Letters to the Editor

Taste does not belong to any group

Racism and socio-economic discrimination — concepts that are being thrown around as if the mere act of using them in an argument will instill a sense of legitimacy to one's words. Dan Wachtell '02 and Eric Wang '02 have bound themselves by clichés in their recent opinion pieces. The attempts to bolster arguments by enraging the University system with stereotypes of various University groups draw, in the end, greater inanity and humor to this pernicious folly. In Wachtell's and Wang's attempts at refuting the so-called rich white elitism that enshrouds our University, they have themselves been constrained by an outdated socio-cultural labeling of races and class systems. They cry out against the injustices of a 'system' and a 'Caucasian vision' to which they themselves fall prey. Because of this, Wachtell and Wang are the eternal victims.

I am black; I do not deny this. But a person's race and socio-economic class do not entail a certain set of personal tastes. I am black and I listen to punk music. I am black and I had an eyebrow piercing. I belong to Ivy, but I shop at Diesel and BCBG with the same vigor and excitement as I do when I get a good discount at Wal-Mart or Sam's Club. I do not care for Billy Joel at all. However, please do not tell me that I am being discriminated against because of it. I may be black, but at the same time, I do not care for Busta Rhymes or the Roots either. Musical taste is a function of the individual — not of race or economic power. I'd be interested to see the statistics of the turnouts for both the Indigo Girls and the Busta Rhymes concerts and compare them to the demographics of the larger student body. If Wachtell's arguments have a valid basis, these 'affordable' concerts should have had to turn people away at the door. The world, I hope, has moved past the subjectivity on which he bases his arguments. I welcome Billy Joel to Princeton University. I do not speak for my race or for the superficial economic classification to which I supposedly belong, but I speak for myself as a person who tries to surpass these labels that have been placed upon me. I am above all a person. As an individual who takes advantage of all that is available to me, I do hope that these petty categorizations shall be replaced with discussion of more fundamental problems. I do hope that at least once in Wachtell's and Wang's lives they have not been chastised for coloring outside the lines. And if that is not the case, I take this opportunity to encourage them to do so right now. Toju Ukueberuwa '02