Changing Forum Name in Administration Discussion Forum

0 Points

Add Reply New Topic

Changing Forum Name

Author	Comment
DivaProf	Changing Forum Name		Lead	[-]
Member Posts: 2427 Feb 17 09 12:20 PM	Tags : None Remove this ad I wonder what everyone thinks about the following... I'm thinking about changing the forum name because 1) "BlackAcademic" doesn't really describe the majority of constituents here and 2) I am increasingly finding that people who would greatly benefit from the forum don't join because they aren't "black." I originally created the Black Academic forum as an online extension of my university's mentoring program and imagined it to be a companion site for the book. But now I conceptualize it differently -- as an online community that includes some people who have read the book, some people who take my workshops, and some people who just stumble in randomly. In reality, the members of this forum vary greatly! We are every racial group, although mostly people of color. We are all genders, although mostly female. We are mostly under-represented in our fields, although not entirely. We ARE all academics in some way, shape or form. So I'm just wondering what folks think about this. Edited 1 time by DivaProf Feb 17 09 12:28 PM.
Interact My Recent Posts	Reply Quote
radprof		#1	[url]	[-]
Member Posts: 1696 Feb 17 09 2:52 PM	Diva, As you may remember, I was initially hesitant about joining this forum because I am not black. I came clean, and you allayed my concern that I was intruding on unwelcome territory. That said, it does occasionally occur to me that new members to the forum might think that everyone on here is black, and that brings up issues of mis-self-representation. I love the way you say that this forum is designed for under-represented faculty and graduate students, and those who support our success. Is there a way of capturing this in a name for the forum? I do think that it is important that there is an emphasis on faculty of color, as that is what makes this forum a safe space for discussing issues of discrimination. Maybe something along the lines of a "safe space" would be a good name?
Interact My Recent Posts	Reply Quote
TNPratt		#2	[url]	[-]
Member Posts: 450 Feb 18 09 12:31 AM	KA, I've been thinking about this ever since I read your post. I'm going to be blunt. If the forum's emphasis on people of color was lost, I would no longer be able to trust that I could speak freely and my fellow forumistas could relate to whatever I may be going through. If that were to happen, I would leave the site. I probably have the least anonymity of anyone on the site. That's ok. I freely gave it up during the original Holiday Break Writing Challenge without realizing how much the site would change. But since I can't get it back, I need to trust that I can relate to the others on the forum. Also, what makes this forum special is that it's not generic, but has a specific mission. It would be a shame to lose that. Just my $.02... TNP
Interact My Recent Posts	Reply Quote
DivaProf		#3	[url]	[-]
Member Posts: 2427 Feb 20 09 9:50 PM	I appreciate the feedback. I think you both flesh out the tension: Some people don't participate because they are NOT black -- even though they are under-represented AND/OR faculty of color! and I think everyone here appreciates the space and community that are possible because we have been "blackacademic" for the past two years. This leads me to a few questions that might keep the discussion moving forward: What does "under-represented" mean? Is it a synonym for faculty of color or is anybody who is literally/numerically under-represented in their field/department included? Are we really talking about racial groups, are we talking about gender, are we talking about class, all the above, or what? So, for example, most people on this forum are faculty of color, but many are white women who are under-represented by gender (i.e., women in natural sciences). Is it the experience of discrimination that binds us and that we need a safe space from or is it something that is unique to being a member of a marginalized racial group? I think we can all agree that nobody wants this forum to become The Chronicle of Higher Ed forums that are totally open and an electronic version of all the crap that goes on in the average department. What I'm wondering however, is where are the boundaries that enable a growing community of like-minded people who are seeking support and a safe space without the space become contested? I look forward to hearing everyone's thoughts! ka/dp Edited 1 time by DivaProf Feb 20 09 10:00 PM.
Interact My Recent Posts	Reply Quote
radprof		#4	[url]	[-]
