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i hate to do this, but @saltandsagebook supporters are entitled to know this:
Kim Vanderhorst ( @Kymburleev), Salt & Sage Books CCO, is misogynoirist. she sought out labor from @torabrumalis, a Black trans woman, to benefit her company, and then disrespected & tone policed her.
Kim Vanderhorst ( @Kymburleev), Salt & Sage Books CCO, is misogynoirist. she sought out labor from @torabrumalis, a Black trans woman, to benefit her company, and then disrespected & tone policed her.
Kim found Tora's account and emailed to ask if she would apply at S&S. excited and hopeful, Tora did, and every email she received in response to her application material sang her praises, repeatedly enforcing how skilled the S&S board found her.
after the app, Tora was asked to do a sample edit. Kim stressed that there was "no wrong way" to do this edit. it was briefly noted that critiques should be given with clarity & kindness.
aside from the technical instructions, this is the only description Kim gave.
aside from the technical instructions, this is the only description Kim gave.
Tora is an experienced sensitivity reader who reads for dozens of topics and is a regular with Harper Collins imprints. she performed the sample edit with her usual professionalism and, as requested, her in-line notes included encouragement.
Kim's response was shocking.
Kim's response was shocking.
despite receiving high praise, Tora's sample was rejected because her TONE was not "lovely and encouraging" enough. she was assured that her skill was not in question and invited to reapply.
quote: "[You] were missing the "education through encouragement.""
![despite receiving high praise, Tora's sample was rejected because her TONE was not "lovely and encouraging" enough. she was assured that her skill was not in question and invited to reapply.quote: "[You] were missing the "education through encouragement.""](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Eh4rCcgXYAYkq7A.png "despite receiving high praise, Tora's sample was rejected because her TONE was not \"lovely and encouraging\" enough. she was assured that her skill was not in question and invited to reapply.quote: \"[You] were missing the \"education through encouragement.\"\"")
![despite receiving high praise, Tora's sample was rejected because her TONE was not "lovely and encouraging" enough. she was assured that her skill was not in question and invited to reapply.quote: "[You] were missing the "education through encouragement.""](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Eh4sZB5XcAE2190.png "despite receiving high praise, Tora's sample was rejected because her TONE was not \"lovely and encouraging\" enough. she was assured that her skill was not in question and invited to reapply.quote: \"[You] were missing the \"education through encouragement.\"\"")
quote: "[You] were missing the "education through encouragement.""
1. why is a Black woman's emotional labor being tone policed? is mere professionalism not enough?
2. regardless of the ethics, the main problem is how the importance of this specific tone was NEVER clarified when Tora was introduced to the project. Kim admits this.
2. regardless of the ethics, the main problem is how the importance of this specific tone was NEVER clarified when Tora was introduced to the project. Kim admits this.
hurt and confused, Tora responded explaining how she felt tone policed. she pointed out how it seemed she was set up to fail, what with being rejected for not meeting a standard she was not informed of.
she offered to revise the sample to meet S&S's specifications.
she offered to revise the sample to meet S&S's specifications.
after a week with no response, Tora followed up. Kim's response was frigid and didn't acknowledge any of her concerns -- she all but called Tora unprofessional and cut her off from S&S support entirely. this is AFTER offering to keep her as a business contact.
is this really the behaviour of someone who is literally profiting off books on how to write Black people? is this what we should be seeing of a white CCO of a company that presents itself as respectful & fair to marginalized workers?
Kim's profile on S&S claims her as a sensitivity reader for things like being Canadian, autistic, demisexual, and having Depression/Anxiety.
not to denigrate the value of white cishet SRs, but this isn't a stunning list of marginalizations.
https://www.saltandsagebooks.com/profiles/kim-vanderhorst/
not to denigrate the value of white cishet SRs, but this isn't a stunning list of marginalizations.
https://www.saltandsagebooks.com/profiles/kim-vanderhorst/
it makes no sense for Kim and "the board" to ask Tora to reapply with the same content rather than requesting a second sample in the professional, encouraging tone S&S requires.
S&S wants diverse business connections, but i have to wonder if Tora just wasn't marketable.
S&S wants diverse business connections, but i have to wonder if Tora just wasn't marketable.
i also want to add that despite tearing around the S&S website, i've found no page listing the board members. how many of the people in charge are marginalized themselves? are all these marginalized editors/readers being told how to engage with their oppression by white cishets?
when Tora spoke up for herself, Kim not only ignored her and then refused to acknowledge any of Tora's concerns -- she also withdrew a valuable business connection as punishment. a Black woman expressing her experience with misogynoir was deemed unprofessional.
i can't come to any conclusion that isn't Kim abusing her power over vulnerable minorities looking for work. she solicited Tora's labor to make her company/brand look better, but when it came down to accepting the advice she sells, she couldn't take the heat. she didn't care.
please take this into consideration before you consider giving business to @saltandsagebook. if you're interested in one of their sensitivity readers, it might be better to contact the individual directly.
Kim Vanderhorst has no right to be calling herself an ally.
Kim Vanderhorst has no right to be calling herself an ally.
if anyone wants to hire tora, here is what she reads for and how to contact her: https://twitter.com/jem_zero/status/1302734795714301952
an hour ago y’all https://twitter.com/saltandsagebook/status/1305538942394015745
