Kaine’s Visit, Sprucing Up & Ethnic Confusion

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Kaine speaking at UVa-Wise today

Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine is the keynote speaker for today’s graduation at the University of Virginia’s College at Wise. We welcome him to the region for another of his regular visits. The college rightly credits him with securing a $1.6 billion bond package last year to expand public access to higher education. The package also gave UVa-Wise $30 million for a convocation center and $600,000 for accessibility projects.

Even before Kaine was governor, we remember him touring the college’s student center, which was still under construction, during a homecoming-weekend trip to Wise. Kaine, whose father-in-law is former governor and Big Stone Gap, Va., native Linwood Holton, has long been a supporter of the college and the region. Today’s graduates are fortunate to hear him speak and have him take part in their graduation ceremony.

Kaine, who also is the Democratic National Chairman, will be featured on NBC News’ “Meet the Press” on Sunday, with Republican National Chairman Michael Steele.

Keeping downtown Bristol beautiful

The annual Keep Bristol Beautiful downtown planting provided a pleasingly vivid punch of color along State Street this week. Though sponsored by a number of groups, the planting wouldn’t be possible without the volunteers who fanned out to do the work. Among them were students from Tri-Cities Christian School.

The volunteers and the sponsoring agencies, including the Master Gardeners, Believe in Bristol and various parks and recreation groups, deserve our thanks.

State Street shines because of their selfless efforts, and the much-needed annual beautification project provides promises blooms to come, all summer long.

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Cultural, ethnic confusion over race

Paulo Serodio, 45, who was born and raised in Mozambique and is a naturalized U.S. citizen, is suing a medical school in New Jersey claiming he was harassed and suspended for identifying himself as a “white African-American” during a class cultural exercise.

Serodio says the fallout has wrecked his life. We think he is exaggerating a bit, but the situation certainly has escalated out of control, largely because of linear thinking and offended classmates who need a geography lesson.

One student said she was offended by Serodio’s comments and because of his white skin Serodio was not an African-American. Hence the trouble with the word. Africa is a continent that includes such countries as South Africa and Egypt where many residents do not have dark skin. And what about the many Indians who live in Africa?

But the college, instead of using Serodio’s birth in Mozambique and naturalization as a U.S. citizen to teach, made a huge misstep by instructing him “never to define himself as an African-American … because it was offensive to others and to people of color for him to do so.”

Serodio, who lives in Newark, said he meant no offense. He also said calling himself African-American doesn’t detract from another person’s heritage. He’s right, of course, but the college’s reaction is ridiculous and has led right into the lawsuit that seeks Serodio’s reinstatement at the school and monetary damages.

Why not readmit him and move on?