Member Posts: 1696 Feb 21 09 4:24 PM	I see two complementary issues: (Of course, this is just my viewpoint, and others may see things differently)... 1) faculty and students of color at PWIs often feel isolated and this forum serves as a virtual community for these folks. The forum is a safe space and provides a nurturing community. This in itself is a much-needed space. 2) I also see this forum as an "anti-racist" space. Few social scientists make overtly racist comments (although this is not unheard of!). Yet, most white academics, even those who consider themselves liberal or progressive, are not fully aware of the ways that racism and racial inequality is reproduced in the academy. (Of course, this would implicate them, and none of them like to think of themselves as racists.) (Btw, RFSFL studies this phenomenon, so I am sure she can explain this better than me!) When people post to this forum, they can expect that the people who respond to their situation are well aware of the ways that racism operates at the institutional, structural, and personal levels, and thus can provide unique solutions to issues they encounter. My .02. Thanks for the opportunity to think about these issues.
Interact My Recent Posts	Reply Quote
authenticwriter		#5	[url]	[-]
Member Posts: 540 Feb 21 09 4:41 PM	Remove this ad Being a minority/under-represented in any environment gives you some middle ground - but it can be very different. I like that most people here are...shall I say "not White" - there is something inherently similar in that experience. It reminds me of a point I have been trying to articulate in a paper - A White mother of a biracial child is NOT a minority and cannot fully understand what it means to be a racial minority (and thus that influences how she racially socializes...but I digress) - she chooses to be a minority and can put it on and take it off when she wants (i.e., she can walk down the street w/o her mixed child or minority partner) AND she can use her privileged status when she needs to. I like being among people who have "lived" experience as a racially under-represented scholar. But, as always, my thoughts & ideas are constantly evolving and are open for further interpretation
Interact My Recent Posts	Reply Quote
continualknowledge		#6	[url]	[-]
Member Posts: 641 Feb 27 09 9:14 PM	I've been trying to formulate a response for some time. I think a name change would be fine but I think it should reflect the purpose of the site. Now what that name should be I don't know. But being new to the site, or well not so new, I love that it fosters a sense of community, support, and well-being. In a sense it is nurturing and I think that's because we all share a common ground of being underrepresented in the academy in some way and we realize that. I'm trying to flesh through your questions and I would argue that "under-represented" means both faculty of color and folks that are numerically underrepresented in their field and the experiences that come along with being in either category. Ok, I feel like I'm rambling so I will stop but I do enjoy the forum because it recognizes that there are different characteristics to people, race, class, gender, sexuality, that are viewed differently and often outcast and that those things and others thinkings create an awkward space.
Interact My Recent Posts	Reply Quote
rfsfl		#7	[url]	[-]
Member Posts: 595 Mar 5 09 10:10 PM	Short feedback...I need the safe space for oppressed folks. The safe space I often cannot find is that for people of color. My white women, men of color, and lesbian colleagues make it clear through their words and actions that they don't "get" that all of us are oppressed but in different manners. As such, they often do not understand and invalidate my experiences as a Black woman. Conceptually, theoretically, ideally, etc...I am open to shared space. But the reality is...I NEED safe raced space for folks of color. Which does not mean that white folks are not welcome, just that the space is geared as safe space for folks of color.
Interact My Recent Posts	Reply Quote
DivaProf		#8	[url]	[-]
Member Posts: 2427 Mar 7 09 12:56 AM	RFSFL -- your message articulated the EXACT reason I originally worked to create the mentoring program at my institution and that led to my creation of this forum. In short, "to provide a safe space for oppressed folks". I think the jury is in -- the BlackAcademic forum will remain the BlackAcademic forum. Thanks again all for the feedback and discussion! ka/dp Edited 2 times by DivaProf Mar 7 09 1:07 AM.
Interact My Recent Posts	Reply Quote
goodkarma		#9	[url]	[-]
Member Posts: 217 Aug 30 10 11:29 AM	Remove this ad DivaProf wrote: RFSFL -- your message articulated the EXACT reason I originally worked to create the mentoring program at my institution and that led to my creation of this forum. In short, "to provide a safe space for oppressed folks". I think the jury is in -- the BlackAcademic forum will remain the BlackAcademic forum. Thanks again all for the feedback and discussion! ka/dp DivaProf or other moderators - As we all make the transition can you comment on the "safe space" aspect of the community? How/whether this will be maintained is not clear to me from the new website. It's fine if that's no longer the focus but I'd love to have some clarity. Thanks.
Interact My Recent Posts	Reply Quote

<< Previous Topic Next Topic >>

Add Reply

Yuku free message boards

Changing Forum Name

Changing Forum Name