You might have recently seen the hashtag #BlackWomenAreGorgeous on Twitter as it's recently been gaining popularity. The hashtag originated from a white sophomore student at Howard University named Russell Schiller. Schiller initially received praise for his work from those at Howard and beyond, culminating in a couple of interviews done for websites Beyond Black and White, and Ebony Magazine. After these features some users on Twitter noticed Tweets where Schiller used the n-word and used this as the crux of their argument when they accused Schiller of using the black community and being a racist in disguise. The Tweets in which Schiller used the n-word have been deleted but some can still be seen below. After these Tweets resurfaced, articles came out on BET bashing Schiller and comparing him to Rachel Dolezal.
I personally disagree with all of the reports calling him racist. No one at Howard, as far as I know, has ever called him racist or has ever had racist encounters with him.
Saying the n-word does not necessarily make you a racist; now let me be clear, I do not believe any white person should ever utter the n-word. But I don't think they're automatically racist. They are automatically ignorant, especially those who, like Schiller, consider themselves allies to the black community. I do believe his frequent use of the N-word online and in life is problematic but I also don't believe it overrides all of the good work he did with the #BlackWomenAreGorgeous campaign. We should be able to chew bubble gum and walk at the same time.
Schiller did issue an apology which kind of seemed to me like a way for him to leave the sh*tstorm that was currently surrounding him, and the fact that he grew up around black people and feels comfortable around us is great but also not an excuse to go throwing around the n-word. Schiller apologized nonetheless and his apology can be read below.
I believe Russell Schiller should be questioned on his past use of the n-word but I don't believe that makes him some evil racist who's just trying to profit of the bodies of black women. I also think his hashtag has done a lot of good for black women, so he should be given credit. This is a nuanced issue and should be treated as such, so websites like BET should stop declaring that this man is some vile racist and should be reporting that his behavior is problematic to the cause he claims he's trying to help.
