Monday, October 6, 2008

Sphinx Organization isn't Racist?

Re: Sphinx Organization discriminates against white children

I appreciate Margaret A. Cassetto, Manager of Corporate Partnerships, for promptly responding to my legitimate concerns about the racist nature of the Sphinx Organization - the only one to do so out of the many who I contacted:

Subject: "Diversity" music program is off color and off key
Date: Oct 6, 2008
I would like to clarify your misconception that the Sphinx Organization's programs are exclusively for Blacks and Latinos. The only program for which Black or Latino heritage is requisite is the Sphinx Competition for young Black and Latino string players. This represents only a small portion of the people served by the organization. (The competiiton awards 18 semi-finalists annually.) The hundreds upon hundreds of young people who benefit from free and low-cost music education and exposure to classical music are of all races and ethnicities. Young people from all backgrounds participate in Sphinx's full-scholarship summer music academy and weekend music institute. Likewise, when Sphinx artists visit schools across the country, it is a diverse audience of students who benefit from educational residencies and workshops.
****

How I wish to God it was merely a misconception on my part that children of [White] color are being discriminated against by the Sphinx Organization's exclusive programs for Black and Latinos! Why do I remain unconvinced? Consider the following, review the evidence, and come to your own conclusions and act accordingly:


Straight from the mouth of the Sphinx:

Sphinx Competition
The Sphinx Competition presented by Chase is held every year in Ann Arbor and Detroit, Michigan. The competition is open to all Junior High, High School, and College age Black and Latino string players residing in the U.S. The Sphinx Competition offers young Black and Latino classical string players a chance to compete under the guidance of an internationally renowned panel of judges and to perform with established professional musicians in a competition setting. Its primary goals are to encourage, develop and recognize classical music talent in the Black and Latino communities.

Sphinx Symphony
The Sphinx Symphony is the unique all Black and Latino orchestra comprised of top professionals from around the country.

Music Assistance Fund
In 2001, the Sphinx Organization joined forces with the League of American Orchestras to execute and oversee its Music Assistance Fund for minority classical musicians.

Recital Series
Sphinx, with the support of Borders, initiated this program to increase exposure and provide recognition of young minority talent nationwide.

School Dayz
Harlem Quartet School Dayz constitutes a series of educational residencies throughout elementary schools within the city of New York.... This in-school program involves extended exposure of students to works by minority composers...

***********

Assorted Media Reviews:

NEA Spotlight:
Sphinx Organization
(Detroit, MI)

The Sphinx Organization of Detroit, Michigan is dedicated to building diversity in classical music by developing the classical music talent in African American and Latino youth. Sphinx also holds the annual Sphinx Competition, in which young African American and Latino string players compete, mentored by members of the Sphinx Symphony Orchestra, a unique all African American and Latino orchestra comprised of top professionals from around the country. [Unique? Imagine the hue and cry about an orchestra purposely "all Caucasian" supported by taxpayers!]

In FY 2004, the Sphinx Organization received an NEA Creativity grant of $60,000 to support the artistic development of the Sphinx Symphony and the 2004 Sphinx Competition. .. [Isn't this illegal since the Sphinx Organization discriminates against children of [White] color?]
(From the 2004 NEA Annual Report)
************

The Kresge Foundation
The Sphinx Organization Develops the Musical Talent of Underserved Youth [underserved by who? Their parents? Their ethnic community? Isn't this another classic example of imposing "white guilt" to shake down greater contributions?]
Detroit-based national nonprofit is changing the face of classical music. [Black face? Brown face?]
Troy, Michigan, March 17, 2008
********

Sphinx Organization aims to showcase African-American and Latin musicians
...The specific goal is to build black and Latino musicians...[quote from Aaron P. Dworkin - the Founder and President of the Sphinx Organization].
The Blade (Toledo, Ohio)
***********

Unless more convincing proof is offered, it's time for men and women of goodwill, of every color and creed, to write the major sponsors of the Sphinx Organization, to contact the big donors, to register complaint they support blatant discrimination and racism against White children.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Why is it that only whites can be racists?

Message:
Why is it that only whites can be racists?
BLACKS ARE THE WORST RACISTS.
Michael Richards better known as Kramer from tv's Seinfeld, does make a good point.

This was his defense speech in court after making racial comments in his comedy act. He makes some very interesting points.
Proud To Be White

Someone finally said it.
How many are actually paying attention to this?

There are African Americans, Mexican Americans,
Asian Americans, Arab Americans, etc.
And then there are just Americans.

You pass me on the street and sneer in my direction.
You Call me 'White boy,' 'Cracker,' 'Honkey,'
'Whitey,' 'Caveman' ... and that's OK.

But when I call you, Nigger, Kike, Towel head,
Sand-nigger, Camel Jockey, Beaner, Gook, or Chink ...
You call me a racist.

You say that whites commit a lot of violence against you,
so why are the ghettos the most dangerous places to live?

You have the United Negro College Fund.
You have Martin Luther King Day.
You have Black History Month.
You have Cesar Chavez Day.
You have Yom Hashoah.
You have Ma'uled Al-Nabi.
You have the NAACP.
You have BET.
If we had WET (White Entertainment Television) we'd be racists.
If we had a White Pride Day, you would call us racists.
If we had White History Month , we'd be racists.
If we had any organization for only whites to 'advance'
OUR lives we'd be racists.

We have a Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, a Black Chamber
of Commerce, and then we just have the plain Chamber of Commerce.
Wonder who pays for that?


A white woman could not be in the Miss Black American
pageant, but any color can be in the Miss America pageant.


If we had a college fund that only gave white students
scholarships you know we'd be racists.
There are over 60 openly proclaimed Black Colleges
in the US . Yet if there were 'White colleges' THAT
would be a racist college.


In the Million Man March, you believed that you were
marching for your race and rights. If we marched for
our race and rights, you would call us racists.

You are proud to be black, brown, yellow and orange, and
you're not afraid to announce it. But when we announce
our white pride, you call us racists.

You rob us, carjack us, and shoot at us. But, when a
white police officer shoots a black gang member or beats
up a black drug-dealer running from the law and posing a
threat to society, you call him a racist.

I am proud..
But you call me a racist.

Why is it that only whites can be racists?
BLACKS ARE THE WORST RACISTS.

jwalker3 said...

How is it that blacks are the worst rascist when it's you white people who enslaved us? You think that we're rascists because we call you name? how bout getting beat for being black in america?
When you have had generations before you be slaves, then you can make a comment about being rascist.

David Ben-Ariel said...

jwalker3:

Stop making excuses and assume responsibility for yourself. Until Blacks get up and get over it, and stop extorting "white guilt," you'll always be deserving of contempt for "affirmative action," "quotas," "extra points" given on tests for the fire or police department, and other forms of institionalized reverse discrimination that appears to strongly suggest Blacks can't compete by their content of character or qualifications, as conservative Blacks recognize and oppose.