Of all people, Why James Comey?
- Jade Walters
- Dec 7, 2017
- 3 min read
This blog post is a response to the prompt "Select three (3) assignments that meet one or more of the course objectives outlined on the syllabus" in which I believe that my essay is related to Objective 8 (Read and write with attention to ideas, content, structure, and style). I believe that my essay relates to this objective because I had to pay attention to the importance of the kairos, purpose, and audience of the 'Not Wanted: James Comey" posters.
On September 21, 2017, Howard University celebrated its 150th Convocation; a yearly tradition created to celebrate the beginning of a new school year. This year’s convocation was controversial because of its guest speaker and newly hired staff member, James Comey. Prior to the arrival of Comey, Howard University students expressed their disgust and anger over the previously fired FBI director. A group called HU Resist posted flyers around campus about the things Comey has done and said to people of color in America. The flyers about Comey sparked interest in the Howard community. It resembled the infamous format of a wanted poster with three photos of Comey, quick facts about things he said and done as a FBI director, and a QR code that sent you to the link to a petition against his arrival and new position at Howard University.
The purpose of the flyer was to inform the reader about who James Comey is. There are people who don’t know much about him besides the fact that he was fired by President Trump. The flyer was created as a way of showing readers why HUResist are upset about his arrival. Some may think that they’re angry because of his connection to Trump but it’s more than that. Comey has spoken negatively about the people of color and his hiring at a HBCU appears to be random and inconsiderate to the values of Howard. These flyers are kairotic because they were posted throughout buildings after HU Resist’s protest on convocation day. The students left an impression on everyone’s mind. Students, Faculty, Alumni, and News Channels couldn’t stop talking about what was happening on campus.
The audience for the flyers are everyone who works at or attends Howard University. It was created for educational purposes about Comey and HU Resist. The flyers were meant to encourage others to support HU Resist and understand their reasons for not wanting Comey to be associated with Howard. The club tried to speak to administration but their pleas were ignored. The flyers were mean to inform administration about why the students are against him since they couldn’t directly speak to them. HU Resist knew that once others noticed the rise in flyers and circulation of the petition on campus that the news would travel to the right people.
The flyers were an act of exigence because they were created immediately after convocation. On the HU Resist twitter page, there are twitter threads reacting to the initial announcement of Comey being hired as the King Endowed Chair of the University. The members clearly showed their disdain towards James Comey and urged for others to speak out against this man working at Howard.
The “Not Wanted” flyers were strategically placed in the College of Arts and Sciences building. The first amendment stating that every citizen is entitled to freedom of speech and expression is deeply rooted in COAS, especially in the English department. Locke Hall contains hundreds of literary scholars and philosophers that would agree with the message the club was sharing and connect with their values. Seeing the flyer would evoke reactions out of writers who would provide a response to convocation and Comey. This response would then go out into the world and lead to several more. It’ll spark a well needed conversation that HU Resist is trying to start with everyone, beginning with administration.
Works Cited
Resist, HU. “Not Wanted: James Comey”. HU Resist, HU Resist, HU Resist, 22 Sept. 2017, https://twitter.com/HUResist.
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