To the Editor:

At a time when the country appears to be becoming more polarized over race, it seems incredible to me that the Iowa State Daily could publish something as insensitive as the Nov. 7 B. B. King headline.

I find it difficult to believe that even the most ignorant of journalists would not wince at referring to any man of King’s age — much less, a black man — as a “Blues Boy.”

Purposefully waiting until now to write, I’m still indignant and deeply disappointed.

Even taking into account one individual’s breathtaking ignorance, how could this headline make it past copy editors or any number of other eyes? The Currents editor was the author of the article!

And people wonder why we’re still dealing with, and talking about race.

The university would be well advised to stop wasting its money on diversity programming if the student paper is going to be demonstrating such enlightened leadership and journalistic acumen.

I am tempted to send a copy to the Canadian based Artists Against Racism as an example of how far we haven’t come.

Neither the editorial board nor the editor can claim ignorance on such a prevalent issue as racism. The use of the word “boy” to refer to a black man is commonly knowledge to be derisive.

Therefore I suspect either the headline was the result of malicious intent or someone with their head buried pretty far up their lower alimentary canal.

A credible newspaper can’t abide that level of ignorance whether intentional or not.

Words are powerful. One might expect journalists (or even those who play at journalism) to realize that fact. Blues man, blues artist, blues legend, blues musician… the possibilities were many.

The Iowa State Daily chose the term “Blues Boy” to describe a veteran performer who will, this year, receive a Kennedy Center Honor and a reception at the White House.

Why am I not surprised?

Vernon Windsor

HHP

Iowa State University

Editor’s Note: According to a press release from B.B. King’s management company, the term “Blues Boy” refers to B.B. King’s performance name, which originally was “Beale Street Blues Boy.”This title was later shortened to “Blues Boy,”and finally, to “B.B.”