Read on Twitter
I wanted to tweet about this many months ago when I saw numerous anthros share it without raising concern. 
To protect my mental health that week, I didn’t. BIPOC have sooo much to deal with on and offline. It’s just too much sometimes.
But here’s what I have to say.
https://twitter.com/drkillgrove/status/1275905101987807233
To protect my mental health that week, I didn’t. BIPOC have sooo much to deal with on and offline. It’s just too much sometimes.
But here’s what I have to say.
https://twitter.com/drkillgrove/status/1275905101987807233
When I saw @DrKillgrove, @johnhawks and replies to them, it was great to wake up to. Great to see attempts to prevent the misuse and risks of ‘white gaze imagery’.
They would’ve succeeded, but the pic is still there and an ‘explanation’ came instead of an image retraction.
They would’ve succeeded, but the pic is still there and an ‘explanation’ came instead of an image retraction.
It baffles me how any academic doesn’t realize *NOT* all who see a thumbnail is going to look for nuance in the depths of an academic article.
I mean, I would be lucky to get my own mother to read the *title* of my podcast episodes or webinar talks.
I mean, I would be lucky to get my own mother to read the *title* of my podcast episodes or webinar talks.
To make matters worse, this explanation misses the ethical points of concern.
This is not something to debate. This irresponsible use of imagery risks harm to non-white people, and furthers colonial thinking, practices and power dynamics in and outside our field.
This is not something to debate. This irresponsible use of imagery risks harm to non-white people, and furthers colonial thinking, practices and power dynamics in and outside our field.
As an Asian bioanthro who had his morning ruined on this sunny day in Hong Kong, the only words my confidantes and I need for my labor/burden are ‘thank you’.
No apologies, no explanations, no ‘commitments to do better’ which can’t be met in a day.
Enough of that, right?
No apologies, no explanations, no ‘commitments to do better’ which can’t be met in a day.
Enough of that, right?
Obviously, @AmAnthroJournal should do their utmost to stop the image’s display online.
And I want all colleagues to diversify their teams, include ethicists and BIPOC in their editorial decisions, and… keep pushing our discipline to do the bare minimum of not hurting anyone?
And I want all colleagues to diversify their teams, include ethicists and BIPOC in their editorial decisions, and… keep pushing our discipline to do the bare minimum of not hurting anyone?
A ‘thank you’ may be dropped here or in my DMs (though history shows me that people so rarely thank BIPOCs for their time, energy or expertise). 
And I’m going to go back to serving my communities in Hong Kong and the aspiring anthros across the ‘Global South’. Good day.
And I’m going to go back to serving my communities in Hong Kong and the aspiring anthros across the ‘Global South’. Good day.
Me: the only words we need for our labor/burden are ‘thank you’. No apologies, no explanations. 
Amer Anthro:
Amer Anthro:
‘a good deal of negative response’? 
Try ‘collegial responses we are grateful for’.
Or ‘much-needed criticism’.
Or ‘feedback that rightly challenged us to meet ethical standards in using images of human remains derived from violent and colonial contexts’.
Try ‘collegial responses we are grateful for’.
Or ‘much-needed criticism’.
Or ‘feedback that rightly challenged us to meet ethical standards in using images of human remains derived from violent and colonial contexts’.
This doesn’t encourage thanks when folks take time to educate or hold each other accountable. It doesn’t admit previous lack of understanding of impact versus intent. It doesn’t demonstrate a journal is ‘with’ its readers, but reacting in opposition to them instead.
So many in denial they‘ve got this, just because they’ve been here longer…
But we’ve spent more hours on the Internet, navigating tricky situations. We are receptive to feedback and credit each other on Twitter.
Offline academia lacks such fundamental skills and principles.
But we’ve spent more hours on the Internet, navigating tricky situations. We are receptive to feedback and credit each other on Twitter.
Offline academia lacks such fundamental skills and principles.
If we’re going to radically change our dysfunctional academic culture and systems of operation…
… why not start with framing extremely valid criticism as an example of generous, respectful and collegial contribution to our discipline?
… why not start with framing extremely valid criticism as an example of generous, respectful and collegial contribution to our discipline?
I’m not just talking about today / this incident.
https://twitter.com/riveramichael/status/1276227859036598279?s=21 https://twitter.com/riveramichael/status/1276227859036598279
https://twitter.com/riveramichael/status/1276227859036598279?s=21 https://twitter.com/riveramichael/status/1276227859036598279
I’ve been quarantining at my mom’s for ten days now. I’m reminded how she taught me to show gratitude. 
“We thank the anthropology community for bringing their concerns and insights to our attention.”
Beyond the image, this is about the culture we want to see as our norm.
“We thank the anthropology community for bringing their concerns and insights to our attention.”
Beyond the image, this is about the culture we want to see as our norm.
I’m not sure why Dr. Colwell / SAPIENS were so exceptional (though I do value that piece).
Every public anthro commented. It bothers me how ‘responding negatively’ is the emphasis on the collective, instead of our community spirit that checks ourselves and makes us better.
Every public anthro commented. It bothers me how ‘responding negatively’ is the emphasis on the collective, instead of our community spirit that checks ourselves and makes us better.
