As an alum of this dept it is hard to put into words how much seeing this statement means to me.... I am beyond proud of the work being done there esp by @jmjafrx @ndbconnolly @marthasjones_ https://twitter.com/jmjafrx/status/1280594513367629825

of course, there are also feelings of frustration for how long it took and what, and who, was sacrificed to get to this point

this is part of the work, chipping away and trying to lay a small part of a foundation you might not be around to build upon

I have seen this up close at my current institution that, while rightfully applauding a game-changing massive cluster hire, also rendered junior faculty + grad students, particularly black women, disposable....

i am still working out my own shit and figuring out my relationship with my alma mater (yes #BlackintheIvory) but at the very least ive tried to be a resource to the black women grads who now walk those halls

when I see pics of them squaded up in the workroom, or of the Black World Seminar taking up space in that damn seminar room + turning it in to the Kitchen Table, or when I read this statement and the work being done- I am filled with a potent combo of joy, determination + pride

at times I do not recognize Hopkins History any more- and thats a good thing.

and i feel like this thread has been caught in my throat for a min now. but its all really to say- I see yall @jmjafrx @ndbconnolly @marthasjones_ @CaseyLurtz and thank you for doing this work

but also "Between 2000 and 2016, the department enrolled
approximately one Black graduate student every other year".....that many?! lol

but real talk i was had a point about black grad alums but realized i was just talking abt myself since I couldn't actually name anybody else

oh wait! I know one other person!

anyways read this statement. do the work. and see #HopkinsHistory and for that matter @AfAm_PSU as a testament to what starts to become possible when you invest, hire, retain, and put resources where lip service, tasks forces and tokenism usually go