Claudine Gay controversy exudes black privilege
According to those on the radical left, the demotion of Claudine Gay as president of Harvard after six months in that job was part of a coordinated attack by conservatives on higher education — and more specifically an example of racism and misogyny because she happens to be a black woman. In other words, the lefties checked all the boxes for their evergreen identity politics narratives.
As to the first point, there is no doubt that conservatives and others are concerned about the radical leftwing ideology that permeates the educational system – turning schools into woke indoctrination institutions and centers of divisive victimization. Americans on both the right and left have expressed concerns about the cancel culture that limits or bans free speech in the classroom and in terms of guest speakers, as well as social and cultural curricula.
Conservatives are not pushing back against education, but against an extreme leftwing ideology taught by overwhelmingly leftwing administrations and faculties. That pushback is not only coming from the right. Asians have complained about biases that prevent the most gifted students from entering the most prestigious schools. Jews have been shocked by the level of antisemitism that burst forth on campuses in support of Hamas. That should come as no surprise, hardcore progressivism has long been associated with antisemitism.
The effort by conservatives and others to bring American education back in line with basic factual and truthful education – and the full and complete expression of differing opinions where controversy exists – is a worthy cause. Replacing administrators and faculty that are hardcore ideologues dedicated to indoctrination and woke agenda is also a worthwhile and important cause.
If Harvard’s former president Claudine Gay is one of those hardcore leftwing propagandists, her departure as president should be viewed as good news. Unfortunately, she will return to her position on the faculty, retaining her $1 million-plus compensation package. That may seem(?) extravagant, but her faculty wage package is reported to have been $890,000.
(It may just be me, but I personally do not believe ANY college professor – or even department head – is worth $890,000 plus benefits. I cannot even justify that level of compensation for university presidents. That explains those exorbitant tuition increases and the size of student debt. That is another issue we should be pushing back against.)
As to the claim that Gay’s ouster as president of Harvard was due to her gender or skin color, that is leftwing poppycock – an attempt to distract from the very real reasons she was demoted.
Gay was forced out of her lucrative job as head of Harvard because she created a hornets’ nest of criticism over her insensitive, inaccurate and stupid claim that calling for genocide needs to be taken into some sort context. That implies that one can look at it alternatively in a positive light. In what circumstance does Gay think calling for genocide be acceptable or appropriate?
Her statement was so wrong that it resulted in a backlash with parents refusing to send their kids to Harvard and – more importantly – the BIG donors cancelling their contributions. There is no way she could remain in her job after scaring away tens of millions of dollars.
What is amazing, and offending, is the fact that she will merely be demoted to her previous cushy high-paying job. That is not likely to satisfy the critics.
Because of the controversy she caused by her maladroit comment about genocide, an unrelated issue was revealed by the brighter light of public attention. She was a serious plagiarizer – one of the supposedly mortal sins of academia, science or journalism. That alone should have had her completely booted from Harvard.
In terms of the “black woman” victimization crap being trafficked on MSNBC and other leftwing outlets, her race and gender had nothing to do with her fall from grace. Several media personalities claimed that she was the ONLY one removed from office over such charges — and ONLY because she is a black woman.
They claim it as part of a conspiracy to keep women – especially black women – from position of power. In fact, many folks lost jobs over plagiarism in academia, science and journalism — and they are not all black or women.
The fact that Gay will remain at Harvard after her transgressions makes a better case for black privilege than prejudice and racism. Methinks a white male would have been fired the day after the hearing.
So, there ‘tis.
OMgoodness, a second PBP story demonizing the entire left, cancel culture, and many other sound bytes for a decision by Harvard, about Harvard.
Yes, she should be gone. Yes, if a white guy, she would be gone. But there she is and that’s still a Harvard issue. Focus there instead of using as your battering ram for a larger cause celeb.
She’s a cheat. Harvard’s bullshit. Let’s move on.
How did she get there? To eradicate any cancer we must first find out what caused it. Somebody trace the steps. Then the big question–How long has this been going on? Race and gender must have played a significant role.
good morning,
Just asking, as a white person. would have been fired if i lied on my application
or retained on the position paying almost a MILLION DOLLARS AS A TEACHETR.
I don’t so.
She proved that she is not qualified for the job. Had Harvard done their due diligence, she would not have gotten the job in the first place. Or, would she? Maybe she got hired based on gender and race with the hopes that her plagiarism and views on genocide would not be found out. She was not punished, no pay cut and not fired or banned from Harvard.. Her title was just changed from President to Professor. It goes to show Harvard’s values which are not very high.
Harvard was once held in very high regard but, maybe not so much anymore. Maybe Claudine Gay is just the tip of an iceberg. I am often admonished as being racist or practicing misogyny but, how can the truth be reconfigured to give a more pleasing result? She is what she is and she got there being that way–and Harvard didn’t just suddenly fall off the tracks allowing her to be president. The Claudine Gay experience is real life and if I avoid allowing Negroes or women in positions that influence my life, I feel reasonably justified in doing so. If I am wrong, someone please explain to me my error.
Seem like the American Ed-ju-bacation system in this country just sinks deeper and deeper into the craper.
The year must have started off poorly for you Larry as you are boring us yet again in the windbag post with another story about Claudine Gay. I guess even with the raise, SS isn’t going to cut it this month. But, I am really glad you brought up the plagiarism issue-not a good look for Harvard academics. Nor is it a good look for Supreme Court justices. I suggest your next post be a suggestion that Neil Gorsuch step down from his position, it would seem that plagiarism in the judicial branch is no better than in academia, don’t you think?
When going after plagiarists we should start at the top, can you say Biden?
Oh fuck Bert, don’t you think the House of Investigation would have started the case already OR featured it in the IMPEACHMENT INQUIRY? He’s been doing it since 65 for Christ’s sake. You people could spoil a wet dream. What the fuck is your problem that all you can do is scream; you can’t seal the deal.
Do you have examples of plagiarism in a document written by Biden that he ascribes to himself? Because that is what Larry was fussing about in the case of Claudine Gay, and there is also a plagiarized section in Neil Gorsuch s 2006 book. Doubt that you have any evidence on Biden-just more right wing whining..