Commentary

Commentary: Harvard’s First Black Female President Survives New Anti-Diversity Battle

If you haven’t realized it yet, that congressional hearing last week that continues to make news wasn’t about solving antisemitism in America in the shadow of the Israel/Hamas war. That was the given pretext for the hearing, but it really served as a platform for an outright attack by right-wing MAGA-types on the thing they believe has destroyed higher education – and all of society—in the last 30 years. What would that be? Diversity, of course, and the undoing of racial discrimination in the spirit of the Civil Rights Act.

Published

1 year ago

December 15, 2023

Oakland Post

Harvard President Claudine Gay. Courtesy of Harvard Gazette.

By Emil Guillermo

If you haven’t realized it yet, that congressional hearing last week that continues to make news wasn’t about solving antisemitism in America in the shadow of the Israel/Hamas war.

That was the given pretext for the hearing, but it really served as a platform for an outright attack by right-wing MAGA-types on the thing they believe has destroyed higher education – and all of society—in the last 30 years.

What would that be?

Diversity, of course, and the undoing of racial discrimination in the spirit of the Civil Rights Act.

With that single word, “diversity,” comes all that detractors believe has crippled our country starting with our colleges and universities.

It includes everything from admissions, to hiring, and extends to a curriculum that has seen the emergence of race, gender, and equity studies. It serves to make everyone more aware of issues heretofore ignored in society in general.

What better way to bring about its reversal but in a high-profile congressional hearing attacking three elite university presidents?

The main instigator was fourth ranking Republican, Rep. Elise Stefanik of New York, a Donald Trump acolyte, and herself an Ivy League-educated Marjorie Taylor Green wannabe.

Stefanik is a Trump enabler who voted to invalidate the 2020 election and has maintained the “Big Lie” on election fraud.

That puts her low on any sane person’s credibility scale –unless you’re Donald Trump.

At the hearing, Stefanik in mini-authoritarian mode, was given extra time by fellow Republicans who yielded to her so she could wail at the college presidents demanding they give yes/no answers on complex matters of free speech and discrimination.

It was textbook political outrage as performance and a good example of why politics is sometimes called “show business for ugly people.”

Still, it’s hard to believe that elite college presidents, who themselves oversee sometimes treacherous academic office politics, could have been taken by surprise. Surely, they’ve seen Congressional hearings run by MAGA loyalists like Jim Jordan (R.-Ohio)?

But when Penn’s Elizabeth Magill, Harvard’s Claudine Gay, and MIT’s Sally Kornbluth came to Congress they just didn’t seem to have a clue they were being teed up by the conservative right.

They thought it was a serious inquiry into antisemitism and responded as such. They were going for nuance and were reserved when asked if calls for genocide against Jews harassment under university policy?

Yes, or no?

The presidents didn’t want to respond to hypotheticals. They said it depends on the context.

And that’s when they were bullied, harangued and soundbited.

How many people were surprised to see a Black woman among the three? That would be Claudine Gay, African American Studies scholar, and the first African American to be president of Harvard.

But she really stood for all of us.

Despite more than five hours of hearings, most people only saw the micro-clips showing the three presidents respond in a collegial, legalistic way. They were soft-spoken and reasonable, respectful of the inquiry. They did not match the volume, ire, and fake passion of Stefanik.

Good enough in a fair fight. But this was not that. The presidents failed to understand that hearings exist for members of Congress to demagogue, beat up on their invited guests, all while the cameras roll, creating viral clips for their own re-election campaigns.

Stefanik got the newsclips she wanted on every major network. But it opened an old wound about America’s reckoning on race. It made everyone question it.

Over the weekend, the key takeaway wasn’t that rising anti-Semitism was bad in society or on campus. Indeed, one major cable network suggested the hearings showed why the public has lost faith in higher ed, claiming it has become home of dogmatic ideology and social engineering, not academic merit.

A fellow committee member Mark Takano (D-Calif.) could see through it. He told the Harvard Crimson the Republicans “were not really interested in the topic of antisemitism and antisemitism on campus.” Rather, Takano, thought the Republicans were playing divisive MAGA-politics.

“My own sense is that the Republicans are spring-loaded to enact a narrative that universities are bastions of liberal progressives,” Takano told the college newspaper. “They wanted to present an opportunity for their members to portray universities in a certain way.”

He was also critical of Stefanik whom he observed as taking a “hard turn to the right.”

But Stefanik’s stunt appears to be working.

