Smack speak and jokes are part of HBCU tradition. It might be foolish to disclaim this.
Generations of rivalries have given loads of faculties and universities ammunition towards one another for every kind of roasting seasons, humorous movies, memes and rather more.
There’s a line, nevertheless.
And Florida A&M band announcer Joe Bullard jumped miles throughout that line this previous Saturday when he made a joke about Alabama State’s standard Honey Beez dance group, calling them the “new faces of Ozempic.”
The Honey Beez are a gifted group of plus-size younger girls who dance with ASU’s Marching Hornets.
Ozempic is a drug used for managing Kind 2 diabetes and is credited with accelerating weight reduction.
Whereas Bullard’s jokes – and people of others – have lengthy been part of HBCU band and sports activities tradition, it’s time that insensitivity and cruelty handed off as innocent humor be put out to pasture. It takes some effort, however it’s attainable to be humorous with out punching down on individuals.
Listening to that joke lower deep for me as effectively due to my very own battles with weight and physique picture. My coronary heart immediately went out to the Honey Beez as a result of I bear in mind all of the jokes, even lengthy after they had been mentioned and even after a profitable weight reduction journey.
Throughout my undergrad years at Delaware State College, my weight teetered between 330 and 395 kilos. Despite the fact that I used to be in a position to make just a few pals, my insecurities saved me from actually having fun with campus life, one among my few regrets.
I seemingly chased away extra pals and even potential romantic companions as a result of I handled physique picture and shallowness points poorly.
I struggled with weight effectively into my late 30s once I was in a position to lose 125 kilos (and have saved most of it off!), discovering some confidence and self-love I by no means thought I might have.
Nevertheless, not each plus-size particular person goes to drop 100-plus kilos as a result of they really feel prefer it. That’s okay and they need to be revered as human beings regardless. Life is tough sufficient with out individuals making corny jokes about your weight and your appears.
Now think about being 18 to 22-year-old younger ladies, in a world the place should you aren’t the proper of thick, the proper of curvy, the suitable complexion, you’re handled in a dismissive method.
It’s devastating to be diminished to your look and dimension when that’s only one element of what makes a whole particular person.
If there’s any excellent news from this, it’s that almost all of the social media response has been to uplift the Honey Beez and take Bullard to job for his poor alternative of phrases. Humanity and empathy aren’t lifeless, thank goodness.
There’s been no phrase on Joe Bullard’s future as FAMU band announcer, however he ought to bear the load of penalties one inconsiderate joke will seemingly ship his approach.
