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The Sacking of Claudine Gay
It wasn’t about race but it became (and is) racist
First of all, I wish Dr. Claudine Gay well as she exits Harvard University. Her resignation yesterday left me with little thoughts other than fuck all of it. I wanted her to stay and see the issue all the way through to the end. But it was not to be.
So 1–2–3… fuck Harvard, and most of all, fuck the right-wing/MAGA dogs.
Second, I am not here to defend Dr. Gay for alleged plagiarism. I know a lot about that topic though I won’t bother to go into it. Plagiarism is usually handled quietly on college campuses. But this is America; anything and anyone can become quickly a tool to advance political agendas. She is the latest.
Thus, third, I do believe Dr. Gay was ultimately forced out by racist actors (remember, “racism” and “racist” are not the same as “race” or “about race”). But to me, people of power and influence saw a moment to score cheap points for racist reasons so they went for it. I don’t think everyone was a racist actor but the racist actors fueled this high-tech witch burning by right-wing players. White male supremacy never avoids an opportunity to live and try to flex.
As the former political player, Rahm Emanuel might say, every crisis is an opportunity. And Claudia Gay presented an opportunity for…