, California
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wow. i guess Im pretty lucky to live in california. we have a very diverse drumline, in fact we've had females on every instrument, and all sorts of races. every kind of person you could imagine except black. there just havent been any black people trying out, i dont know why. also Im the only blond/white guy, but noone gives me a hard time for it. as for getting rid of racism, i think it takes a generation or longer. i dont think theres really anything you can do short of moving or proving that you own all their faces by making a drum corps or something
Edited by hiredgoonthug (06/29/07 11:58 PM)
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#146798 - 06/30/07 04:15 AM
Re: Rasicm/sexism in the line
[Re: SkyDog]
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Registered: 02/26/07
Loc: Houston, Texas
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I have a zero tolerance to this sort of thing. I am white full blood german and look it too, the line I teach is all "minority" black and hispanic. It is a poor but diverse area my students range from very rich to dirt dirt poor. Some of them arnt even legal, but whats that matter to me. They put their undies on the same as everyone else is what I tell them. When I first got there as a director they had a real bad problem with throwning the slang to the n word around just in normal conversation with each other. I had one talk with them and havent heard the word since. I put it flat out to them "if I cant say it than you sure the hell cant say it!" also explained to them how people view that in public, and stressed the fact how that is all they are there for is public performance. Since then it has not been an issue and we all get along. I had one kid pull the race card on me and he was out of band that day. It is sad to see this go on and of all places Miami, Florida that is a very very diverse area, cubans, mexicans, jewish, white, etc... the list goes on...purple, blue, yellow, black.... who cares. It saddens me to hear this... Also your director will care when it comes back and bites him/her, called getting fired for letting it go on, lawsuits etc... As far as the advice to just live with it I dont agree with, it needs to be addressed. I dont know about the whole Im on cymbals cause of my race, but the name calling I question. You parents should be informed of this. Also take a recorder to rehearsal and get proof of this. They are cheap just a simple voice recorder from walgreens or CVS will do. Get PROOF!!! Then play it for your parents, have you and your parents either schedule a conference or write a formal certified letter to the directors and send a copy to to the principle. If no response or results forward your proof and letters you have sent, to the school board. You should hear back from them promptly cause if it goes to that level all the board sees is lawsuit coming. And 9 times out of 10 they will lose that fight, as the law systems has no tolerance towards that, not so much the kids but the directors allowing it. Those directors could lose their teaching certs/licenses over that and never get another teaching job ever. At least thats the way things work here. One major thing to remember is keep you cool, DO NOT STOOP DOWN TO THEIR LEVEL. That is key in this fight, if you retaliate than you have lost. Also in all this will make you a stronger person, those classmates of yours will rattle off to the worng person one day and god rest their soles. Also do not make threats if you or your parents confront the school. Do not threaten a law suit, or any other action. If you get no results out of any of it thats when you let an attorney send the threats. If you dont care to do anything about it and suck it up than thats what it shall be but I kind of get the hint that your sick of it and tried that approach you would not of posted it here if it was that way. There are endless ways to approach this subject and get results. REMEMBER KEEP YOUR COOL!!! I am quite interested in knowing your actions and results of this. If you need anymore help or points to right directions let me know. I am no expert but I do have a little common sence. Please stay in contact with me either through pm or email. good luck to you. [note to the mods and members of this forum sorry for the long post, but it really saddens my heart on this, all she wants to do is drum!!! can you blame her?] Also there is no such thing as if it doesnt offend you its ok... no.... You younger members will figure that out when you make it in the working world. please someone correct me if Im wrong if your work place allows this. That is not at all cool in the work place. At least in mine both the school and my full time fire department. If racism was something to be overlooked than the KKK would still be marching through our streets in force, burning of churches, and lynchings would be going on... oh hitler, stalin, hussein, etc.. would all be poker buddies today instead of worm food.
_________________________
Jereme Robinson Executive Director Imperial Percussion Theater Independent Open Percussion Group www.imperialpercussion.orgTo be a member contact me for info
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#146799 - 06/30/07 04:35 AM
Re: Rasicm/sexism in the line
[Re: BigLove]
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Registered: 05/16/07
Loc: Ft.Mitchell KY
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Quote:
I have a zero tolerance to this sort of thing. I am white full blood german and look it too, the line I teach is all "minority" black and hispanic. It is a poor but diverse area my students range from very rich to dirt dirt poor. Some of them arnt even legal, but whats that matter to me. They put their undies on the same as everyone else is what I tell them. When I first got there as a director they had a real bad problem with throwning the slang to the n word around just in normal conversation with each other. I had one talk with them and havent heard the word since. I put it flat out to them "if I cant say it than you sure the hell cant say it!" also explained to them how people view that in public, and stressed the fact how that is all they are there for is public performance. Since then it has not been an issue and we all get along. I had one kid pull the race card on me and he was out of band that day.
It is sad to see this go on and of all places Miami, Florida that is a very very diverse area, cubans, mexicans, jewish, white, etc... the list goes on...purple, blue, yellow, black.... who cares. It saddens me to hear this... Also your director will care when it comes back and bites him/her, called getting fired for letting it go on, lawsuits etc...
As far as the advice to just live with it I dont agree with, it needs to be addressed. I dont know about the whole Im on cymbals cause of my race, but the name calling I question. You parents should be informed of this. Also take a recorder to rehearsal and get proof of this. They are cheap just a simple voice recorder from walgreens or CVS will do. Get PROOF!!! Then play it for your parents, have you and your parents either schedule a conference or write a formal certified letter to the directors and send a copy to to the principle. If no response or results forward your proof and letters you have sent, to the school board. You should hear back from them promptly cause if it goes to that level all the board sees is lawsuit coming. And 9 times out of 10 they will lose that fight, as the law systems has no tolerance towards that, not so much the kids but the directors allowing it. Those directors could lose their teaching certs/licenses over that and never get another teaching job ever. At least thats the way things work here.
