Math question called racist

BELLEVUE, Wash. – A question given to students during a practice test for a math final at Bellevue Community College has students – and others – shaking their heads because of what they say is a lack of racial sensitivity.

It refers to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice although it doesn’t mention her by name, a civil rights activist said.

The question read: “Condoleezza holds a watermelon just over the edge of the roof of the 300-foot Federal Building, and tosses it up with a velocity of 20 feet per second.”

Chelsey Richardson, 25, a BCC student, said she discovered the question while studying for the math test in March. She was one of the students who brought the issue to officials at the community college in this Seattle suburb.

The Condoleezza question went on to ask when the watermelon will hit the ground, based on a formula provided.

The question propagates a racial stereotype and denigrates Secretary of State Rice, said the Rev. Wayne Perryman, of Mercer Island.

“How many Condoleezzas spell their name that way and how many Condoleezzas are associated with a federal building? It doesn’t take much to connect the dotted lines,” Perryman said.

The college has refused to release the name of the teacher who wrote the question, but said the teacher hasn’t been fired.