# Black student hangs ‘White Only,’ ‘Black Only’ signs at bathrooms, water fountains **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [September 18, 2015, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-student-hangs-white-only-black-only-signs-at-bathrooms-water-fountains/731674 "2015-09-18T14:31:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2015, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-student-hangs-white-only-black-only-signs-at-bathrooms-water-fountains/731674/41 "2015-09-22T20:02:27Z")
> [@The\_Stainless\_Steel\_Rat](#): > > Ooh, touchy, aren’t we? Terr (and you and anyone) are free to post whatever topics you find of interest. > > And I am free to find them not worthy of the time. Good thing you posted twice to the thread, then. Otherwise we might have missed how you didn’t think it was worth the time to post to the thread. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![doorhinge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a5b964/32.png) [@doorhinge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doorhinge)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2015, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-student-hangs-white-only-black-only-signs-at-bathrooms-water-fountains/731674/42 "2015-09-22T21:18:35Z")
> [@Slithy\_Tove](#): > > It was a Black person rubbing an extinct form of institutional racism into the faces of white people who may or may not harbor cultural racism, and who may or may not be direct descendants of those who practiced institutional racism. (post shortened) It appears to have been a black person rubbing an extinct form of institutional racism in the faces of black people. Black students called a meeting. Black students justifiably called “the artist” an asshole. Problem solved. ---
**Author:** ![handsomeharry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9c0ed/32.png) [@handsomeharry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handsomeharry)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2015, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-student-hangs-white-only-black-only-signs-at-bathrooms-water-fountains/731674/43 "2015-10-20T00:26:35Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > Only inasmuch as racism is assholish. > > But, yes, he probably would be expelled or such\*. Because it would be more likely that the kid was actually being racist rather than just being a jerk. It is unlikely that a black person actually thinks black people are inferior, so you need more evidence. > ) The white kid “would be more likely…being racist…” You have evidence to back this up, or, are you just saying it because he was (in the scenario) white? You are using circular reasoning. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2015, 9:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-student-hangs-white-only-black-only-signs-at-bathrooms-water-fountains/731674/44 "2015-10-20T09:28:53Z")
> [@handsomeharry](#): > > The white kid “would be more likely…being racist…” You have evidence to back this up, or, are you just saying it because he was (in the scenario) white? > > You are using circular reasoning. Already offered. You can ignore it all you want, but it’s right there, in that part of the post you conveniently ignored. The default is that a racist action is racist. Except when it’s against your own race. If you say something anti-black, I will see you as a racist. If you say something anti-white, I’ll assume you’re bring ironic or making a point. Sorry that bothers you. ’ Either way, I’m not going to continue to talk to someone who takes quotes out of context, deliberately leaving out the reasoning so you can assume bad reasoning. ---
**Author:** ![handsomeharry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9c0ed/32.png) [@handsomeharry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handsomeharry)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2015, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-student-hangs-white-only-black-only-signs-at-bathrooms-water-fountains/731674/45 "2015-11-06T01:09:31Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > Already offered. You can ignore it all you want, but it’s right there, in that part of the post you conveniently ignored. The default is that a racist action is racist. Except when it’s against your own race. > > If you say something anti-black, I will see you as a racist. If you say something anti-white, I’ll assume you’re bring ironic or making a point. Sorry that bothers you. > > Either way, I’m not going to continue to talk to someone who takes quotes out of context, deliberately leaving out the reasoning so you can assume bad reasoning. Apparently you don’t understand either what racism is or what an action is. Can’t help you further. You’re committed. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2015, 5:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-student-hangs-white-only-black-only-signs-at-bathrooms-water-fountains/731674/46 "2015-11-06T05:20:40Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > You don’t need a Grant for your pyramid; he’s already got a tomb. The pyramids were built by Joseph to store grain. Thanks, Ben Carson! ---
**Author:** ![Morgenstern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Morgenstern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgenstern)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2015, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-student-hangs-white-only-black-only-signs-at-bathrooms-water-fountains/731674/47 "2015-11-06T16:53:06Z")
> [@handsomeharry](#): > > Apparently you don’t understand either what racism is or what an action is. > > Can’t help you further. You’re committed. I think you’re pointing at **BigT** too soon here. If I started a television network called White Entertainment Television and only showed film with white actors/actresses, I’d be criticized, appropriately, for being anti-black. But if I started a television network called Black Entertainment Television, and featured exclusively black actors and actresses, I’d be seen as an entrepreneur. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2015, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-student-hangs-white-only-black-only-signs-at-bathrooms-water-fountains/731674/48 "2015-11-06T16:55:40Z")
> [@Morgenstern](#): > > I think you’re pointing at **BigT** too soon here. > > If I started a television network called White Entertainment Television and only showed film with white actors/actresses, I’d be criticized, appropriately, for being anti-black. But if I started a television network called Black Entertainment Television, and featured exclusively black actors and actresses, I’d be seen as an entrepreneur. and you have a problem with this? ---
**Author:** ![Morgenstern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Morgenstern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgenstern)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2015, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-student-hangs-white-only-black-only-signs-at-bathrooms-water-fountains/731674/49 "2015-11-06T16:57:15Z")
I reread my post. I didn’t see the word problem in it anywhere. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2015, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-student-hangs-white-only-black-only-signs-at-bathrooms-water-fountains/731674/50 "2015-11-06T17:05:23Z")