While MIT President Sally Kornbluth has received some support on her campus, Penn’s President Magill was forced to resign over the weekend.

Harvard’s Gay apologized for her performance on Friday but was still under some pressure to resign. To counter, faculty members circulated a letter of support on Sunday. But there’s also been some public discussion questioning whether as an African America woman Gay was even qualified for the job.

Some conservative outlets going into her scholarly work exposed minor examples of plagiarism, anathema. On Tuesday Harvard’s board voted to “unanimously stand in support of President Gay.”

All this from an inquiry into fighting antisemitism. Instead, the hearing exposed the bitterness and resentment that some still have over a move toward diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). It is a staple MAGA argument.

Stefanik’s stunt worked so well, expect more of it.

Yes, we’re all against antisemitism. But as we see, in 2023, some people hate diversity, equity and inclusion efforts, even more.

Emil Guillermo is a veteran Northern California journalist and commentator. He does a micro-talk show on YouTube.com/@emilamok1

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Activism

Living His Legacy: The Late Oscar Wright’s “Village” Vows to Inherit Activist’s Commitment to Education

Kingmakers of Oakland (KOO), a nonprofit organization that works to improve educational and life outcomes for Black boys and men, stated that “Oscar Wright is one of the most prolific, consistent, and committed advocates of equity for Black students and Black Families here in Oakland for the past six decades.”

Published

2 days ago

December 24, 2024

Oakland Post

Oscar Carl Wright, 101, who passed away on Nov. 18, was still involved in Oakland’s educational affairs until his death.

By Antonio‌ ‌Ray‌ ‌Harvey‌, California‌ ‌Black‌ ‌Media‌

Activists mourning Oscar Carl Wright’s death, have pledged to continue his lifelong mission of advocating for Black students and families in Northern California.

Wright, 101, who passed away on Nov. 18, was involved in Oakland’s educational affairs until his death.

Now, friends and admirers acknowledge that carrying on his legacy means doubling down on the unfinished work that Wright dedicated his life, time, and resources to, according to Y’Anad Burrell, a family friend and founder of San Francisco-based Glass House Communications (GHC).

“Mr. Wright did a lot of work around equity, specifically, for Black students based on their needs — whether it was tutoring, passing classes, or graduating,” Burrell said.

Wright became a champion for his children’s education, recognizing the disparities between their school experiences and his own upbringing in the Mississippi Delta.

Burrell told California Black Media (CBM) that the crisis of unequal access to resources and a quality education continues to affect the Oakland Unified School District (OUSD).

According to Oakland Reach, in the city of Oakland, only 3 in 10 Black and Brown students are reading at or above grade level. In addition, only 1 in 10 are doing math at or above grade level.

Oakland REACH is a parent-run, parent-led organization. It aims to empowers families from the most underserved communities to demand high-quality schools for their children.

Wright’s work as an activist had impact across the state but he was primarily known in the Bay Area. Alongside the Black United Front for Educational Reform (BUFER), he filed a complaint against OUSD for violating the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

In 2000, the OUSD school board proposed an action plan to address educational inequity, but it was never implemented.

Wright later founded the African American Honor Roll Celebration at Acts Full Gospel Church, an award that recognizes Black students with a grade point average of 3.0 or better.  Each year, more than 1,000 students are honored at this ceremony.

Burrell said that one of the main reasons Wright’s work was so essential for families and children in Oakland that is the direct relationship between acquiring a quality education and affording quality housing, maintaining food security, achieving mental wellness, and securing stable employment.

Wright was the child of sharecroppers from Coahoma County, Mississippi. He attended Alcorn State University, a Historically Black College and University (HBCU).

In the late 1950s, Wright and his family relocated to the Bay Area where he worked as a contractor and civil engineer. He later became an active member of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP).

Burrell said the people who will carry on Wright’s work are part of a “village” that includes KOO’s CEO Chris Chatmon.  Wright was a mentor to Chatmon.

“It will not be one entity, one person, or one organization that picks up the baton because it was a village effort that worked alongside Mr. Wright for all these years,” Burrell said.

Burell says that legacy will live on.

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Activism

Protesters Gather in Oakland, Other City Halls, to Halt Encampment Sweeps

The coordinated protests on Tuesday in San Francisco, Oakland, Vallejo, Fresno, Los Angeles and Seattle, were hosted by Poor Magazine and Wood Street Commons, calling on cities to halt the sweeps and focus instead on building more housing.

