Here’s Why Anyone Who Defends The SAE Chant Is A Racism Apologist

Originally published for Uptown. 

In the latest edition of “Let’s Play Apologist For Racial Behavior,” Joe Scarborough of MSNBC‘s Morning Joe blamed rap music for the racist bus chant of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity.

On Wednesday morning’s show, Scarborough and his panel discussed the SAE chant that included the lyrics, “There will never be a n—-r  SAE/ There will never be a n—-r SAE/ You can hang him from a tree, but he will never sign with me/ There will never be a n—-r SAE.”

The conversation turned to hip-hop as the panel condemned rapper Wacka Flocka, who cancelled a scheduled performance for the frat as soon as the news leaked. All seemed to agree that his actions were out of line considering his lyrics.

“If you look at every single song, I guess you call these, that he’s written, it’s a bunch of garbage,” show co-host Mika Brzezinski said. “It’s full of n-words, it’s full of f-words. It’s wrong. And he shouldn’t be disgusted with them; he should be disgusted with himself.”

Bill Kristol, who was a guest on the show, added, “Popular culture becomes a cesspool, a lot [of] corporations profit off of it, and then people are surprised that some drunk 19-year-old kids repeat what they’ve been hearing. Tipper Gore tried to raise this issue, and was widely ridiculed.”

But wait, there’s more!

Scarborough concluded the thesis, saying, “The kids that are buying hip-hop or gangster rap, it’s a white audience, and they hear this over and over again. So do they hear this at home? Well, chances are good, no—they heard a lot of this from guys like this who are now acting shocked.”

I am constantly astounded by people who will twist themselves into knots as they contort themselves to explain away racist behavior. It can never just be, “Well, this is obviously racist.” But since they want to go down this road, let’s discuss why hip-hop is a ridiculously misplaced scapegoat.

First, let’s re-examine the lyrics of the chant. The hosts seem to be caught up on the use of the n-word, which is essentially recycling the “they use it so why can’t we?!” argument. However, even if the n-word had not been used, this chant would still be racist. They blatantly state that they would sooner lynch a Black man than see him be a member of their fraternity. If they had replaced “n—-r” with “dear friend” the song would still be racist.

Further, both members who were expelled from OU behind the video claimed to have been taught the song. It’s not a leap to say that most chants, creeds, etc. of fraternities and sororities are longstanding traditions and not ones that were created with the onset of hip-hop.

If that’s not enough, let’s look at some of the other traditions and the history of the fraternity.

A former brother of the SAE fraternity claims “racism is a part of the SAE culture.”

“I can promise you that any SAE who saw the Oklahoma University racist bus chant story thought, ‘Yup, pretty much how it was when I was in the house.'”

He recounted numerous rituals that included hanging Confederate State Flags — not to be confused with the actual Confederate Flag, which could also be found — on the lawn for a month each year and giving “n—-r names” to pledges. Some chapter reportedly went so far as to having them pick cotton in Black face. They also had a Founder’s Day/Plantation Ball every year.

The former brother, who is now in his thirties, says that the statements from national fraternity leaders that paint them as shocked and disappointed are an act.

“I know SAEs from all over the country, and while some of them are definitely racially tolerant chapters, that isn’t par for the course in the Midwest/South, and I defy any alum to challenge that,” said the former member.

Given the history of how certain media outlets spin these things, I’m sure they would readily write these comments off as hearsay or defamatory remarks from a disgruntled ex-fraternity member. So, allow me to move to exhibit three: citations.

The SAE fraternity, which boasts the title of the only lasting fraternity that was established in the pre-Civil War Deep South, has received about 130 disciplinary proceedings across their national chapters in the past five years alone. And SAE is no stranger to being cited for racist behaviors.

In October 2006, the University of Memphis chapter was investigated after a freshman complained about his brothers making inappropriate comments to and about his Black girlfriend. The chapter at Washington University in St. Louis was suspended while being investigated for claims that the pledges acted in racially offensive ways to minorities on campus in February 2013. This past December, Clemson University suspended its SAE chapter after they threw a gang-themed “Cripmas party” at which its all-white members masqueraded in their iterations of gang gear.

In 2011, George Desdunes, a Black student, pledged SAE at Cornell. The 19-year-old aspiring doctor was allegedly kidnapped and taken by car to the fraternity house at around 1 a.m. While there, he was bound with tape and zip ties and forced to drink alcohol for four hours while answering questions about the frat until he passed out. Instead of taking him to the hospital, fraternity members left him on the couch to die — which he eventually did. His blood alcohol level was still five times the legal limit.

With all of this said, I want anyone defending these men to stop or admit that you’re sympathizing with racists. There is no in-between. Don’t say it’s an isolated chapter and don’t try to blame hip-hop for their behavior. These men acted of their own accord and pledged a fraternity that had clearly racist roots. If there’s anyone who doesn’t see that, maybe they should question where they stand with racism.