woof. ok. this is going to be a long thread about the importance of class and capitalism in our understandings about so-called #equitydiversity initiatives happening at academic institutions. full credit for my learning goes to @ohwitchplease who are brilliant teachers. /1

in this episode about class ( https://play.acast.com/s/oh-witch-please/class), they quote @KeeangaYamahtta who discusses false scarcity and how it drives artificial competitiveness to make us work within capitalist systems without breaking them down (and how racism plays a key role in this). /2

they say “the illusion of scarcity divides us along lines of race so folks who are not able to access the promised social mobility are led to believe that their opportunities have been stolen from them” and how /3

“we see this among middle-class whites who believe equity and diversity [initiatives] give opportunities to undeserving people" (read: racialized + marginalized people). that so-called diversity hires are not, in fact, taking jobs away from other more deserving candidates. /4

that the very system that tells us there are only so many positions is a broken system. and when you’re opposed to diversity quotas, you’re “letting racism turn you against people who you should absolutely be working for and with”. /5

this applies to #medschool. when people complain about seats that med schools are now setting aside for #BIPOC students, this is the idea we need to repeat. we need more doctors. we need more med students, more Black, Indigenous, Queer representation. /6

this is NOT at the ‘expense’ of others. we need more students. we have a dearth of doctors + students, period. the idea that we should all compete for a limited number of seats is absurd and false. there aren't limited resources, there is a limited DISTRIBUTION of resources. /7

deciding that the lack of BIPOC representation in med school is somehow ?not? a good reason to admit more BIPOC people because you’re afraid YOU won’t get into med school is a broken argument. /8

you should be fighting for more seats overall. for a change in the system. to help those who are not seen or heard or hurt by our institutions. /9

tl;dr? don't be a racist. celebrate seats for under-represented, racialized and marginalized people. if you're afraid for yourself, work together and break down the system that makes you position yourself in competition with your own community. /10

oh, and everyone go listen to @ohwitchplease !!! /11