University Readies For Debate… With Mock-Slave Auctions?

How is Long Island's Hofstra University preparing for tonight's third and final presidential debate? "The entire campus is buzzing. Historical re-enactments were held 24 hours before Sens. John McCain and Barack Obama take the stage. There was Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass, a mock-slavery auction, women's rights activists and civil rights speakers — all intended to 'engage debate.'" Okay. [WCBSTV]

Oct 15, 2008 · posted by Lauren Williams, Stereohyped · Link · 7 Responses

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Tagged: History, Hofstra University, Presidential Debates

Comments (7)

No. 1 · Bklyn DreamZ

As a Hofstra Alum, I am not surprised…. I made a few calls to my fellow Black Alums and they felt the same…. We always had a constant battle as undergrads to let the University kno certain things are not cool…. I'm still waiting for someone to explain to me why no one protested. . .

The Black undergrad now (while still small in size) ain't as organized and loud as they used to be. . .smh

Posted: Oct 15, 2008 at 1:32 pm

No. 2 · Jason

This is…um…weird.

Posted: Oct 15, 2008 at 3:01 pm

No. 3 · alicia

who would agree to be "mock" auctioned off??

Posted: Oct 15, 2008 at 3:56 pm

No. 4 · Bklyn DreamZ

I believe they hired actors…. I know the drama dept faculty was involved…

Posted: Oct 15, 2008 at 4:29 pm

No. 5 · AR1

This is just sad it's 2008 and this BS is going on I bet if a black school did a play about what blacks should have did during slavery times and showed blacks killing whites it would be all over the news.

Posted: Oct 15, 2008 at 5:56 pm

No. 6 · DivergentDana

I second Alicia. They actually got real, live black people to participate?

Posted: Oct 15, 2008 at 8:39 pm

No. 7 · RhymesWithSilver

I saw a mock auction once as part of a Black History Month exhibition- it was horrible, and very effective in driving its point home. And ultimately, acting is acting- everyone knows what part they are signing up to play. I heard it was really hard to cast the auctioneer- playing that part would make me squeamish, too.

Posted: Oct 16, 2008 at 2:30 am

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