How Did Everybody Get So Sensitive?
The ever-expanding art of being offended.
May 20th, 1963. In a world where politicians are still striving to preserve segregation, the University of South Carolina (USC) becomes the last major university in the American South to allow black students to enrol.
In response, over a thousand students burn a cross in front of the university president’s home before marching to the state house chanting, “Two, four, six, eight, we don’t want to integrate.”
Unfortunately for them, after a string of failed appeals, Henrie Monteith, James Solomon Jr., and Robert Anderson became the first African American students at the University. Today, the USC campus bears a statue in their honour.
July 1st, 2010. In a world where people of colour are still a rare sight in elected office, Steve Benjamin, himself a USC graduate, becomes the first African American to be elected Mayor of South Carolina’s capitol, Columbia.
Citizens of Columbia express their feelings about his campaign by spray painting “No ni**er mayor” and “die” on the side of City Hall.
Unfortunately for them, Benjamin wins the election and serves faithfully for the next twelve years. Today, he serves as a senior advisor to the President of the United States.
