If you've paid attention to the media over the past few years, this isn't the first time you've heard about racist acts at American University in Washington, D.C. From racist messages being sent around to, just last year bananas being thrown at black students, particularly women. 

Well, bananas must be a fan favorite for harassment because they were found hanging from nooses all over campus.

According to the University, the bananas were marked with the letters “AKA,”  which is the abbreviation for Alpha Kappa Alpha. AKA is the first black sorority that launched at Howard University in 1908.

The president of the University, Neil Kerwin,  issued a statement about the incident addressing why this may have happened. Apparently, it seems to have happened because the first black woman who is a member of AKA was sworn in as the Student Government president. The statement went on to say:

"The crude and racially insensitive act of bigotry reported this morning is under investigation by AU Campus Police with assistance from the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) and other AU offices and senior officials.

We strongly condemn what happened; will do all that we can to find those responsible, and ask that anyone who may know of those involved to please step forward and contact Public Safety at 202-885-2527 or the AUPD Tips Site.

We will alert the university community of the investigation’s findings and next steps and will respond as swiftly and strongly as possible.

Racially charged acts of bigotry are done to instill fear and inflict pain in our community—especially at stressful times, such as at the end of the term.

I regret this happened, apologize to everyone offended, and state emphatically that this incident does not reflect what American University truly is. While this incident targeted AU’s chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, and occurred after the first black woman and AKA member was sworn in as the Student Government president—our entire university community has been adversely affected by this cowardly, despicable act."


Cowardly and despicable is right, but what is going to be done about it is the real question?

A meeting is scheduled to discuss the incident as well as the continually questionable racial climate at the university. The thing is meetings like this have happened numerous times before and nothing seems to be changing. Black students are still being harassed simply on the basis of their skin color.

And yes, it is 2017, if you were wondering.