I can’t help but notice the stark divide between those tweeting about pain and injustice and those carrying on business as usual. It reminds me of the classes/seminars/research meetings where I’ve hurt in silence as white students/profs carried on seemingly unaware or unbothered
In a culture where almost every meeting is prefaced by discussing current events, it becomes PAINFULLY evident when certain events don’t get discussed. You walk away feeling collectively gaslit by the larger academic community in which you are trying to belong
As I sat waiting for a seminar to begin yesterday, I listened to professors discuss the bread recipes they were gonna try this weekend, or the pizza dough they made last week, and it was a crystal clear reminder of why I hate those “we’re in this together” messages
I’m not sure I have a solution to offer. The last thing I’m asking for is for profs to start patronizing their Black students (they’ll know if it’s not genuine).
But if we REALLY want higher ed to be more inclusive, that starts with keeping that same energy for issues impacting BIPOC communities that we have for issues that impact “all of us” (read: white people). #BlackLivesMatter
