Speakers Discuss Similarities of U.S., S. African Racism

Racism is "deeply ingrained in learning" in the United States today, Ephraim Isaacs, associate professor of Afro-American Studies, said last night at a forum sponsored by the Boston Committee Against Racism.

As one of three speakers addressing the topic of "Southern Africa and Racism in the U.S. and Harvard," Isaacs said students are probably unaware of how widespread prejudice among educated people is in this country.

Isaacs, who is on a leave of absence after being denied tenure in the Afro-American Studies department last year, cited the language departments as one example of academic racism at Harvard.

More than 80 professors deal specifically in European languages, yet no basic courses in African languages exist, he said.

"This absence speaks very loudly for the obvious rejection of African languages as legitimate education," Isaacs said. "I have even been asked if African languages have grammar and syntax," he added.

Isaacs said that since language is the key to learning in any discipline, including sociology, humanities, or social studies, the lack of acknowledgement of African languages makes many departments "lopsided."

Other speakers at last night's meeting focused on racial prejudices in South Africa and racism in the United States.

One of the "striking similarities" between the two areas is their containment of "interior" groups in isolated communities, Ken Carstens, a representative from the International Defense and Aid Fund for South Africa, said yesterday.

He compared the relocation of black South Africans into "homeland" territories with poor living conditions to the settlement of American Indians on reservations in this country.