A display at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) has ignited controversy and raised questions about the boundaries of academic expression and the portrayal of religious beliefs on campus. Here’s the whole story.
Understanding Christian Privilege
Charmayne “Charli” Champion-Shaw, a lecturer in the Native American & Indigenous Studies department at IUPUI, created a bulletin board display titled “Understanding Christian Privilege,” which remained in the hallway for the duration of the 2022-2023 school years.
Through a series of six detailed pages, the display outlined the idea that Christians receive inherent societal advantages due to the perception of Christianity as the status quo, while other religions are marginalized.
A part of the page said, “Christians receive inherent advantages in society (in school, in the workplace, and public places) due to the perception that Christianity is status quo, while other religions are not.”
At the core of the display was a “Christian Privilege Checklist,” inviting readers to reflect on how their status as Christians may grant them certain advantages in various aspects of life.
She Did Not Shy Away From Provocative Statements
Some elements included, “It is easy for you to find your faith accurately depicted in television, movies, books, and other media,” and “Your faith is accepted/supported at your workplace.”
“You can complain about your religion being under attack without it being perceived as an attack on another religion,” the professor added to the checklist.
The display also extended its examination of privilege beyond Christianity, listing other groups in the U.S. considered privileged, including White people, heterosexuals, males, Middle-aged people, and English speakers.
However, the display did not shy away from provocative statements, linking Christian privilege to white supremacy and settler colonialism concepts.
“Christian Privilege Is Directly Connected to White Supremacy and Settler Colonialism”
One part said, “Christian privilege is directly connected to white supremacy and settler colonialism.”
The material also described Manifest Destiny as “the whole idea that drove white people’s racist and genocidal entitlement to take over North America.”
“If murdering people and forcing them to commit to your religion while you take over their lands and try your hardest to stamp out their culture isn’t the apex of privilege, I don’t know what else is,” the professor added.
Professor Champion-Shaw, the creator and organizer of the display, confirmed her involvement but has not engaged in further dialogue with media outlets since May.
“The Cross Burners Are Blatant in Their Orwellian Propaganda”
Several Twitter users shared their thoughts on the incident.
One Twitter user wrote, “I guess the truth doesn’t matter anymore.”
Another user added, “The Cross Burners are blatant in their Orwellian propaganda.”
My Estranged Late Father’s Wife Was Furious When She Found Out My Grandparents Gave EVERYTHING to Me
He Refused to Serve Entitled Tourists That Cut in Line, Much to the Delight of Onlookers
The post Explosive Display at IUPUI: ‘Christian Privilege Tied to White Supremacy and Settler Colonialism’ Ignites Campus Firestorm first appeared on The Net Worth Of.
Featured Image Credit: Shutterstock / Mangostar. The people shown in the images are for illustrative purposes only, not the actual people featured in the story.
Source: Fox News