Ban Appeal

Haze
Mr. Sack
12/12/2019

Racism and Squirrel

Racism and the N-Word

The N-Word is first derived from the french word “negre”, the Spanish and Portuguese “negro”, and the Latin “niger”. In the early United States, the word nigger was placed before a slaves’ first name, the distinguish between them and a white of the same common title (e.g. Bill). Directly after the civil war, indentured servitude of the lower class African Americans was widespread. These men and women who had just been given such tremendous news, could even now not escape the massive debt put upon them and their families.
Throughout the 1900’s the word became synonymous with a gangbanger and person with criminal tendencies, often used by white people as a derogatory term upon all people of color, systematically referencing them as a separate class of individuals.
Until the arrival of the civil rights movement in the early 1960s, African Americans were still often looked down upon and shunned due to increasingly immoral mindsets in which whites justified segregation. Not until the arrival of prominent individuals such as Reverend Doctor Martin Luther King Junior and Rosa Parks, did the national mindset shift to one of community and acceptance. There was still blatant common racist, such as with the rise of the KK in the 70s, but many laws, such as the 1964 Civil Rights Act, banned discrimination based on “race, color, religion, sex, or national origin” as well as prohibiting “unequal application of voter registration requirements, and racial segregation in schools, employment, and public accommodations.”
Recently, the N-word has gained traction in the black community, as they attempt to reclaim it and shape it into a word of their own accord. To possibly signify unity in the face of defamation and tragedy.
“It’s about self-education and self-critique, not trying to control others by telling them what to say or how to think, but rather trying to figure out how we think and how the words we use mirror our thinking.”
I have had many issues myself in the usage of this word. In my recent ban, I believed it to be a simple insult rather than the word that had been the cause of so much bloodshed and controversy.

Why is Racism Wrong?

It includes all the barriers that prevent people from enjoying dignity and equality because of their race. One issue is the definition of racism and its focus away from the underlying racist tones in modern America. As reported by the New York Times reporter Matthew Desmond, many white progressives seem to focus almost entirely upon obvious and violent crimes rather than the institutionalized shift in power away from disheartened communities.

(Argumentative essays aren’t my strong point, especially when the forums is my only source for everything on Squirrel along with my own experiences)
Squirrel

Squirrel has most likely gone through most of the ban appeals that have been typed out on the forums. He has gone through some mistakes over his time with ban appeals no doubt. Everyone makes mistakes and he has for sure no questions asked with some of the evidence that has been acknowledged. Over the time he has gone through them, he’s made a connection with some of the players who have actually found him respectful and honest. He’s done a great job within’ his career of being a Head-Moderator by dealing with hackers and going thoroughly and carefully through the forums.
Being the main moderator can be stressful and sometimes a pain that can’t be prevented, I understand, but sometimes the wrong decisions are being made. With my own personal experience with Squirrel, I’ve had some good times watching him interact with players and helping the staff. Many players don’t like him because they’ve been banned by him and/or they don’t want to “tolerate” his behavior. Through thick and thin, I know Squirrel is a good guy and just an ordinary person like the rest of us who can be a pain sometimes.
The forums have showed me how people don’t want to admit the fact and accept that they created their own fate deciding to “hack” or “mute evade”. Squirrel takes the responsibilities by being blunt and modest to the people who don’t deserve or respect their place as a purple prison player. Squirrel hasn’t created or made a bad perspective on himself yet nor do I think he will in the future.

I would’ve enjoyed making fun of him and all that, but he’s still a staff member and I respect him for making the right choices on the daily even though he has denied all of my ban appeals.