Re “Tensions Simmer Over Race and Class at Smith” (front page, Feb. 25):
I am disheartened by the coverage of the recent resignation of a white staff member at Smith College over what she calls a “racially hostile workplace” (for white people) in response to an incident involving security being called on a Black student eating lunch in a closed lounge.
While a legal investigation found no evidence of racial bias, it doesn’t account for a campus culture where students are encouraged to treat their college residence as their home. Students can take snacks from the house kitchen after hours, lounge in the living room during holiday breaks, and take many liberties that would not make the Black student’s behavior seem at all aberrant.
People of color are often called out or, worse, endangered for actions that no one would object to from a white person. Meanwhile, Jodi Shaw, the employee who resigned because she didn’t like having to take antiracism training, has raised over $280,000 on GoFundMe to mount a legal challenge against Smith College (for what? she wasn’t fired).
It is apparent that many people agree with her that having to reflect on one’s privileges and assumptions in order to lessen violence against Black people or microaggressions toward people of color is tantamount to being attacked themselves. Where is the conversation about white fragility and its obstruction to progress?
Clara Fang
Detroit
The writer is an alumna of Smith College and founder of Climate Diversity, which works to increase diversity in the climate movement.
Clara, before opining about Jodi let me ask you: have you listened to Jodi’s side of this story?
Apparently the house in which the black student got lunch was not open to ANYBODY – black or not – who was not part of a kids’ camp that was allowed to eat there that summer or who was a VETTED adult. Kindly one of the staff members allowed the young woman – black or not – to get lunch. And the story goes on. I encourage you to seek out Jodi’s side of the story before you judge.
Have you taken the time to listen to Jodi’s videos?
Clara – I strongly suggest: LISTEN first, carefully and attentively, to every source and only then form your opinion. Thank you. More listening. Less judging. Always a great strategy.
And bravo to Jodi for raising $280,000!
Hear!Hear!
It is clear, after seeing the student’s own video of the
”incident,” that she was not profiled or mistreated in any way. The young woman was on an evil mission, and she succeeded…almost.