UCI Fraternity suspends itself over blackface video

A follow to the blackface video controversy at UC Irvine... Lambda Theta Delta, the Asian American fraternity that sparked outrage over a video of a member performing in blackface, has suspended itself: Lambda Theta Delta, Asian-American Fraternity at UC Irvine, Suspends Itself Over Blackface Video.

In a statement posted on Lambda Theta Delta's Facebook page, the fraternity announced that it will cease all activities and suspend its status as a registered campus organization for one year until fall 2014, citing the "abhorrent, insensitive and highly offensive" video as the reason for its self-sanction.

The fraternity could also face further consequences pending an official University investigation into Lambda's conduct "in several videos involving racial insensitivity and alcohol use." Here's the organization's full statement:

Oh Hell No: Blackface in Asian American fraternity video

This is the kind of stuff that makes me shake my fist at the sky and wonder why the hell I ever bother... Over the years, I've seen an abundance of racist idiocy involving fraternities, from racist ragers to hate attacks. This is not necessarily a frat thing, so much as it is a dumbass-dudes-doing-dumbass-things-together thing. The latest incident comes from UC Irvine, and it involves an Asian American fraternity.

Oh yes, we Asian Americans are most certainly not immune to perpetuating our share of racist ignorance. The brothers of UCI's Lambda Theta Delta recently posted a video (at 0:55), in which a member is seen performing in blackface. Like it ain't no big deal. I don't care about good or bad intentions, or why this video was made -- this is some ignorant shit, and the people responsible need to know it.