Ole Miss Launches Investigation After Shocking Racist Doorbell Video

And welcome back to The Factor Uncensored, and you've seen this video on social media more than 18 million people have seen it or viewed it at least 18 million times. Allegations of racism at Ole Miss, we brought in Bishop James Dixon from the Houston branch of the NAACP to analyze this video and tell you where we need to go from here. Let's take a look. And joining us now here on The Factor Uncensored Primetime Live, we have with us Bishop James Dixon with the Houston branch of the NAACP. We appreciate your time. You've probably now, Bishop Dixon, seen the November 6 Ring video. Of three Ole Miss students walking by three black female students' apartment there, two of the white female students are seen in that video making monkey or gorilla sounds, what have you. And many people took that to be a racist gesture. So your thoughts about seeing that video? One of the white females involved, one of the students said she did Didn't know who lived there, didn't know their race. Your thoughts about this and I think one other has issued an apology. So and saying that their family has received death threats as a result of this video that's gone viral. I think a recent article shows that it has been viewed by 18 million. People, your thoughts about this and what we're seeing out of Mississippi, Oxford to be exact. Well, first of all, thank you for having me on. Always a joy to be with you. It is unfortunate that we live in a climate in America where racist gestures as well as, you know, the personification or the mispersonification of African Americans continues to be a problem. We saw that, of course, a few months ago, even with the very president of this nation describing By being. President Barack Obama and First Lady Obama as apish creatures. That is completely unnecessary, uncalled for, and unacceptable. I want to commend Ole Miss for saying that they don't tolerate these kinds of things as quickly as they did. We know the history of Ole Miss, and I think that the progress has been made at that institution should be acknowledged. However, I also think. That these students, hopefully this is a lesson learned, but I'm doubtful as to whether or not they knew who lived in this particular apartment or dorm. Why else would you make gestures of this nature in front of a camera in front of a particular door? It wasn't the door next to that or the door beyond it. It was this particular front door. And so that. That begs me to ask the question, Why would you target this door and not 50 others? others. So I think that's the issue. But I think also that we gotta accept the fact that in this climate that we're in heightened sensitivity is An outcome of the fact that we've got racism, sexism, authoritarianism, and all these ideologies that are invading public space. And young people often don't know how to contain that. And I would say that the leadership of this nation has to be very careful that we're not igniting and pour fuel on flames that ignite feelings and attitudes of the past. One of the things you mentioned was the Ole Miss, the school. Taking action swiftly, starting an investigation, talking to the victims here, the three black female students, and at least trying to give them the attention they need and guidance and counseling. Is that a step in the right direction, Bishop Dixon? Because we all know the history of the Deep South, we all know I'm from Louisiana, we're We're talking about this. But is that a sign that things could and can improve when you have institutions stepping forward saying this is wrong and this shouldn't happen? I remain totally optimistic in spite of the discouraging signs that we've seen in recent times. I still remain hopefully optimistic that we can get better. I think that's a step in the right direction. But I also think that Ole Miss needs to bring in assistance. Maybe the NAACP president or pastors, those who work in social justice, civil rights in the area of the university have conversations with students, have a dialogue. This is a need to have a forum there on campus talking about Relationships and reconciliation amongst races. I think this becomes an opportunity. I see crisis as opportunities for creative solution. And I think if they take this the right way, persons like myself, others in that area that come in, help them guide them through a process like this. I think it could turn out to be advantageous. If they don't do that, I think that the opposite would be the case. The step in the right direction, yes. But it has to go steps further than that, there's got to be meaningful dialogue discussion and reconciliatory forums held on that campus. And then students have to take authority over the environment and the culture of what Ole Miss wants its future to look like.