Former Member Of Racist Oklahoma Fraternity Raises $35,000 For The House’s (Now Jobless) Black Chef

You may recall yesterday’s story about a racist chant by Sigma Alpha Epsilon members at the University of Oklahoma. Following the release of the video containing the chant, SAE’s national organization closed the chapter on UofO’s campus.

Here’s a picture of the chapter moving off of campus.

 

However, that move, while perhaps appropriate, put people out of work. Notably it put a man named Howard Dixon out of work. Howard had been employed by the fraternity as a private cook for years. So, because of the actions of some of the fraternity members, Howard is now out of the job he had for so long.

But here’s the beautiful part, a man named Blake Burkhart from Norman, Oklahoma, who appears to have been an SAE brother himself, has set up an Indigogo account to help Howard out while he looks for another job and the response so far has been amazing. In just over a day, the fundraiser has put together over $30,000 for Howard out of its $50,000 goal and it’s still gaining.

It goes to show that there are good people everywhere and while some of the fraternity members, perhaps many, were just fine with singing racist chants while being served their meals by a Black man, it only takes one person to step up and do the right thing and to reach out to other people who also want to do the right thing. Here’s the text from Mr. Burkhart’s Indigogo fundraiser (link at bottom).

Today we received the news that some ignorant kids have quickly destroyed something that thousands of men built. Because of these kids’ actions, many will be affected. None more so than Howard.

Those of you who lived in the house, undoubtedly came to love Howard and his infectious smile (if not his chili dogs). He was always there to chat with you and more importantly, to take care of Mom B.

 

Well, that man is going to walk up to the SAE house tomorrow morning and hear that he no longer has a job. He is going to learn who has been working for. And through some cruel twist of fate, he has to lose the job that he has held for over a decade. He is going to lose his job because of a bus full of racist kids.

 

You know and I know that this isn’t the house we lived in. I’m positive Howard knows this too. I ask you to give some money to make sure he lands on his feet.

 

Thank you.

You can visit the Indigogo page here.