Posted on 05/09/2012 8:32:28 AM PDT by yoe
Recently, the Chronicle of Higher Education published a cover story called "Black Studies: 'Swaggering Into the Future,'" in which the reporter described how "young black-studies scholars . . . are less consumed than their predecessors with the need to validate the field or explain why they are pursuing doctorates in their discipline." The "5 Up-and-Coming Ph.D. Candidates" described in the piece's sidebar "are rewriting the history of race." While the article suggested some are skeptical of black studies as a discipline, the reporter neglected to quote anyone who is.
Like me. So last week, on the Chronicle's "Brainstorm" blog (where I was paid to be a regular contributor), I suggested that the dissertation topics of the graduate students mentioned were obscure at best and "a collection of left-wing victimization claptrap," at worst.
[snip] The graduate students I mentioned and the senior faculty who advise them at Northwestern University accused me (in guest blogs posted by the Chronicle editors) of bigotry and cowardice. The former wrote that "in a bid to not be 'out-niggered' [their word]
[snip]But a substantive critique about the content of academic disciplines is simply impossible in the closed bubble of higher education. If you want to know why almost all of the responses to my original post consist of personal attacks on me, along with irrelevant mentions of Fox News, The Wall Street Journal, Newt Gingrich, Rick Santorum and George Zimmerman, it is because black studies is a cause, not a course of study. By doubting the academic worthiness of black studies, my critics conclude, I am opposed to racial justiceand therefore a racist.
(Excerpt) Read more at online.wsj.com ...
You’ve just inspired my retirement career!
I’ll go back to college, just to annoy the faculty!
Black studies, women’s studies, and I would add gender studies.
Or, as it is sometimes called in academia, gender bending.
Well if there is a need for Black studies and Hispanic Studies and Asian studies, then there must be a need for Anglo studies - right?
Likewise, if there are Women’s studies and female empowerment, why not Men’s studies and Male empowerment?
I think we all know the answer to those questions.
Are there thousands of job opportunities available for someone with a Masters in Black Studies?
I didn’t think so.
After you have earned this Masters or PHD, what do you have?For that matter what do you have with even a BA in Black studies?
Just a bit more hate than you had to start with.
“Women’s Studies as well as Black studies is a cause not a course. IMHO”
Never heard this stated so very well! KUDOS!
“Too much of what we call ‘education’ is little more than an expensive isolation from reality”-Thomas Sowell
I waded through three or four of the articles about this in the Chronicle of Higher Education and through about 200 of the comments.
Nowhere did anyone mention that Mrs. Riley’s name comes from her husband, Jason Riley, who is African-American and a WSJ editorial board member. I learned that from one of the early comments on the WSJ article posted here.
Of course, the racist commentators at the Chronicle would respond that she, like her racist husband, is racist. Doesn’t matter that he’s Black. He’s a racist. She’s a racist. Anyone who calls out the Lefty Racists is a Racist.
Racist Racist Racist Racist Racist Racist Racist Racist Racist Racist
Childhood playground taunts, most of the comments in the Chronicle.
But childish playgrund taunts that will lead to race war. I urge FReepers to go to the Chronicle and search for Mark Bauerlein’s article “Naomi Riley and her Respondents” and Peter Wood’s article “Riley’s Arrow” and read the comments.
Chilling. But one needs to know his enemy.
defense
ALL the black/Hispanic/women’s/”Native American”/”gay”, etc. Studies programs and courses are WORTHLESS at best!!!!
The same goes for those sections of the humanities and social sciences, and even professional schools (law, government, etc.) that have become infected with”deconstructionism”/”postmodernism!!!!
Natural sciences and engineering are still OK.
All the rest need to ditch the post-modern clap-trap and get back to honest scholarship. But Victim Studies programs are irredeemable and should be abolished!!!
Used to be called "I'll show your mine if you show me yours".
“Black studies, womens studies, and I would add gender studies. Or, as it is sometimes called in academia, gender bending.”
Don’t forget “Queer Studies”!
That's what we used to have when we had the Great Books curriculum.
ummmmmm, maybe become a Marc Lamont Hill?
Add to this Hawaiian Studies. And now UH Hilo is building a big new bldg devoted to this, to go along with the dept. in Honolulu. It’s sad to watch this repeat of what I watched in Chicago in the early 1970s with the Black Studies programs.
[ Youve just inspired my retirement career!
Ill go back to college, just to annoy the faculty! ]
Be careful the so called “speech codes” will no doubt give them plenty of reason to kick you out.
I would be most happy to shove their “speech codes” down their throat!
Women's Studies as well as Black studies is a JOKE.
I have demanded from every one of these so-called scholar's; What can you do with your degree? Spending your time hectoring the rest of us about YOUR grievance, isn't a legitimate answer.
I did a lot of women studies in my day, and all I have to show for it is two divorces. Guess I didn’t study enough before the finals, hence the failing grade, divorce.
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