Lots of you have been working on speaking out, speaking to your students & trying to amplify voices of Scholars of Color in your chosen fields. I say this because I know that there are people listening &learning in fields outside of Medieval Studies. Hi, we support you too. 2/25
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Keep doing that. Today let's talk about what it means to be 'doing the work.' As Dr. Angela Davis says: "in a racist society it is not enough to be non-racist, we must be anti-racist." In other words, like
@DrIbram notes "the opposite of racist is not 'not racist'". 3/25Show this thread -
So as white folx, ask yourself this: what are you willing to give up? Think about that carefully. What are you willing to give up to make a more equitable academia and world? This is not just about having us BIPOC as bodies in your classroom or as colleagues.
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I was asked why it is important to engage with trolls. For every situation, we need to use measures that best suit. It's not about engaging with trolls. Your intention is to correct lies & myths. Our field has fallen victim to misappropriation and myths. 5/25
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It is our duty as scholars to correct this in the public sphere. You don't have to argue all day (unless it's fun for you). This isn't about driving up numbers in analytics. Don't look away from opportunities to correct. Don't block & pretend these things don't exist. 6/25
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Think of it another way. Your audience is not the troll. Your audience includes the people who will see an expert correct someone who is wrong. Don't leave this to the handful of brave, get in there too. 7/25
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Other people will read and learn from you. And don't just report & think that's all you can do. Lots of social media outlets and institutions are comfortable with racism & white supremacy. We need to work together to build a strong community & this involves more than clicks. 8/25pic.twitter.com/BVe6wTAgEB
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Keep in mind that we use the word 'troll' too loosely sometimes and that minimizes the harm being done. Often BIPOC activists and otherwise are doxxed and targeted by violent militia. Please don't minimize these situations. 9/25
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You need to stop centering yourself. When you do "the work" do not look for praise. Do not ask for it. Do not expect it. Sending emails to listservs to make a case after dozens already have, reporting a tweet or telling a troll to F*** off is not antiracism in action. 10/25
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These are actions of basic human decency, not things worthy of recognition. The minute you announce them and seek praise, you are doing these things for the wrong reasons. If you are committed to antiracism, then you need to be doing more and you need to stop centering YOU. 11/25
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@byjennytan has an important thread about antiracism here: https://twitter.com/byjennytan/status/1178058562368606209?s=20 … 12/25Show this thread -
@adam_miya gets to the point in a short but invaluable thread here: https://twitter.com/adam_miya/status/1177969018612965378?s=20 … As scholars we sometimes do not read enough outside our areas of expertise. 13/25
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Antiracism work needs us to know our shit. Start with
@DrIbram's book https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/564299/how-to-be-an-antiracist-by-ibram-x-kendi/ … and use this list as suggested other readings: https://www.versobooks.com/blogs/4384-decolonization-and-anti-racism-a-reading-list … 14/25Show this thread -
Lots of us have made mistakes already in this movement, me included, but that's part of how we grow. You should not be leaning on us BIPOC to walk you through your feelings. Get over yourselves. I have called out several of you, some publicly. Let me just say 15/25
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that our white male colleagues have a long way to go, but many of you have come a long way in a short time. Some of you have said that you never felt adequate and I will reiterate that your privilege makes your voice necessary even if you are not "at the top" of the field. 16/25
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I will say that you have generally taken criticism (at least publicly) ok. Thank you. White women, on the other hand, you often like to shield yourselves from criticism and/or work by pointing to the men. Stop centering yourself and do the work too. 17/25
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Some trivialized or were torn whether or not harmful vids abt me shld stay up for teaching purposes. Our bodies do not exist to be a spectacle. We are not your objects. Your feminism has never been for WoC. In fact, I don't know what it means at all. 18/25https://twitter.com/ISASaxonists/status/1174133582916308994?s=20 …
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You're quicker to trot examples of your "bravery" for speaking on behalf of nameless WOC rather than amplifying/ reading our work. And speaking of work, learn to distinguish the good work from shoddy. No one is saying amplify crappy work if that's what it is. 19/25
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Being antiracist means not seeing us as a monolith. BIPOC are diverse in how we think, how we operate in the world & within academia, what our interests are & who we are. Don't feel guilty if you think some work is crap. Some of mine probably is & I know some of yours is too. 20/
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I have walked many of you women through your feelings these past few weeks. Your willingness to debate over details about money & a crumbling academic society when BIPOC, ECR, abused & other marginalized folx have seen themselves stifled & shutout of institutions concerns me. 21/
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None of this speaks to antiracism. Rebuilding an academic society will require antiracist work in action and I might add that no member of the existing ISXX board (and definitely not the acting Exec Director) has reached out to this day. 22/25pic.twitter.com/5zKuSMOqWO
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If institutions do not support us & are not committed to antiracist work, then they will be the same as before. NB: I have heard from a few board members who have since resigned & out of respect that will remain confidential. Be involved for the right reasons. 23/25
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Anyway, priorities for all need to change. Your focus needs to change & not just abstractly. You want to be antiracist? 1) Stop centering yourself; 2) amplify BIPOC voices; 3) learn how race intersects with class & culture; 4) listen to BIPOC colleagues.
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5) Don't react to criticism from BIPOC as bullying; 6) Network outside medieval studies & support antiracist scholars in other disciplines; 7) understand that antiracism involves anticapitalism & anticolonial; 8) get involved in activism.
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Signal boost, my fam: @adam_miya
@dorothyk98@JonathanHsy@olidhar@slomuto@MedievalPhDemon@CCB_PhD@DrDadabhoy @sydneeisanelf@ProfKFH@mdvl_mornings@EileenAJoy@ontakragoueke@brandycwill @blostmena@tandrews156@byjennytan@postmedieval@Elysabethgrace@EduardoRamosiiShow this thread -
And special thanks to:
@kacaliendo@phil_lol_ogist@foxigesis@erik_kaars@gwayvt@HalstedMedieval@b_hawk@AdmiralHip@ShammaBoyarin@jeffreyjcohen@SLevelt@YasmineHachimi@ETreharne@joshua_r_eyler@ArielleEmcee and my favorite bandicoot@HamletHologramShow this thread
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