The Hypocrisy of the South

The University of Virginia claims that it expresses regret for the use of slaves to build much of their university, stating "The board expresses its particular regret for the employment of enslaved persons in these years".

The measure was inspired by the Virginia Legislature, which passed a resolution in February expressing its "profound regret" for the state's role in slavery. Legislatures in Maryland and North Carolina approved similar slavery apologies this year, and another measure is under consideration in Alabama.

It says "the notion of involuntary servitude is repugnant and incompatible with the ideals upon which this university was founded."

Really? Does the South actually believe this? We are still dealing with the trickle effect of slavery to this day. We went from slavery, to Jim Crowe's segragation to...today, where in 2007 Turner County High School in Georgia had their first-ever integrated prom. What was that? Yes, FIRST EVER. While some states have made moves to reconsile their part in slavery, others seem to willingly continue the notion of inequality and racial segregation.

One teen described her 2001 prom: "The white people have theirs, and the black people have theirs. It's nothing racial at all."

Obviously.

Apparently this racially-segregated prom thing has gone on for so long because the school never officially sponsored the prom--the parents did. Somehow, that doesn't seem to make it any better. Or right.

This, though, has to be my favorite part of the whole debacle: some folks just weren't comfortable with the new school prom, so the "white prom" still went on.

Nichole Royal, 18, said black students could have gone to the prom, but didn't.

"I guess they feel like they're not welcome," she said.

You don't say. Seriously, you don't say.

Nichole said while her parents were in support of the integrated prom, some of her friends weren't allowed to go.

"I've asked, 'Why can't you come?' and they're like, 'My mommy and daddy -- they don't agree with being with the colored people,' which I think is crazy," she said.

Yea, them coloreds can git their own prom. Sheesh, Billy Joe, why can't they just understand that we ain't racist, we just don't like em. We shouldn't be forced to be round em if we don wanna. It aint nuthin racial ya'll.

Georgia's Turner County High School's first-ever integrated prom. In 2007. For real. 2007.