Forbidden fruit: the culture at BCC

The only smart thing a Bellevue Community College instructor did was request cultural-sensitivity training. The rest of his actions were stupid.

The teacher is in hot water over a question on a math test. The question reads as follows: "Condoleezza holds a watermelon just over the edge of the roof of the 300-foot Federal Building, and tosses it up with a velocity of 20 feet per second." Students were instructed to use a mathematical formula to determine when the fruit would hit the ground. It is difficult to reach the answer when the question makes you stop in your tracks.

A watermelon is a fruit. It was also a widely used symbol to denigrate black people. In the 19th and early 20th centuries, African Americans were depicted in racist caricatures eating watermelon.

The test question was originally written about a comedian, Gallagher, famous for his watermelon dropping and smashing routine. But the question was later rewritten and the comedian's name replaced with Condoleezza.

The instructor's intent is debatable. But the result of his actions is not. Students were understandably discomfited to see a written version of a well-known and hated stereotype. Students who took their concerns to college officials did the right thing.

Officials are considering a list of proposals to address issues of diversity and inclusion on campus.

Good. This is not an exercise in political correctness. It is a notable attempt to serve all of the students at BCC.