We have been discussing the curious start of the academic career of Saida Grundy, an incoming assistant professor of sociology and African-American studies at Boston University, who released a series of tweets denounced by many as racist and sexist. “White masculinity isn’t a problem for america’s colleges, white masculinity is THE problem for america’s colleges.” In a January tweet, Grundy wrote: “Every MLK week I commit myself to not spending a dime in white-owned businesses. and every year i find it nearly impossible.” Previously, she posted comments like “Deal with your white sh*t, white people. slavery is a *YALL* thing.” With many objecting that the University would have fired a male or white professor for such comments directed against blacks or women, donors have begun to revolt and the University was forced to issue a statement condemning the comments. Now, after a surprisingly long period of silence, Grundy has apologized but may have aggravated the situation further. She has called the statements “indelicate” and says that they were in response to unidentified events. The response has been withering with many saying that few would view the comments “indelicate” if a white professor encouraged people not to buy things from black people or calling black males as the problem on colleges.
Boston University president Robert Brown expressed “disappointment” with her statements and his concern over “statements that reduce individuals to stereotypes on the basis of a broad category such as sex, race, or ethnicity. I believe Dr. Grundy’s remarks fit this characterization.”
Grundy wrote that the tweets were the result of “personal passion” to “events we now witness with regularity in our nation.” She added “I regret that my personal passion about issues surrounding these events led me to speak about them indelicately. I deprived them of the nuance and complexity that such subjects always deserve.” She further promised to be fair to whites and males in her classes, acknowledging her duty “to create an inclusive learning environment for all of my students. Both professionally and ethically, I am unequivocally committed to ensuring that my classroom is a space where all students are welcomed.”
My greatest concern remains the question of equal treatment for other faculty in making controversial statements. As previously discussed, we have seen actions taken against faculty for comments viewed as racist or sexist in social media. I believe that Grundy should be protected as a matter of free speech in such comments, but I also believe that Boston University has created a bright line here for future such cases. In such future cases of “delicate” speech, I hope that Grundy will now be the first to step forward and defend the right of those making such comments. With the new effort to punish “micro aggressions” on college campus and regulate speech, such macro aggressions can still be matters of free speech.
Chris Rock is one of the funniest men alive…a sensational talent…check out his “”clear heels” routine with strippers….LOL!
You see, the white people who propose white privilege, almost invariably have never even have a black person in their house for dinner. They do not have black friends. I do. They HATE people like this Grundy.
The what “if” scenario. Take NYC Mayor Bill De Blasio white guy married to black woman wife. His children are half breed.
Half breed students hear hate speech made by BU professor in her class. How would Grundy wiggle out of that?
Chris Rock is despised by many AA, for this very reason…he speaks truth…
I’m guessing our progressive Steve Groen, quite tolerant of this professor’s comment, might have a problem w/ this this tweet. it is from the work of Chris Rock:
Ya wanna know why they have to hire idiots like Grundy? ‘Cause niggers don’t read. You wanna hide yo’ money from burglars in the ‘hood. Hide it in a book. Nigger ain’t never gonna open a book!
I went slightly over the 140 characters.
People can say what they want…it’s a free country…she’s just a half-wit…she got her ten minutes of fame…she’s nobody
bettykath’s comments are useful. They remind those of us who have been here for awhile, the white guilt/privilege mindset that was dominant when we came. For those who have come in the past year or so, it is edifying as to how far we have progressed. If you want a taste of what it’s like when this agenda rules, go to the blog Flowers For Socrates. Or, simply enroll or audit some college classes. I went back to college in the late 90’s, after graduating in 1974. In those 25 years Fascists took over. I am pretty shock proof but it was shocking to me. This is but another example. Kudos for JT on always having posts about this pernicious threat to the First Amendment, the mother ship being academia.
I don’t want to live in Pleasantville where everything is of some tint of grey. My vote (if I had one) is that she stays, and I hope she grows out of the stereotypical and racist commentary she herself apparently condemns. Though, by it, she surely has made people think, and that’s of great value it seems to me.
If the school’s officials and alumni are worried, it’s more about donors’ wallets than reputation, and restraints on speech are intellectually unjustifiable either way.
Translation> Oops, I got caught saying what I really mean. I should have disguised myself better.
I am completely in favor of letting her continue her employment and career at BU.
Allowing this racist to retain her job sets a precedent at BU and sets up all future PC complaints/punishments as hypocritic and selective enforcement of policy.
I hope this empowers the white male population at BU, including professors, students, employees, to make “indelicate” comments triggered by “passion” over “recent events.” Example: “Black people are not a problem in Baltimore; black people ARE the problem in Baltimore”, says the student.
I’d almost be willing to pay the legal fees of any BU student (etc) who is punished for a similar PC crime.
Sexist and racist behavior, regardless of the sex or race of the individual in question, is unacceptable in this society today. The only way for the society to be free of that thinking and behavior is to not tolerate it. This is a standard for a more civilized world. She was certainly free to express her thoughts and feelings in what she wrote and said. But actions are not without consequences. What she said was sexist and racist. Period. She’s perfectly entitled to hold those opinions. It is understandable, however, that the consequences for a professor of sociology and African-American studies in a large American university expressing her personal opinions by making those types of statements as she reportedly did would be censure, if not outright dismissal by the university. Would it be any different if she expressed approval or sympathy for thievery, fraud, or other sorts of dishonesty? Should those be unacceptable in a civilized society any more or less than sexism or racism?
The academic axe falls: http://www.cnn.com/2015/05/14/us/feat-georgia-principal-fired/index.html
She further promised to be fair to whites and males in her classes,
Totally believable.
Her comments should be published anywhere students can sign up for her classes.
What a lame, candy-ass apology. It smacks of cynicism. One can almost hear her snickering while she crafted the words: passion, indelicate or valid but just a little harsh. The hypocrite giveth and taketh away with the same words.
Pogo Hears a Who
1, May 15, 2015 at 8:46 am
Her class will be an easy A for the crackers.
Or else.
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This was basically my thought. Any white male student who happens to take her class will be able to bully her into giving them a better grade. She compromised herself as an instructor with these comments.
I wouldn’t want her fired for her comments, she has a right to her (ignorant and racist) opinion. I do that “studies” like the department she is part of is a waste of money, resources, and time for colleges but apparently there’s plenty of people that want to be perpetually angry. But that’s a different topic.
One more thing Ms. Grundy: ““Every MLK week I commit myself to not spending a dime in white-owned businesses. and every year i find it nearly impossible.” ”
Then it’s time to S**t or get off the pot. Either open a business yourself, or stop complaining that others haven’t catered to your particular needs.
Ah, so. Only the oppressor gets to decide what the oppressed get to say. [sigh]
bettykath – she is hardly being oppressed.
The comments were not indelicate they were racist. If a white male or even a white femal professor dared to even come close relating to black people, they would be OUT. We cannot have two standards.
Her class will be an easy A for the crackers.
Or else.
With Greek mythology becoming a microaggression on some campuses how the devil can this woman be “indelicate.” She is just plain wrong. She should not be teaching at BU. Given her langauge in the number of tweets available, i think someone from the PR department at the University wrote the statement for her. If they allow her to teach, she needs to be monitored. A monitor must be placed in her classroom to assure BU that she is complying with University policy.
“that Grundy will now be the first to step forward and defend the right of those making such comments”
Past behavior by universities argues against that occurring.
My bet is they double down on punishing anything not PC.