Howard Dixon: Online Fundraiser Collects $57K For Black Chef Who Worked At Sigma Alpha Epsilon

Howard Dixon lost his job as a chef at the University of Oklahoma’s Sigma Alpha Epsilon when students were recorded singing a racist song and the university shut down the frat, but now the internet has rallied to help him.

A former member of the frat started an Indiegogo fund in the black man’s name, and within two days it sailed past the $50,000 goal. By the early morning hours on Wednesday it had raised $57,000, with donations increasing by the thousand every hour.

“Those of you who lived in the house, undoubtedly came to love Howard and his infectious smile (if not his chili dogs,)” wrote fund creator Blake Burkhart. “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 lose his job because of a bus full of racist kids.”

The frat was shut down after students were recorded on a party bus singing a racist song that included the lyrics, “there will never be a n***er SAE” and “you can hang ’em from a tree.”

After its release, the video brought an immediate backlash. The national SAE chapter disbanded the Oklahoma chapter and the university closed the frat — which for Howard Dixon meant losing his job as a chef for the students.

Dixon said he was shocked to see the video, and while he did not believe most members were racist he admitted he did not know the “newer” members as well. The student identified as the ringleader in the racist song, Parker Rice, was identified as a 19-year-old freshman. He has since been expelled and issued a public apology.

“I am deeply sorry for what I did Saturday night. It was wrong and reckless. I made a horrible mistake by joining into the singing and encouraging others to do the same,” he wrote.

“On Monday, I withdrew from the university… I admit it likely was fueled by alcohol consumed at the house before the bus trip, but that’s not an excuse.”

Despite the controversy, Howard Dixon said he will miss the house and the students he became friends with.

“The house is gone,” he said. “I have no house. I looked forward every day to coming in and having fun with these guys.”

Many past SAE frat members also remembered Howard Dixon fondly. In his note on the Indigogo page, Blake Burkhart said Dixon was a house favorite.

The fundraiser for Howard Dixon still has 28 days remaining.

[Image via CBS]