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This is a difficult but necessary thread to write. I’m writing as Margo Hendricks and as Elysabeth Grace so there is no mistake about its author or the communities involved. I’ve thought carefully about this thread, knowing it invites a direct hit. 1/
Backstory: For six weeks or so a number of premodern race marginalized scholars (early career and graduate students, women of color, lgbtq) have experienced intrusions on their TL as collateral damage for their support of a PCRS colleague. 2/
The intrusions come as insidious forms of bullying, some racially tinged, and are complicated because the white person at the center wears two coats: sex worker and a contingent academic. Both Identities complicate 3/
critique (the rock vs the hard place) despite a vile situation the person started and continues to escalate. I do not follow this individual and once this thread is posted, I will preemptively block: a) because I can; and b) this Black woman 4/
doesn't need to play petty politics or games based on a skewed sense of power dynamics. Know I won’t engage the person or their allies. This thread speaks my non-consent, which is why the person isn't named and the lack of screenshots. 5/
This thread is advice from a Black woman, senior Shakespeare/Premodern Critical Race Studies to those ECRs who reached out to me. It's simple advice, easy to follow: Let it go. Nothing will change the vituperation. 3/
Close the door. Block, restrict their DMS, and do not engage. Think about the underlying rules that come with certain forms of power dynamics that require consent. As long you respond, you're consenting to play according to their rules. 4/
The person really doesn't have the power to advance your career or impede it. They can't change the dynamics within the premodern critical race studies community. They can only attack. Don’t engage. Stay away from their TL. If their abuse shows up on 5/
your TL and you want to reply, write it but don't post. You'll gain nothing but abuse. Premodern critical race scholars we have a field to change, not one person’s hostility towards a member of our community. Protect your TL to the extent you can. 6/
We won’t or can’t change that person, which means you do have a choice to make: you can continue to wallow in the mud or leave and go bathe. Those who plan to enter the pen, I’d advise you not to do so but if you do, it's your choice. 7/
When a person you respect or whose work you admire follows the individual causing harm, accept that. You can admire the work but dislike an occasional stance taken. Academia has far too many layers and some don't cross. 8/
When the situation first surfaced, I watched. As it continues, I made a decision This thread is part of that decision. The other part is to not allow someone’s vituperative threads, that are obviously personal, detract me from what's necessary. 8/
The person is not in the premodern critical race community. We only see what is on the surface and cannot know the complexities that exist below, and we may never know. Thus, I suggest those affected remove themselves as targets and pity the individual. 9/
All you can do is minimize the exhausting effect the behavior has on you. Don't engage. Don’t consent to the power dynamics. This game is not important to the #PCRS community, even though it seemed so six weeks ago. 10/
I know some of you have used Twitter's so-called checks and balances, and it failed. Do not give the matter your attention any longer. It will be difficult, as some of you know but it's up to you to let the mess pile up in your house or on the sidewalk. 11/
#PCRS I wish I had more substantive advice or professional methods to resolve the situation. I don't except for the advice offered in this thread, and the reminder: Whiteness and bitterness can be a powerful drug anywhere, especially in academia. Fini
Addendum: I need to write so I'm not reviewing for typos.
