Bigotry hits students' door
Samantha Miller - The Daily Iowan
Issue date: 3/3/08 Section: Metro
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But it became quickly apparent that there was nothing funny about it.
"2 dead niggers." "Hang u coons." "Fuckin terrist niggers."
An oak door that once only displayed an apartment number was now a pedestal for words of hate and bigotry sprawled in large, messy black print next to depictions of a noose and two stick figures being lynched.
"I was just in disbelief when I saw it," Talley said. "Basically, I was like, 'What year is this?' In 2008 - I can't believe this is happening."
Talley and Thomas, a senior and junior respectively, found out about the prejudiced writing when Michael Charles, a UI senior who lives in the same apartment complex as Talley and Thomas, discovered it and woke the roommates up.
"I was surprised - it's not the kind of thing you expect," Thomas said. "You'll hear of the ignorance of racism in Iowa City, but when it hits close to home - it's different."
The victims reasoned the offense took place between 3 a.m. - when they went to bed - and 1 p.m., when Charles awakened the two.
Thomas and Talley said they have no idea who might have written the hateful speech on their door.
"We got along with everyone in this whole complex well," Thomas said. "Who does this shit?"
The Iowa black population is 2.4 percent, according to a 2006 Iowa census. In the fall of 2007, the UI's black population was 2.3 percent.
Iowa City police Lt. Sid Jackson said the offense is being considered criminal mischief, and it has not yet been determined if there will be further investigation of the matter.
The Iowa Code defines criminal mischief as "any damage, defacing, alteration, or destruction of property is criminal mischief when done intentionally by one who has no right to so act."
The offense can rack up anywhere between 10 years behind bars to only a $50 fine, depending on the degree convicted.
Though Thomas and Talley are angry about the offensive defacing of their apartment, they are still able to make light of the situation just because of how "ridiculous" and "backwards" the situation was, they said.
"What century are we in?" Talley said. "I haven't been called a 'coon' since - ever."
And the offenders' semantics were not spared either.
"What's a 'terrist' "? Talley joked.
E-mail DI reporter Samantha Miller at:
samantha-a-miller@uiowa.edu
Viewing Comments 1 - 10 of 42
JW Haga
posted 3/03/08 @ 7:08 AM CST
This is the kind of latent or circumspect racism that's been prevalent in Iowa for at least the 39 years I've seen it.
There may be no Klan or reverse discrimination lawsuits but Racism is as prevalent in Iowa as it is in about 40 other states outside the South. (Continued…)
Mary
posted 3/03/08 @ 7:17 AM CST
Shouldn't this be considered a hate crime and thus be subject to stiffer penalties???! This is SO disgusting, please do urge very assiduous investigation. (Continued…)
Kirk
posted 3/03/08 @ 7:35 AM CST
Bothers me, maybe they should take it a little more seriously. Most likely its just somebody being an idoit, but you never know with these kinds of things. (Continued…)
Chris
posted 3/03/08 @ 8:39 AM CST
It is most definitely a hate crime and should be investigated and recorded as a hate crime.
Kirk said: "And how do they get "terrist" out of this? I'm racking my brain to think of how many major terrorist attacks where perpetrated by black people and I'm just not comming up with anything. (Continued…)
S
posted 3/03/08 @ 8:43 AM CST
They got "terrist" out of it because they are most likely shallow end genepool dwellers who can grasp a spray can but not a lexicon.
jinkbyrd
Oscar Niner
posted 3/03/08 @ 9:10 AM CST
The entire community will be watching how this is handled. Whether it is a sick joke or not, it is mean spirited and hateful. It needs to be investigated and dealt with. (Continued…)
cseeley
ceseeley
posted 3/03/08 @ 9:29 AM CST
I remember when I was in elementary school, and I said something very racist and I didn't even know it was racist, and I was lucky I didn't get beat up, I think I was in 5th grade in 1955. (Continued…)
Rose
posted 3/03/08 @ 10:16 AM CST
As a former resident of Iowa City and as a student at the University, I was shocked when a native Iowa City resident asked me permission to call me the "N" word. (Continued…)
Royce K.
posted 3/03/08 @ 10:58 AM CST
From 1987 to 1997, I lived in Iowa City and was a student at the University. These types of things happen ALL the time, but don't commonly get reported. (Continued…)
Christopher Williams
posted 3/03/08 @ 11:02 AM CST
A lot of people are debating between whether the intention was one of hatred or merely a "sick joke." Intention is not important has no place in this day and age. (Continued…)
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