Event at Dixie State to discuss ‘why words matter’ for minorities

Photo of Daneka Souberbielle courtesy of Dixie State University, St. George News

ST. GEORGE — An event at Dixie State University is aiming to spread awareness of “why words matter” when referring to minorities.

The Dixie State Multicultural and Inclusion Center is presenting its first “Diversity Dialogue” of 2018 Thursday at 1 p.m. in the Gardner Student Center living room. Daneka Souberbielle, director of the multicultural and diversity center, will be hosting the discussion titled “Why words matter.”

“‘Why words matter’ discusses the effects of appropriate versus inappropriate verbiage in settings with (or) about minority individuals (and) groups,” said Christina Parmar, vice president of public relations for the Multicultural and Inclusion Center.

Students and members of the community are invited to come to the Dixie State campus to learn more about how words can affect minorities.

Event details

  • What: Dixie State University Multicultural and Inclusion Center presents “Diversity Dialogue: Why words matter.”
  • When: Thursday, Jan. 25, from 1-2 p.m.
  • Where: Dixie State Gardner Student Center living room
  • Details: Admission is free. The public is welcome to attend.

Email: [email protected]

Twitter:  @STGnews | @SpencerRicks

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8 Comments

  • NickDanger January 24, 2018 at 4:04 pm

    It’s a shame no one in the minority community has the courage to sponsor a seminar called “Why Words DON’T Matter.”

    I grew up part of my childhood in NYC and part in the southeast corner of the country. Both areas were and still are very racist. NYC is probably the most racist place there is if the truth were known, but you’d have to live there to realize that.

    In any case, blacks have certainly gone through a long cycle of WORDS in my lifetime of 52 years. When I was a kid they were just “blacks.” As I got older I started hearing the “N” word that can no longer be said quite a lot, said by many people, including my father, by default. I never knew it was considered derogatory until much later in life.

    For all of my youth that I can remember, “negro” was acceptable. In fact, IIRC, that was the “formal” word for blacks – thus the United Negro College Fund etc. At some point that became derogatory as well, couldn’t tell you when.

    Then we got “African-American,” which, in my opinion, is just too much of a mouthful to be useful. People aren’t going to go through all 7 syllables of that when they can just say “black” – which is what it has come right back around to again.

    But for the life of me I’ve never understood why blacks let the words bother them. That’s what gives them power. That’s why “honkie” and “cracker” have no power, it doesn’t bother white people to be called that.

    I honestly don’t care, I’ll call any minority any word they want to be called, as long as it isn’t too long and taxing. But in the end, what they really ought to be asking themselves is WHY these words have power over them. Sounds like this seminar is yet another misguided effort to reinforce a defeatist attitude about mere words.

  • aaron January 24, 2018 at 8:27 pm

    I can’t believe that we have to pay for this, snowflake crap at this school. Since dixie is a public college and accepts state funding, that this crap has to go on really don’t they have better things to actually go and learn. Instead of all this social justice p/c, crap, I mean these college kids graduate with little to. Common since, no wonder why when the kids finish college they are no further ahead the. When they started, if they waste their time with their sudo snowflake ideas, good gravy.

  • DRT January 25, 2018 at 8:49 am

    It’s an empowerment thing. I’ve yet to see any minority, (as a group,) that had any problems with referring to any other minority, or even their own minority group using derogatory names.
    I have a very difficult time with this. When you work side by side, for years, with someone who is from any minority heritage, and have an excellent working relationship, you don’t even take heritage into consideration. Until you hear them refer to someone from another minority group by a derogatory name.
    I believe that any individual can make the decision to be offended or not. Unless it is actually meant to be derogatory. Or is repeated over and over.
    I grew up in what is most likely the redneck capitol of the mountain states. I constantly heard minorites referring other minorites by derogatory names. And that never seemed to bother anybody. But let a WASP refer to a person or group using that same name, and all hell would break loose.
    The guilt ridden white liberals have encouraged a lot of this crap. And far to many people of all races have bought into it.

  • mctrialsguy January 26, 2018 at 10:48 am

    I watched the NAACP Awards show last week on TV and was very offended by all of the White jokes and White comments, but I guess that’s okay….all should be equal all the way around!

  • ladybugavenger January 26, 2018 at 11:02 am

    Black obama deported lots of illegals
    White Trump talks about deportation-Racist!

    Goes to show, white people are racists lol

    • bikeandfish January 26, 2018 at 11:57 am

      Deportation and immigration policy aren’t inherently racist. An ethno-nationalist policy like Trump perpetuates is.

      Thoughtful policy that screens extensively for extremism: Not racist.

      “Donald J. Trump is calling for a total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States”: racist. (Campaign Press release in 2015).

      Thoughtful immigration policy on our southern border:. Not racist.

      Policy founded on gross stereotypes like “When Mexico sends its people, they’re not sending their best,”…”They’re sending people that have lots of problems, and they’re bringing those problems with us. They’re bringing drugs. They’re bringing crime. They’re rapists.”: Racist

      Considering merit based immigration: not inherently racist.

      “”Why are we having all these people from shithole countries come here?” : Racist

      Understand the difference now? Words do matter and Trump’s are consistently racist.

  • mctrialsguy January 26, 2018 at 1:13 pm

    Bikeandflush…what Trump says is the truth, sometimes the truth hurts but that doesn’t change that it still in fact…the truth. Truth hurts, but the issues facing us need to be dealt with! Trump tells it like it is and then deals with it openly, not like the politicians that talk and do nothing. He is refreshing to watch, he is cleaning up everyone else’s messes, and…they and yourself just do not like that. Get used to it!

    • bikeandfish January 26, 2018 at 1:44 pm

      Trump definitely is fine exerting is personal opinion. If you agree with it than I can understand the catharsis of having a voice that appeals to your own biases. His Muslim Ban and campaign statements weren’t facts, they were opinion and personal preference. His “shithole” statements weren’t facts, they were opinions. His constant attacks on those of Mexican descent (and to a lesser extent other Latinos and Hispanics) wasn’t fact but opinion.

      You openly support his habit of “telling it like it is”. Are you vulnerable enough to do the same? If so, be honest, do you support his ethno-nationalism? Are you willing to deal with that policy and history openly?

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