One sociology professor's "White Racism" class made so many people angry that two police officers were called to guard the first meeting yesterday night.

It's no surprise that having a talk about racism infuriated people more than racism itself does, however, the messages assistant professor Ted Thornhill received were so bad that the class no longer seemed safe to meet without a security plan.

According to News Press, Thornhill received some disturbing emails and voicemails after news of the class spread. Not to mention thousands of negative comments on social media, including calling him the n-word and other racist names.

"The number of emails I got pales in comparison to the thousands and thousands of comments and post on all manner of social media and traditional media outlet websites that said things that were unspeakable," he said.

"I can call a black man a (n-word) when it's appropriate, and I do," one of the voicemails said. "I am not ashamed of it. It doesn't make me a racist. If Jay-Z can say it and a black man can say it, I can say it."

This sounds like the reason that a course like this would even need to be taught.

The course description says class will discuss ways to challenge white supremacy and examine ideologies, laws, policies, and practices in this country that have allowed "white racial domination over those racialized as non-white."

Regardless of the backlash, Thornhill refuses to back down.

"The course needs to be taught, and so, that's what's going to happen," he said in an interview with The Wink. "It's a legitimate course."

Perhaps, if people got out of their feelings and looked inside of themselves for a moment, they may realize how important a class like this is. Despite the utter outrage, the class met for the first time yesterday with no issues reported.

Check out the CBS News report below.

Florida Gulf Coast University

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