One major thing to remember is keep you cool, DO NOT STOOP DOWN TO THEIR LEVEL. That is key in this fight, if you retaliate than you have lost. Also in all this will make you a stronger person, those classmates of yours will rattle off to the worng person one day and god rest their soles. Also do not make threats if you or your parents confront the school. Do not threaten a law suit, or any other action. If you get no results out of any of it thats when you let an attorney send the threats.
If you dont care to do anything about it and suck it up than thats what it shall be but I kind of get the hint that your sick of it and tried that approach you would not of posted it here if it was that way. There are endless ways to approach this subject and get results. REMEMBER KEEP YOUR COOL!!!
I am quite interested in knowing your actions and results of this. If you need anymore help or points to right directions let me know. I am no expert but I do have a little common sence. Please stay in contact with me either through pm or email. good luck to you.
[note to the mods and members of this forum sorry for the long post, but it really saddens my heart on this, all she wants to do is drum!!! can you blame her?]
Also there is no such thing as if it doesnt offend you its ok... no.... You younger members will figure that out when you make it in the working world. please someone correct me if Im wrong if your work place allows this. That is not at all cool in the work place. At least in mine both the school and my full time fire department.
If racism was something to be overlooked than the KKK would still be marching through our streets in force, burning of churches, and lynchings would be going on... oh hitler, stalin, hussein, etc.. would all be poker buddies today instead of worm food.
Damn Straight 
_________________________
Dixie Heights Marching Colonels
8th grader - Top bass (first year)
9th grader - Snare (second year)
Steve Vai - “Besides being a guitar player, I'm a big fan of the guitar. I love that damn instrument.”
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#146800 - 06/30/07 11:13 AM
Re: Rasicm/sexism in the line
[Re: snare777]
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Registered: 12/29/05
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I should probably stop posting late at night, when my brain apparently doesn't fire on all cylinders. Re-reading my post above, I sounded like some sort of Chris Rock apologist with my head up my rear end. I apologize, and I hope the following more clearly states my feelings.
What I posted above was meant to be from the standpoint of a student, like in your case. A whole lot of us, at some point, have come across some teasing based on race or gender. Some of it may be meant in fun, while some of it may be malicious. You have the right to attend school and participate in activities without being taunted, and right now, you need to speak up and exercise that right. If you ask sincerely, there's a pretty good chance those who are just ribbing you will stop. Take the person or persons aside to tell them matter-of-factly you don't find it funny and that you want them to stop. For the ones that don't stop, the next step is to get your instructor involved. If he doesn't do anything, let him know you'll go over his head if need be -- to the band director, the school principal, or all the way up to the district superintendent. (I *guarantee* nobody wants the superintendent involved. If he gets called in, your instructor may wind up looking for a new gig and your director can get in big trouble, too.)
From the standpoint of an instructor, I'm with BigLove. Teasing of that sort is inappropriate, period. Even when it's meant in fun, there's just too much of an opportunity for it to be misinterpreted. The target of the teasing may feel hurt, as in this case. And other students learn that it's apparently OK to tease people based on race, which is obviously NOT OK.
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#146801 - 07/03/07 09:10 PM
Re: Rasicm/sexism in the line
[Re: ]
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Registered: 06/08/06
Loc: Missouri CIty, Texas
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Quote:
I was supposed to play snare
Your line promises people spots??? I need to go to school there.
I'm not saying I agree with racism in any form, but it sounds like it might not be as bad as you think it is.
If you really deserved that spot, and were willing to work really hard to maintain your position, then you were absolutely wronged. But if you were just relying on being given the spot because you're an upperclassman, then you captain was right in not giving you the spot.
You said that the captain thought the "White person was a better player". No matter what the color of his skin, the better player should get to hang the drum on. Maybe you worded it wrong, but it sounds to me like you think that your black friend should get the spot, just because their black.
If you really think that racism is an issue, then take action. Talk to your BD, then to your principal if he doesn't listen, and don't be afraid to take it up with the superintendant of your school district. Racism is a serious issue, and you shouldn't let it slide by.
_________________________
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#146803 - 08/10/07 06:28 AM
Re: Rasicm/sexism in the line
[Re: SFZ541]
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Registered: 04/22/07
Loc: Glendale, CA
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That is flark UP. I'm so sorry to hear that. (That's a really hot mix of races, half Mexican and half Indian. No one brought that up so i thought i should).
Its funny, the most racist guy in my line is Armenian. And its like...every time he insults Asians (I'm Filipino), i laugh so hard because he's basically insulting himself 10x more, since Armenians get ripped on A LOT from where I'm from.
Really, I don't know what you should do. That stuff simply isn't tolerable. Big Love summed up everything that had to be said pretty well.
I will stress the part he mentioned about sinking to their level. Racism, hate itself, is a wildfire. It spreads generation to generation, until someone decides to stop thinking with their butt and decide its wrong. Your captain might approve of racism because he himself may have a victim of racism. May have been, we obviously don't know. It would be a damn pity if you, or anyone else in our generation grew up to be like him because of experiences with people like these.
_________________________
Notre Dame High School
Junior 06-07- Cymbals
Senior 07-08- Snare
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