Thread by @AmeliaNGibson, Logged in to hear the discussion among @geekandahalf @TashaCMN @DarkLiterata and @Boss

Logged in to hear the discussion among @geekandahalf @TashaCMN @DarkLiterata and @Boss_Librarian organized by @BakerChair on Black librarians and librarianship. Not sure if they want us to tweet, though, so...?

Ok we have a hashtag and I just found the chat, and I got an ok, so I'm guessing live tweeting is fine. #BakerSpeaking20

Talking about hiring practices for "diverse" candidates. It isn't clear what diversity statements are supposed to be, or what they are FOR, in hiring. Statements check a box on the part of the institution. For many Black candidates, we need to hear institutions talk about DEI.

Black candidates must often first comfort white hiring committees (who would prefer not to discuss racism or anti-Blackness) putting us at a disadvantage wrt "diversity statements." Respectability politics creates a double bind. #BakerSpeaking20

Talking about the publication and reviewing process. @Boss_Librarian talking about submitting pubs for review, and having to be ready to pull her work if editor tries to change her perspective - lest it be "whitewashed." #BakerSpeaking20

Now @geekandahalf talking about usability and freedom to pull people up, and free colleagues from standards of whiteness. "We don't need their oks...we can create our own journals..." We don't need white people to validate us. #BakerSpeaking20

Now @DarkLiterata talking about secondary effects of racism in publication wrt things like tenure, etc. - effecting how many Black faculty can exist in the classrooms. AND how Black people writing about Black people is not published in the "core journals" of the field.

"Our field is missing voices and that means we are depriving students of those voices. That is racist." @DarkLiterata

The overwhelming whiteness of librarianship and education also means that children's books are reviewed by mostly white people who do not know how to review work about Black people outside of stories of struggle and pain. @DarkLiterata

Add-on by @BakerChair - Also, who is reviewing our LIS programs? What is the standard for equity and diversity in our LIS programs wrt accreditation? Do programs get to dismiss issues of race (what level of importance are they assigned)? #BakerSpeaking20

"I'm tired of hearing white people talk about Black people to other white people." @TashaCMN #BakerSpeaking20

Now they're on to performative allyship. My goodness. Here we go.

"Don't do the committee! Do the thing that people have told you will solve this." @DarkLiterata calling out the idea that many new "allies" are starting their education with a book that was published last year.

"Allyship theater." @Darkliterata hitting on "the degradation of sitting in diversity training and watching white people realize that racism is real." And not realizing that anti-racism isn't white people helping Black people, because this is a thing THEY are doing.

LOL @geekandahalf made me laugh out loud with "librarianship as an identity" that Black people cannot fully inhabit, because of its nature. "How do we dismantle that notion of identity?" #BakerSpeaking20

. @Boss_Librarian using lexiling as an example of how allyship is performative but doesn't help Black kids. Black books are often lexiled at lower levels, and levels are used to discriminate against Black students who are uninterested in "standard" lexiled books.
#BakerSpeaking20

When we ask for allyship to actually, meaningfully help change systems to help Black people, colleagues don't want to help, but want to read books and have discussions about anti-racism. That is performativity. @Boss_Librarian #BakerSpeaking20

Tami Lee: You can't just "read 3 Ibram Kendi books and be absolved." Don't turn around after you've done some reading and think you can now speak over my experience. #BakerSpeaking20

"99% of performative allyship is useless to us."

"A lot of allyship is a show white people put on for each other."

Somebody said safety pins.

#BakerSpeaking20

Now we're on to how EDI concepts/theories are twisted/manipulated in the field. #BakerSpeaking20

KC Boyd talking about how Black librarians are often left out of conversations unless people want someone to deal with "behavioral issues." After 23 years, "I have no patience for foolishness...When it comes to the needs of our children, I am going to speak up." #BakerSpeaking20

Tasha Nins talking about how many white librarians rely on her to point them to literature on race, but...they are also librarians [and can look things up]. She has taken time off from formal EDI work. #BakerSpeaking20

Tami Lee: "I think white folks are trying to do EDI, but are still clutching at white supremacy." Talking about tokenism - just a little bit of diversity while stacking the deck to make sure white people stay on top of decisions [money/power].
#BakerSpeaking20

Tami Lee: "I'm a white librarian and this is a white space and these decisions are best made by white people." That is still white supremacy. #BakerSpeaking20

Stacy Collins: The white imagination is preoccupied with maintaining their position at the top and the center of power structures. E.g., "we can't have too many books for Black kids because then the white kids will feel like there is nothing for them." #BakerSpeaking20

"EDI "work" in our field ISN'T WORK. It's so much discussion. So much talk. The EDI conversation complex." AND is focused on how to let a few Black/brown people into a white room that is defined and always controlled by white people. - @DarkLiterata #BakerSpeaking20

@DarkLiterata Talking about calling the police on Trans folks protesting TERFs in the library during "anti-racist awakenings" about police brutality. Talking about the "shock" at having a fascist librarian doxxing vulnerable students.

"I'm so excited to be part of EDI work, as long as it doesn't change anything." - @DarkLiterata

Derrick talking about how he *cannot* understand why white people keep saying "I cannot believe that happened" every time they become of a new incident when Black people have been talking about these problems forever.

[So, what (or who) don't our white colleagues believe?]

"Now there are conversations about whether we can judge what Nazis do on their off hours...A nazi?!" It's clear that white people aren't used to considering personal physical threat from people who "will kill you." - @geekandahalf #BakerSpeaking20

"EDI is trendy...but this is not a sweatshirt. This is our lives. Lives are at stake." - @geekandahalf #BakerSpeaking20

(regular reminder that I don't tweet Q & A sessions)

Question: Any advice for students of color in LIS programs?

"I am willing to help students of color...But if I tell you something, it is for a purpose...Be respectful of a person's expertise & time." -
@Boss_Librarian

YES. (I don't do Q&A but I felt this in my soul today)

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