Not Your Grandmothers’ Anti-Discrimination Lawsuit
Student claims University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey discriminated against him for the way he described his background in classroom discussions on cultural diversity.
WOULD YOU LET THEM NEAR YOUR MOUTH??
Born and raised in Mozambique and now a naturalized U.S. citizen, Paolo Serodio, 45, has filed a lawsuit against a New Jersey medical school, claiming he was harassed and ultimately suspended for identifying himself during a class cultural exercise as a “white African-American.”
According to the lawsuit, Serodio was summoned to the professor’s office and was told not to label himself as white African-American because it was offensive to other people.
“I wouldn’t wish this to my worst enemy,” he said. “I’m not exaggerating. This has destroyed my life, my career.”
The lawsuit, which asks for Serodio’s reinstatement at the school and monetary damages, named the Newark-based University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey and several doctors and university employees as defendants.
Filed Monday in U.S. District Court in New Jersey, the lawsuit traces a series of events that Serodio maintains led to his 2007 suspension, starting with a March 2006 cultural exercise in a clinical skills course taught by Dr. Kathy Ann Duncan, where each student was asked to define themselves for a discussion on culture and medicine.
After Serodio labeled himself as a white African-American, another student said she was offended by his comments and that, because of his white skin, was not an African-American.
According to the lawsuit, Serodio was summoned to Duncan’s office where he was instructed “never to define himself as an African-American … because it was offensive to others and to people of color for him to do so.”
Other White African Americans
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- CHARLIZE THERON
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- TERESA HINES KERRY
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- TIM CLARK
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- WOULD YOU LET THEM NEAR YOUR MOUTH??
Serodio, who lives in Newark, said he never meant to offend anyone and calling himself African-American doesn’t detract from another person’s heritage.
Neither the American Civil Liberties Union nor the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People responded to messages seeking comment on the meaning of African-American.
The Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary defines African-American as “an American of African and especially of black African descent.”
“There are people of all races who are African,” Serodio said, adding that he’s never had a problem identifying himself as an African-American until that day in Duncan’s class.
Zeff pointed out that Serodio only labeled himself after his instructors asked him to do so and was then penalized for it.
“After Serodio labeled himself as a white African-American, another student said she was offended by his comments and that, because of his white skin, was not an African-American.”
So, now we are going to decide race based on melanin content? WTH?
The whole problem could easily be remedied by not using the word African, which denotes a continent of origin, as a substitute for a word that solely denotes race. One wonders why no one is promoting this too obvious solution.
Or not.It also seems obvious that people should be called by the designation that they prefer, and everyone should have this right.
I know a lot of older black Americans who have reverted to calling themselves blacks/ black Americans because of the influx of Africans, from whom the American blacks are (here in NC anyway) culturally often very dissimilar (and many of whom are far richer and not remotely sympathetic to the black Americans).
I also know many people who still insist on the designation of African American.
I call people whatever they want. After all, I really dislike when some ass tries to call me a Euro-American or an Anglo-American. I’m not a European and I’m not descended from the Angles or the Saxons. I am hybrid NC and WV hillbilly from the Appalachians; I am predominantly (Ulster) Irish in ancestry. But I’m not an “Irish” American. There was no attempt among my ancestors to retain Irishness. I am white, though I don’t often think of myself as a “white” American, but maybe that’s because whites are still the majority.
Your last comment is actually really funny in an ironic way, mcnorman, because in fact, genetic testing for ancestry has labeled a number of black Americans as white. They didn’t much like it. the nut woman in the article could use a reminder of that, perhaps.
This whole situation reminds me of the blue-eyed/brown eyed social experiment by that Iowa(?) teacher back in the 60s, I can’t remember its name.
Yes, the social experiment blue/brown eyed. That is an old one.
I find it all nuts.
Melanin content seems to play such an important role in defining labels for many races not just AA.
I understand where you are coming from nomnom.
I have a dear friend who is an islander / Cuban. He cringes at the thought of being labeled Black or African American.
As for the nut woman, ignorance is bliss. This happens within the Hispanic community as well. The world is a large place and it is funny how many chose to believe that it is but a tiny hole in the wall.
“The whole problem could easily be remedied by not using the word African, which denotes a continent of origin, as a substitute for a word that solely denotes race. One wonders why no one is promoting this too obvious solution. Or not.”
Exactly. The man was born and raised in Africa, then became an American citizen. That makes him more of an African American than someone who was born in America and only connection with Africa is a distant ancestor.
I don’t get the whole “ownership” thing. Gays and women have been accused of hijacking the ERA, because some in the African American community INSIST its determined by race. In essence, it is about equality for anyone who is treated unfairly.
I know quite a few Haitian immigrants that abhore the term “African-American”. probably due to leading the only successful slave revolt in history. some may be poor, but they’re proud.
More to the point: What makes someone African American? Skin color or country of origin?
I would think the latter, but it seems that what is called the African American Community is comprised mostly of people who were born here with an African born relative in their distant, distant past. Yet, I’m being accused of being “Racist!” by pointing this out. (you should see the E-N-O-R-M-O-U-S load of crap in my spam filter). Go figure……