NYT journalist delivers keynote on racism and allyship

New York Times journalist Charles Blow spoke to Hofstra about racial issues in the United States. // Photo courtesy of University Relations.

Charles M. Blow, a New York Times columnist and CNN commentator, appeared at Hofstra University on Monday, Sept. 27, to deliver the keynote address and kick off the presidential inauguration week symposia at the John Cranford Adams Playhouse. 

Blow covered the theme of the symposia, “Building and bridging our future together: Hofstra University and our communities,” by discussing the limits of allyship. 

“In the summer of 2020, after the murder of George Floyd, billions of people who had up to that point been confined to their homes because of a deadly pandemic and because of a stalled economy poured into the streets,” Blow said. “They were mostly young, mostly white, [asserting] that Black lives matter and to demand police accountability and reform, as well as racial justice and equality.” 

There were about three times as many white protestors than there were Black protestors and as soon as protests began to dwindle, national progress did as well, according to Blow.  

“People were forced to consider whether many of the people who marched and carried signs were truly committed to Black lives or whether some deprived of rites of passage, parties and proms, had simply developed a cabin fever racial consciousness,” Blow said, “using the protests as a congregational outlet.” 

The cause became less about social justice for Black lives and more about a battle for freedom of speech and the right to assemble, according to Blow. 

“In some cases, white allies began to center their own maltreatment while protesting, rather than the fundamental issue at hand,” Blow said. 

“[Blow’s] speech was very well done. I like how he talked about allyship and the roles that allies play,” said Kayla Stadeker, a junior global studies major and secretary of the Black Student Union (BSU). “It was great that they brought him out as the keynote speaker for inauguration week. It was a great way to kick off the week.” 

Blow further explained why it is so difficult to combat racism with an analogy. 

“It took centuries for America to hone its instrument of oppression. Every time part of it failed, it simply re-emerged in a more elegant form,” Blow said. “Battling racism in this country is like cutting the head of a hydra. Cut off one head and two more emerge from the wound.” 

Blow shifted from his speech to a question-and-answer dialogue with Hofstra president Susan Poser, who asked him various questions on how to enrich and improve our community. 

“It is important to suss out for everyone that opposition to cruelty is not the same as being a cheerleader for equality,” Blow said. 

“When [Blow] talked about sitting on the sidelines and trying to be anti-cruelty, [it does not] necessarily mean you are being anti-oppression,”  said Jack Halsted, a junior sports journalism major. “A lot of social media is ‘stop doing this, stop doing that,’ but there is nobody actively trying to stop it themselves.”  

After delivering the keynote address, Blow attended a small gathering in the News Hub of the Lawrence Herbert School of Communication with a group of select students and had a lunch meet-and-greet with the executive board of BSU.   

“I went there as an advocate for Black Leaders Advocating for Change (BLAC), so we explained to him things that we are doing on campus, things that we accomplish, our relationship with administration and how they are helpful,” said Lauren Wood, a senior dance education major and vice president of BSU.  

BSU talked to Blow about his profession, technology and social media and how it affects him, according to Wood.  

“[Blow] had a really great personality, it was really endearing to us,” Wood said. “He seemed to support what we want to do on campus. It was a great experience.” 

Blow shared personal anecdotes along with advice for aspiring journalists. 

“People are constantly saying to you they do not like you or you are not good enough,” Blow said. “You have to decide that you believe in your talent, but more important than believing in your talent, you believe in your capacity to add to your knowledge base.” 

According to Blow, you cannot let fear be a debilitating factor. 

“If you are afraid of failure, you will never succeed,” Blow said.