> [@Morgenstern](#): > > I reread my post. I didn’t see the word problem in it anywhere. Cool. You have accurately described a situation that you have no problem with. I incorrectly assumed you were satisfied with the way things are. ---
**Author:** ![HoneyBadgerDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/honeybadgerdc/32/1033_2.png) [@HoneyBadgerDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoneyBadgerDC)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2015, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-student-hangs-white-only-black-only-signs-at-bathrooms-water-fountains/731674/51 "2015-11-06T17:20:18Z")
I wouldn’t take things like this too seriously. I see a student trying to spread his wings and he failed to fly on this one. Hopefully he learned something but at some level it is refreshing to see students just trying things fail or not. ---
**Author:** ![Staggerlee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/staggerlee/32/3134_2.png) [@Staggerlee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Staggerlee)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2015, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-student-hangs-white-only-black-only-signs-at-bathrooms-water-fountains/731674/52 "2015-11-06T17:27:14Z")
> [@cmyk](#): > > This is absolutely outrageous! What are the white women going to do with urinals? Some sort of feminist Marcel Duchamp tribute act, I imagine. And yes, this story sounds like typical tiresome, inflammatory conceptual student art. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2015, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-student-hangs-white-only-black-only-signs-at-bathrooms-water-fountains/731674/53 "2015-11-06T17:32:02Z")
> [@Morgenstern](#): > > If I started a television network called White Entertainment Television and only showed film with white actors/actresses, I’d be criticized, appropriately, for being anti-black. But if I started a television network called Black Entertainment Television, and featured exclusively black actors and actresses, I’d be seen as an entrepreneur. I think you’d be seen as a defendant. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2015, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-student-hangs-white-only-black-only-signs-at-bathrooms-water-fountains/731674/54 "2015-11-06T19:35:46Z")
A stunt of this sort only leads to a backlash against African Americans. It’s counterproductive. ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2015, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-student-hangs-white-only-black-only-signs-at-bathrooms-water-fountains/731674/55 "2015-11-06T20:10:09Z")
> [@usedtobe](#): > > “Art” would have been to record the instant reaction of the people coming across the signs for the first time. I agree that would probably have been more substantial. Still, that doesn’t mean that this wasn’t art. > [@Slithy\_Tove](#): > > It was a Black person rubbing an extinct form of institutional racism into the faces of white people who may or may not harbor cultural racism… Well, in the face of black folks as well–and that’s where the most visible reaction occurred. ---
**Author:** ![Staggerlee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/staggerlee/32/3134_2.png) [@Staggerlee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Staggerlee)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2015, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-student-hangs-white-only-black-only-signs-at-bathrooms-water-fountains/731674/56 "2015-11-06T22:52:29Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > A stunt of this sort only leads to a backlash against African Americans. It’s counterproductive. Lucky there’s not a proportional backlash against white, racist Americans then, really. ---
**Author:** ![Morgenstern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Morgenstern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgenstern)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2015, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-student-hangs-white-only-black-only-signs-at-bathrooms-water-fountains/731674/57 "2015-11-06T23:27:49Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > Cool. You have accurately described a situation that you have no problem with. I incorrectly assumed you were satisfied with the way things are. No, I described a paragraph that didn’t have the word “problem” in it. I didn’t see the word “satisfied” in it either. Where do you keep finding all these extra words? ---
**Author:** ![Aquadementia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aquadementia/32/555_2.png) [@Aquadementia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aquadementia)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2015, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-student-hangs-white-only-black-only-signs-at-bathrooms-water-fountains/731674/58 "2015-11-07T00:09:53Z")
> [@Morgenstern](#): > > I think you’re pointing at **BigT** too soon here. > > If I started a television network called White Entertainment Television and only showed film with white actors/actresses, I’d be criticized, appropriately, for being anti-black. But if I started a television network called Black Entertainment Television, and featured exclusively black actors and actresses, I’d be seen as an entrepreneur. Yeah, it would be refreshing to see someone like me on television: a white man. If only I could find that kind of thing somewhere. ---
**Author:** ![Melbourne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5e925/32.png) [@Melbourne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Melbourne)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2015, 9:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-student-hangs-white-only-black-only-signs-at-bathrooms-water-fountains/731674/59 "2015-11-07T09:14:26Z")
As an interested outsider, I’ve decided to come out in favour of the artist. Firstly, SDMB seems very “racist” to me: there is a preocupation with race, expressed as a pre-ocupation with “racism”. I take this (and some of my relatives) to indicate that Americans in general are constantly reacting to issues of “race” Secondly, from my contact with artists, I find that some of them agree with Tolstoy about the role and real meaning of “art”. It’s not the only opinion, but I’m not going to react differently to it than to Catholicism or Scientism or Legalism: there is a community that holds those beliefs. Putting the two togethor, I see a legitimate expression of “art”, addressing a critical moral issue at the heart of modern American society. I salute the student. I’d give him a stipend and a tutorship if I was rich. He/she may never do anything else as interesting as this, but then, most artists don’t even do one thing really intellectual and clear. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2015, 9:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-student-hangs-white-only-black-only-signs-at-bathrooms-water-fountains/731674/60 "2015-11-09T09:14:48Z")
You’re welcome to fund whomever you want. I still think it’s terrible, sophomoric art regardless of whether it’s “racist” or not. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-student-hangs-white-only-black-only-signs-at-bathrooms-water-fountains/731674.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-student-hangs-white-only-black-only-signs-at-bathrooms-water-fountains/731674.md?page=4)