Academia Music

Those White Devil Blues

December 8, 2025 by David 145 Comments

From academia, that hothouse of social progress:

An a cappella group at Kent State University in Ohio allegedly banned white students from auditioning for certain solos

Ah, the arts. Where it’s all thou-shalt-not.

Emails obtained by Campus Reform display how Vocal Intensity A Cappella limited certain solos to “people of colour,” claiming white students would be engaging in “cultural appropriation” if they were to perform them.

Not really in the spirit of what music is, methinks. Sort of, “You only get to sing this if we think you look right. Because appearance – specifically, your racial classification – is what matters.” And hey, who wouldn’t love a game of Who May Sing What, Based On Their Skin Colour? How terribly uplifting.

Needless to say, no corresponding restrictions or accusations of “cultural appropriation” would be tolerated regarding minority students performing music deemed white. Say, as when the troupe performed the works of the Jonas Brothers and the very pale pop songstress Ariana Grande. But clearly, reciprocal principles would be too much to ask.

Mark Phillips, a three-year member and the a cappella group’s beatboxer, contacted a board member to inquire about how the exclusion of white students aligned with Kent State’s anti-discrimination policies. Phillips suggested the limitation seemed “at odds with equal opportunity” in his message to the executive board.

Fair point.

“I… believe that whoever gives the strongest performance should be given the chance,” he wrote. “Art, music, and culture are meant to be shared and celebrated, not gatekept.”

Being entirely reasonable, this didn’t go down well.

In response, the board accused him of violating the university’s anti-discrimination policy, placed him on probation, and scheduled a disciplinary hearing requiring him to “plead his case” before the entire group.

Yes, I know. The word irony scarcely covers it.

Despite the group’s policy of unilateral racial exclusivity in singing being somewhat dissonant with the university’s codes of conduct, which prohibit “discrimination… based on race,” Mr Phillips was warned that his expectations of fairness and merit might have dire consequences. And there followed exquisitely detailed conditions of any further discussion of the issue, with stern pre-emptive cautions against “aggressive wording.”

Vocal Intensity styles itself as the university’s “premier all-gender a cappella group” and claims to provide “an inclusive environment for all individuals who have a passion for music.” But obviously, not if you fancy singing Alice Smith and Miles Caton’s Last Time (I Seen The Sun) while being offensively white.

Update, via the comments:

Dicentra asks,

So who gets to sing solos in Handel’s Messiah?

Germans or Englishmen?

Well, quite. And the reactiveness of the group’s board – their spluttering that anyone might notice the inconsistency and even dare to point it out – and their remarkably detailed conditions regarding any further discussion – does rather paint a picture of a certain mindset. A type.

As noted here more than once, it does save a lot of time and aggravation if pointed use of the words inclusive, cultural appropriation, etc., is regarded not as a welcome or reassurance, but as a warning of the kinds of personalities you’ll be likely to encounter, should you venture closer, foolishly.

Commenter Aitch quotes this,

Sort of, “You only get to sing this if we think you look right. Because appearance – specifically, your racial classification – is what matters.”

And adds,

They’re the singing police.

And hey, everything is so much more fun when it’s been racially organised.

See also, the thrill of ideologically corrected dancing.




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