Bookstore Display Shocking and Amusing
Dear Editor:
I am by turns appalled and sickly amused by UCSD Bookstore’s celebration of Black History Month. The bookstore has several small displays celebrating the month (and one celebrating “American History Month,” whatever that is). Amongst the bric-a-brac that students might buy to clutter their dorm rooms was a display of little ceramic African-American dolls.
While in general this may be a sign of ethnic pride, I was shocked to see little, barefoot, faceless African-American children in tattered clothing eating watermelons. Have we entered halcyon days in which this is not only no longer considered a racist image, but actually a positive one?
—Marc A. Beherec
Ph.D. Student
Department of Anthropology