Published

2 days ago

December 24, 2024

Oakland Post

The California Poor People’s Campaign’s Victoria King erected encampments for unhoused Oaklanders. Victoria King and her committee erected these emergency tents to symbolize the needs of unhoused Oaklanders. Photos by Post Staff.

By Post Staff

Houseless rights advocates gathered in Oakland, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and other city halls across California and Washington state this week protesting increased sweeps that followed a U.S. Supreme Court decision over the summer.

“What we’re dealing with right now is a way to criminalize people who are dealing with poverty, who are not able to afford rent,” said rights advocate Junebug Kealoh, outside San Francisco City Hall.

“When someone is constantly swept, they are just shuffled and things get taken — it’s hard to stay on top of anything,” said Kealoh.

Local houseless advocates include Victoria King, who is a member of the coordinating committee of the California Poor People’s Campaign. She and Dr. Monica Cross co-chair the Laney Poor People’s Campaign.

The demonstrations came after a June Supreme Court ruling expanded local governments’ authority to fine and jail people for sleeping outside, even if no shelter is available. Gov. Gavin Newsom in California followed up with an order directing state agencies to crack down on encampments and urging local governments to do the same.

Fresno, Berkeley and a host of other cities implemented new rules, making it easier for local governments to clear sidewalk camps. In other cities, such as San Francisco, officials more aggressively enforced anti-camping laws already on the books.

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Activism

Celebrating East Bay Leaders Keith Carson and Federal Glover at Geoffrey’s Inner Circle

Several leaders were in attendance including fellow Alameda Supervisors Elisa Marquez and Lena Tam, Superior Court judge-elect Terry Wiley, and African American Sports and Entertainment Group’s founder Ray Bobbitt, along with many other guests.

Published

2 days ago

December 24, 2024

Oakland Post

Keith Carson, John Gioia, Federal Glover, Nate Miley Left to Right.

By Magaly Muñoz

After decades of public service in the East Bay, community members and leaders came together to celebrate Alameda County Supervisor Keith Carson and Contra Costa Supervisor Federal Glover at Geoffrey’s Inner Circle Thursday afternoon.

First elected in 1992, Carson has served District 5 for 24 years and announced his decision to step away from his seat earlier this year, just before the deadline to submit new candidate applications.

He dedicated his long career to bringing access to health care, addressing homelessness, lowering crime, improving business retention, and growing job opportunities in Alameda County.

Glover began his tenure as Contra Costa Supervisor in 2000 and previously served as mayor of Pittsburg in 1998. During his time as Supervisor, he supported initiatives on public transportation, created committees for public safety, and supported task forces on health.

“These two distinguished leaders have dedicated their lives to improving the lives of so many people across Alameda and Contra Costa (counties). Their work has touched every corner of the East Bay,” Alameda County Supervisor and President Nate Miley said.

Leaders from both counties spoke on the supervisors’ legacies and their dedicated years of service.

Contra Costa Supervisor John Gioia said that Glover was the type of person that grew with each challenge that crossed him, especially after he had major surgery in 2020. But Gioia said that the treatment did not deter Glover.

“He’s had tougher races for reelection than any member of our board that I can recall, and he’s always come back stronger than before,” Gioia said.

Sharing a county border, Gioia complimented Carson on his ability to sway leaders from both sides of the political aisle to listen on the issues affecting locals and residents across the nation.

Shannell Scales Preston, who is taking over Glover’s D5 seat in 2025, told event attendees that Glover was a mentor to her for many years. He often would call Preston after Pittsburg City Council meetings with remarks about her performance and how well she spoke up on certain issues.

With Glover spending years as the only Black elected official in local government, Preston would ask him how he managed to not feel lonely about the job. She then congratulated him on being the only supervisor in Contra Costa to have all Black mayors under his district in 2023.

Preston said he’s been a leader to many diverse groups and his tenure has seen leaders of all backgrounds, but particularly paving the way for Black leaders in predominantly white areas.

Miley, who has shared his entire 24-year tenure on the Alameda Board with Carson, tearfully wished the exiting supervisor luck and said he would miss him dearly.

Carson said that as we embark on a “dark time” for everyone across the nation and worldwide in 2025, it’s important to continue communicating and working with groups from all backgrounds because that is the only way things will get done.

“There have been many lonely nights, but then the sun comes out in the morning when you continue to think, ‘I can make a difference,’” Carson said.