Update:
Nancy Gorduek now blaming the devil for her racist comments at her school’s graduation:
The Washington Post reports:
“A terrible mistake on my part of the graduation ceremony on Friday night,” Gordeuk wrote. “The devil was in the house and came out from my mouth. I deeply apologize for my racist comment and hope that forgiveness in in your hearts.”
The full text of the apology circulated on Twitter, where it was met with skepticism.
What should have been a day to remember for all the right reasons has become a day to remember for all of the wrong ones.
The founder, director and principle of TNT Acadamy in Georgia, Nancy Gorduek, is seen in the video below addressing the graduating senior class in an aggressive manner. This incident happened in a church after Gorduek had accidentally dismissed the class before the valedictorian had given his speech.
Gorduek appears to grow upset that people were not obeying her orders to return to their seats. Referring to the valedictorian, Gorduek says, “I think ya’ll owe this young man apology.” She then singles out one individual saying, “especially that goober who was coming through with that little thing [an iPad] that was so rude where are you, you little coward? Come back here let’s talk. Ya’ll are among the rudest people I’ve seen in my whole life.”
The comments initially stunned the audience, however she continued her rant with, “You people are being so rude to not listen to this speech. It was my fault that we missed it in the program. Look who’s leaving…all the black people.”
After those comments were made, the crowds response to the remarks can be heard clearly, and their disgust at the tone, manner and words that she used, caused uproar in the class causing the majority of them to be seen getting up and leaving the church before the ceremony was over.
The video has swept the Internet since Friday’s ceremony, with the many calling for Gorduek’s resignation.
Gorduek told NBC News, “When I looked up all I saw was black families leaving, and thus the comment,” continuing, “Frustrated with the prospect of ruining the once-in-a-lifetime ceremony the graduates have worked so hard for, my emotions got the best of me and that is when I blurted out ‘you people are being so rude to not listen to this speech.’ ”
According to WXIA in Atlanta, Gorduex sent out an email to the parents, saying, “A terrible mistake on my part of the graduation ceremony on Friday night. The devil was in the house and came out from my mouth. I deeply apologize for my racist comment and hope that forgiveness in in your hearts.”
I recently wrote about my own experience with racism, how it’s ripples cause storms that can destroy families.
The effects of racism can last a lifetime.
In the article, I explain how racism has seeped into every part of our society, into friendships and relationships, into the minds of work colleagues and the person that passes us by on the street.
Racism tries to convince people that it has valid points as the words are filled with anger, hatred, aggression and venom. To this day, I have never heard a valid argument to justify racism. I believe racism is based on ignorance and fear. Fear of differences, ignorance and refusal to understand one another and accepting the other as we are.
When we take time to listen to one another, we see things from a new perspective, and often, our minds are opened and illusions begin to shatter.
Racism needs to be addressed, properly, as until then there will be a constant stream of unrest. Until we stand side-by-side and hear what the other has to say, whether we agree or not, we have no hope of living peacefully on this shared planet.
We are all different, regardless of skin colour. We need to stop being afraid of our differences, open our minds and hearts, learn about one another and we need to start practicing acceptance. This is not just a problem for black people and white people. It is a problem for all races, every race has judgements against it from other races and every race suffers. Hopefully, one day in the future, we can drop the labels altogether and exist side-by-side as humans, with no judgements and without any need to define.
I am sometimes a little wary about talking about racism. I know that it is a sensitive subject and I know that it is still a taboo issue for many people. I feel that as a white person, some may think that I am not in a position to talk about the problems that black people face. I want to shout out that racism needs to be addressed, it is not okay, for any race, it cannot be tolerated and it should never even have been an issue many years ago and it is now long past time that things changed.
We need to all stand together—calmly and unified—if racism stands any chance of being wiped out.
Lately there has been a #FuckRacism hashtag circulating social media.
Addressing and eliminating racism won’t happen overnight. By opening dialogue and conversation and raising awareness, it is possible for our future generations.
Let’s stand tall, be brave and no longer be afraid of our differences. Let’s agree it’s about time to let society know there is no place in it for racism.
It’s time to #FuckRacism…
Source:
Author: Alex Myles
Editor: Renée Picard
Image: screenshot
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