# 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:** 9\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![doorhinge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a5b964/32.png) [@doorhinge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doorhinge)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2015, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-student-hangs-white-only-black-only-signs-at-bathrooms-water-fountains/731674/61 "2015-11-09T16:45:08Z")
> [@Melbourne](#): > > As an interested outsider, I’ve decided to come out in favour of the artist. (post shortened) The alleged artist attempted to enflame racial hatred. Black student groups called “the artist” an asshole for doing what she did. I agree with those student groups. What can we expect from this alleged artist in the future? Maybe she’ll write racial epitaphs with human feces on the walls of a college bathroom? Was she anywhere near the University of Missouri recently? Where was she practicing her race-baiting artistry? ---
**Author:** ![Melbourne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5e925/32.png) [@Melbourne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Melbourne)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2015, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-student-hangs-white-only-black-only-signs-at-bathrooms-water-fountains/731674/62 "2015-11-13T04:33:15Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > You’re welcome to fund whomever you want. I still think it’s terrible, sophomoric art regardless of whether it’s “racist” or not. Out of curiosity, is that an opinion about art or about “art” ? What do you think of “An Oak Tree” by Craig-Martin? Do you agree with the analysis that Andy Warhol reached “the end of art”? ---
**Author:** ![Your\_Great\_Darsh\_Face](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/ac8455/32.png) [@Your\_Great\_Darsh\_Face](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Your_Great_Darsh_Face)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2015, 8:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-student-hangs-white-only-black-only-signs-at-bathrooms-water-fountains/731674/63 "2015-11-13T08:07:09Z")
> [@doorhinge](#): > > (post shortened) > > The alleged artist attempted to enflame racial hatred. Black student groups called “the artist” an asshole for doing what she did. I agree with those student groups. > > What can we expect from this alleged artist in the future? Maybe she’ll write racial **epitaphs** with human feces on the walls of a college bathroom? Was she anywhere near the University of Missouri recently? Where was she practicing her race-baiting artistry? I think that word does not mean what you think it means, although I suppose something like “Here Lies White Supremacy, Gone None Too Soon” might be art of a sort. ---
**Author:** ![the\_diego](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7bcc69/32.png) [@the\_diego](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/the_diego)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2015, 8:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-student-hangs-white-only-black-only-signs-at-bathrooms-water-fountains/731674/64 "2015-11-13T08:17:57Z")
If Damien Hirst can make a whole load of money out of crap and this kid doesn’t, then he’s doing things wrong. ---
**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 13, 2015, 9:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-student-hangs-white-only-black-only-signs-at-bathrooms-water-fountains/731674/65 "2015-11-13T09:57:14Z")
> [@Melbourne](#): > > Out of curiosity, is that an opinion about art or about “art” ? Insofar as I follow your meaning, I mean art. > [@](#): > > What do you think of “An Oak Tree” by Craig-Martin? I hadn’t heard of that work but I’m happy to go on the record as considering such purely conceptual art, without any evidence of any artistic effort, as lazy bullshit. The only artistry involved is the salesmanship involved in crafting convoluted justifications for a glass of water or a post-it note stuck to a wall. Duchamp may have pulled it off but Craig-Martin has not, and reading [his explanation](https://offthewalls.wordpress.com/2009/01/31/an-oak-tree-michael-craig-martin/) just makes me want to slap the smug out of him. Needless to say, I tend to get grumpy around Turner Prize time (although there have been many entries I’ve liked, and I’m a big Grayson Perry fan). > [@](#): > > Do you agree with the analysis that Andy Warhol reached “the end of art”? No. And Damien Hirst at least can claim some aesthetic merit - I find a lot of his pieces superficial but I understand where he’s coming from. This art student, however… just fails. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2015, 10:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-student-hangs-white-only-black-only-signs-at-bathrooms-water-fountains/731674/66 "2015-11-13T10:05:38Z")
Even if conceptual / performance art is art, it doesn’t mean it does not follow Sturgeon’s Law under which 90+% of it is crap. I was relatively quiet about this sort of art until I heard of one that _was_ insightful and made me think, and so now I am free to no longer have doubts that I don’t “get” the genre: most of it is truly dreadful. Also, being an artist doesn’t mean you’re not a jerk for expressing your opinion and/or interfering in other people’s lives in an unwanted way. Just like “pretending” to be a jerk when you troll is actually being a jerk, pretending to be a jerk under the concept of art _is_ still being a jerk. ---
**Author:** ![usedtobe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ec9cab/32.png) [@usedtobe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/usedtobe)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2015, 5:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-student-hangs-white-only-black-only-signs-at-bathrooms-water-fountains/731674/67 "2015-11-14T05:29:18Z")
If he actually used ‘Black Only’ sign, in addition to being a jerk, he is a moron - there were NO ‘Black Only’ signs - there were ‘White Only’ and "Black’. A white person could use the ‘Black’ facility, but a black could not use a 'White _ **Only** _ facility - it was a matter of giving/reserving privilege. ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2015, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-student-hangs-white-only-black-only-signs-at-bathrooms-water-fountains/731674/68 "2015-11-14T14:24:02Z")
> [@usedtobe](#): > > If he actually used ‘Black Only’ sign, in addition to being a jerk, he is a moron - there were NO ‘Black Only’ signs - there were ‘White Only’ and "Black’. > A white person could use the ‘Black’ facility, but a black could not use a 'White _ **Only** _ facility - it was a matter of giving/reserving privilege. Are you talking about the United States? Where do you get your information? The usual terminology in American segregation was “colored,” and [it was certainly rendered “only” both ways](https://thecoastwatcher.files.wordpress.com/2011/12/colored-only11.jpg), though more often [with the descriptors only](https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/c6/01/84/c60184c1988727b18acdc73d8742ab47.jpg). ---
**Author:** ![Rigamarole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/77aa72/32.png) [@Rigamarole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rigamarole)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2015, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-student-hangs-white-only-black-only-signs-at-bathrooms-water-fountains/731674/69 "2015-11-14T15:35:17Z")
> [@usedtobe](#): > > If he actually used ‘Black Only’ sign, in addition to being a jerk, he is a moron - there were NO ‘Black Only’ signs - there were ‘White Only’ and "Black’. > A white person could use the ‘Black’ facility, but a black could not use a 'White _ **Only** _ facility - it was a matter of giving/reserving privilege. > [@Peremensoe](#): > > Are you talking about the United States? Where do you get your information? The usual terminology in American segregation was “colored,” and [it was certainly rendered “only” both ways](https://thecoastwatcher.files.wordpress.com/2011/12/colored-only11.jpg), though more often [with the descriptors only](https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/c6/01/84/c60184c1988727b18acdc73d8742ab47.jpg). I imagine it was a public health concern. Wouldn’t want to end up with colored cooties! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-student-hangs-white-only-black-only-signs-at-bathrooms-water-fountains/731674.md?page=3)