Student op-ed calls black conservative example of 'tokenism'

The Texas State University student newspaper published yet another racially provocative piece Tuesday, accusing a prominent black conservative of being  a “token black woman” for conservative students.

“With the wave of social vocalism, specifically by or on behalf of minorities, the illusion of diversity is important for every organization to maintain a favorable public perception,” Temi Ikudayisi begins the op-ed, which was published in the print edition of The University Star. “Diversity statistics are often highlighted to prove faux inclusivity, otherwise known as tokenism.”

Giving the example of a white person deflecting charges of racism by claiming that “my best friend is black,” Ikudayisi claims that the school’s Turning Point USA chapter similarly tokenized Second Amendment advocate Antonia Okafor by inviting her to speak about gun rights after a student government representative accused the group of “perpetuating this false sense of inclusivity to make itself appear up on their diversity quota while not addressing issues affecting minorities.”

[RELATED: Student gov prez under fire for criticizing ‘whiteness’ article]

Okafor, a former Campus Reform Correspondent, told Campus Reform that “while Temi gives a great definition of tokenism, this is the very reason I left the Democratic party,” asserting that legal gun ownership is empowering regardless of race or ethnicity.

“By Temi saying comments like this, it’s hurting the African American Community,” Okafor said. “White people shouldn’t be the only people allowed to defend themselves with a firearm and it’s racist to say so.”

The Star has also published other provocative op-eds in the past, such as “free speech is for white people”, “the wealthy shouldn’t be able to produce,” and “the Israeli occupation of Palestine is terrorism.”

Its most notorious piece, however, was an op-ed published last semester declaring that white people are “an abomination,” criticism of which has since contributed to the impeachment of the school’s student body president.

[RELATED: Student op-ed calls white people ‘an abomination’]

“Diversity is meant to pull ideas, perspectives, and strength from a wide variety of communities,” Ikudayisi writes in the conclusion of the op-ed.

“Putting one black face in front of 100 white ones is not diversity. It is not inclusion,” she adds. “Its [sic] abusing and misusing minority existence to support stances that actively work against their safety. Empty visual politics cannot be considered action.”

Campus Reform reached out to the editors of The University Star for comment, but has not received a response.

Follow the author of this article on Twitter: @GenASanchez98