“I will not bow down to –
racism. I will not bow down to – sexism. I will not bow down
to -- injustice. I’m gon’ stand. I’m gon’
stand.” -- Sweet Honey ‘n the Rock.
Poynter’s Al Tompkins has chosen to re-publish
and expand in his column the racist, revisionist, myopic reports of the editor
of the small paper in Jena, Louisiana regarding the Jena Six… with Dr. Karen
Dunlap’s approval and protection. If I understand her correctly, as
long as what Tompkins selectively prints is someone’s version of the
truth, it’s okay by her. If I understand her correctly, she has no
issue with Tompkins if those selective truths perpetuate racism in its most
lethal fashion. Nor does she have an issue with sexist/lookism remarks
Tompkins has published/recommended in his column, if I understand her correctly.
His “column’s” have been, “racist, revisionist, myopic
and sexist/lookist.
I thought Dunlap would want to see
evidence regarding my assessment so I have copied her with the articles (and
link to the BBC documentary that was refused by US broadcasters some say) that
I have also sent to AEJMAC and DAC 07. Her response to receiving the
articles I have forwarded was to have me removed from the Diversity Across the
Curriculum 2007 listserv to which I belonged as a result of having done that
work this summer. That’s her prerogative.
This is not academic theory folks...This
is concerning six black boy’s lives on the line…Six black boys who
only represent what is going on in so many places around the country. This
is playing out as if it were the ‘50’s, not the 21st Century.
I am in no way alone in the notion that the
Now the
Dunlap has kicked me off of her DAC07
listserv. I have had myself removed from Tompkin’s and all other Poynter
newsletters/lists. I consider the case closed. Welcome to the
AEJMAC listserv Dr. Dunlap. If as a result of the above and the work I
have done, the powers that be here choose to silence me on the MAC listserv
that I have labored over and served through since Dr. Carstaphen created it,
then I can exit stage right from “up in here” too. There may
be other divisions, commissions and organizations who value my contributions
and may need me more now. If that were to happen, I know it would be my
Creator again redirecting me. I want to go where, and do what, She has
for me to do.
At the end of a semester we all have too
much work with classes, papers, Midwinter, prof. org. paper reviews, research, etc.
to deal with this mess. So I consider the matter closed and still valued
MAC membership chair until told differently. If at least left alone, I will
of course not have to absorb our precious time and email inbox space with this
anymore. Happy Holidays.
We sometimes have problems with
our server rejecting incoming email. If your reply to this email is returned to
you, PLEASE call me at the number below. Apologies...We are
working on it. Sincerely,
Rev. Dr. E-K. Daufin, Professor
Department of Communications
334.229.6885
Thank you in
advance for your
Scholarly
& Creative Activity Referrals -
Lectures,
Performances, Workshops, Consultation Related Info: http://home.earthlink.net/~ekdaufin/
From: FOR THE
MINORITIES AND COMMUNICATION DIV. OF AEJMC [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Carstarphen,
Sent: Thursday, November 29, 2007
6:48 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Post from Karen Dunlap
Dear all,
Karen Dunlap requested that the following be shared with
the AEJMAC list and I am doing so. According to the time stamp, she made
this request about two hours before E.K. Daufin posted her comment. In
the interest of facilitating a full dialogue, I am honoring her request.
I have also adapted her subscription to the listserv so she can speak directly
to the group if she chooses.
Finally, I shared this with her in an e-mail and believe it
is worth repeating to the entire list:
"I don't moderate discussions on this list by design,
but I am committed to the proposition that all voices should be heard and that,
as a group, we are able to resolve issues constructively. Thank you for
taking the time to participate. I know this group and I know this
discussion will adopt the tone it should."
With that said, here is Karen's post:
---------------
Please post.
K. Dunlap
From: Karen Dunlap <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Thu, 29 Nov 2007 16:23:39
-0500
To: "
Cc: Al Tompkins <a
Conversation: What Al Thompkins
should have read before writing his racist
Subject: Re: What Al Thompkins
should have read before writing his racist
To the AEJMAC listserv,
I can’t tell you how troubled I’ve been by the on-going discussion
of the Jena Six
reporting and references to Al Tompkins’ column.
I could outline a number of problems with the level of conversation
and the casual treatment of facts.
I’m most troubled by the personal attacks upon those with whom there is
disagreement,
and I’m troubled that this comes from educators.
Educators are assigned to teach students how to think critically and clearly,
assess facts dispassionately and maintain civil discourse even while
disagreeing.
I don’t see those qualities in many of the exchanges that I’ve
followed. A disagreement
on facts or interpretation of the facts does not make one party a
“racist.” That is a loaded
term and we need to use it wisely.
I have conversed with Dr. Daufin on more than one area in which we disagree.
I now bring my concerns to the MAC listserv.
Most of you know me. In years past I have worked with you in AEJMC-MAC,
at Poynter and elsewhere. We know the battles that we’ve been
through
and the struggles that we face. I’m appalled that we seem to be
allowing
the kind of personal attacks that we have condemned in the past.
Yes, Tompkins is a colleague and friend and a person with whom I sometimes
disagree.
He sometimes disagrees with me. We do so respectfully.
The exchange below does not represent the character of MAC. It does not
present an acceptable level of discourse.
I hope this level of exchange ends.
Best wishes,
Karen
Dr. Karen Brown Dunlap
President and Managing Director
Poynter
801
888/Poynter (769-6837)
[log in to unmask]
On 11/26/07 8:02 PM, "
A woman of integrity and fellow Poynter Diversity Across the
Curriculum 07 participant sent this more balanced response to the !@##$$%
racist idiot Craig Franklin, editor of the local Jena Times newspaper.
This is a link to Howard Witt’s response to questions about
here is a response i send out
whenever i get emails about franklin's piece:
Dear
xxx:
Thanks for your inquiry. I am familiar with the article Craig Franklin, editor
of the local Jena Times newspaper, wrote for the Christian Science Monitor.
Unfortunately, that article was filled with revisionist history.
If you
care to read a pretty thorough debunking of
http://friendsofjustice.wordpress.com/2007/10/24/the-story-you-havent-heard-unless-youve-been-paying-attention/ <https://web.cms.wwu.edu/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=">http://friendsofjustice.wordpress.com/2007/10/24/the-story-you-havent-heard-unless-youve-been-paying-attention/>
<http://friendsofjustice.wordpress.com/2007/10/24/the-story-you-havent-heard-unless-youve-been-paying-attention/>
I'm afraid I have neither the time nor the inclination to engage in a
point-by-point refutation of Franklin's article. I'll let my extensive
reporting on the
But I will give you just one example of where
Fact: The principal at
Fact: LaSalle Parish District Attorney Reed Walters-the same man who is
prosecuting the
"This was an awful act," Walters told reporters on the day before the
Sept. 20 civil rights march through
Walters added, however, that he could find no
Fact:
The
"Yes,
hanging a noose under these circumstances is a hate crime,"
hope this answers your questions. good luck with your seminar.
regards,
howard witt
Gaylord Endowed Family Professor
Associate Professor
395
PHONE: 405-325-5227