Dead Confederate Memorials, and Living Bigots

The Southern Myth is rapidly imploding, with everything from Universities to Counties and States seeking to remove symbols of confederate racism and slavery…

University Removes Jefferson Davis Statue

Jefferson Davis (FINALLY) being carted off to a dustbin in a museum at UT Austin

A statue of Jefferson Davis was removed from its pedestal Sunday on the campus of the University of Texas at Austin, days after a court rejected an appeal from a Confederate heritage group.

Crews were seen removing the statue of the Confederate president from its place near the university’s iconic clock tower.

Davis’ statue will eventually be displayed in the Briscoe Center history museum on campus, which university officials said is a more appropriate place for it. The Briscoe Center has one of the nation’s largest archives on slavery.

The statue has been a target of vandalism as well as criticism that it is a symbol of racism and discrimination. Confederate symbols nationwide are being re-considered following the recent mass shooting of members of a black church in Charleston, South Carolina.

Yale Has A College Named After A Racist, But That Might Change

Yale University’s leaders on Saturday urged a campus conversation about whether to change the name of a residential college named for 19th century alumnus John C. Calhoun, a U.S. vice president and senator from South Carolina who was an ardent supporter of slavery.

Debate over the name began this summer with a petition circulated after nine black worshippers were slain in a Charleston, South Carolina, church. The petition said the Calhoun name, in place since the 1930s, represents “an indifference to centuries of pain and suffering among the black population.”

President Peter Salovey and Dean Jonathan Holloway said in a letter to alumni that weren’t taking a position on the question but urging a discussion in welcoming speeches to first-year students, and “we encourage you to take part as well.”

“Any response should engage the entire community in a thoughtful, campus-wide conversation about the university’s history, the reasons why we remember or honor individuals, and whether historical narratives should be altered when they are disturbing,” the letter said.

Salovey and Holloway posted their remarks to the students on the university’s website, along with suggested scholarly readings and an internal comment site.

And -It appears there may be still a ways to go in getting the living bigots out of positions of responsibility…

Teacher Was Fired After School Found Out She Was With Black Man: Suit

A white Florida teacher claims she was discriminated against for having a black boyfriend and associating with black staff members.

A lawsuit filed by former Edgewater High School math teacher Audrey Dudek against Orange County Public Schools last week alleges that she was fired in 2013 after school administrators found out she was dating a black man, to whom she is now married.

A copy of the lawsuit obtained by WESH says that at the beginning of the 2011-2012 school year, principal Michelle Erickson learned that Dudek’s boyfriend was black.

“Upon encountering Dudek with her boyfriend, Principal Erickson appeared shocked and offended,” the lawsuit said. “After that encounter, Principal Erickson treated Dudek differently.”

The lawsuit also claims that on another occasion, then-vice principal Anthony Serianni berated Dudek until she cried. When Dudek confided in a black security guard after the incident, Serianni allegedly complained about the teacher being associated with “those” people, referring to black staff members.

Dudek also says that during a talent show, school staff members, including Erickson and Serianni, took part in a racist skit in which staff wore “black face,” “weave hair extensions” and gold teeth in a “pejorative display of ‘black’ culture.”

Dudek was fired in 2013 on the basis of her race, gender and who she associated with, the lawsuit alleges.

A representative for the Orange County school district could not immediately be reached for comment. But in a statement sent to the Orlando Sentinel, the district said Dudek was not discriminated against.

“The district denies all allegations of discrimination by Ms. Dudek,” spokeswoman Shari Bobinski said in an email. “The district will not comment any further due to pending litigation.”…