Sometimes, our favorite pieces of art are created by objectionable artists. So how do we square the art that we love so much with the oftentimes unsavory individuals that make it?
Having grown up in a small town in Alabama, I am incredibly familiar with confederate imagery. Most prominent among these images was the Confederate flag. I've seen entire stores dedicated to this flag. I’ve seen it flapping on the back of lifted trucks and hung in the rooms of friends. As a Black man, it may not come as a surprise that I don’t really get it. When I’ve asked, I’ve always been met with responses that go along the lines of “southern pride” or “heritage over hate.” These reasons have never sat right with me.
In this country, law and order has been an increasing talking point. No, I am not referring to the series cooked up by Dick Wolf. Issues of crime, homelessness and immigration have been a focal point in politics for the last decade. It is my honest belief that a concerted effort to reform ex-convicts and get them the help they need to re-enter society, rather than focusing on our own desires to see those who have wronged us suffer, is one of the first steps that need to be taken to prevent further violence.
Many of you may have grown up in Alabama and always wanted to go to Auburn. Many of you did not and just so happened to end up here. No matter how you got here, you’re here now and about to embark on a new journey. As someone who has a whopping one year of college under their belt, I feel that it’s most fitting for me to write advice for the entire freshman class.
Whether it’s the chaos of Bama Rush or dominating showcases in just about every sport, the SEC draws a lot of eyes. While the spectacle that is the SEC is often glamorized, it is important to take a more holistic view of it. Though tailgates and Greek life may be fun, we should not gloss over the ways that the SEC, southern culture and our own campus culture often falls short.
It is easy to overlook other sports at Auburn, the likes of which may not have as much national fanfare, but have athletes just as dedicated to their crafts and worthy of recognition.
