U. Maryland-Baltimore’s Writing Center Wants Applicants with ‘Anti-Racist Coursework or Activism’
“In response, we see ourselves as collaborators across borders shaped by language, race, ethnicity, gender, sexual identity, mobility, culture, citizenship and nationality, dis/ability, socio-economic status, class, and indigeneity…”
Why is this important for a writing center worker? I’m asking as someone who graduated with an English degree and frequented the Oklahoma State writing center. From Campus Reform:
The University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB), lists “Previous anti-racist coursework or activism” as a preferred qualification to be hired as Writing Consultant at its Writing Center.
Writing consultants’ primary duties include providing various educational assistance such as assisting with cover letters, publications, and grant writing.
“For students committed to anti-racist action in your own professional practices and communities, the rigorous preparation will be a major benefit of this campus job,” the Writing Center website states.
Far from being limited to this job application, “anti-racism” is a ubiquitous feature of all UMB’s Writing Center does and believes.
The Writing Center states in their ‘About Us‘ section, for example, that they approach their work “with writers with an anti-racist lens.” They are not shy to mention that writing consultants must practice “language justice theory” and “challenge racializing language ideologies.”
“We acknowledge the cultural and linguistic complexity and diversity of professional and academic work today,” the ‘About Us’ section reads.
“In response, we see ourselves as collaborators across borders shaped by language, race, ethnicity, gender, sexual identity, mobility, culture, citizenship and nationality, dis/ability, socio-economic status, class, and indigeneity,” the section continues.
Donations tax deductible
to the full extent allowed by law.
Comments
It’s the New Scholarship. Unlike the old, it does not start with a search for answers. It starts with The Answer.
Why search for truth when you’re always convinced you are in absolute possession of it?
UMB’s student body is 18% African American and 45% minorities. I suspect that the article is saying that if you want to teach the proper writing of proper English, you would be less frustrated teaching writing on the main campus in College Park. The UMB campus includes the law school, and I worry that someone has the misimpression that good writing is not demanded of all law school graduates.
Huh? Did you read the Harvard Law School writings of Michelle Obama that popped up on the internet a few years ago? If that was not bogus…well, Mrs. Obama’s written efforts were as impressive as VP Harris’ “word salad” verbosity monstrosities “answering” questions in front of the Vice Presidential microphone..
Or maybe you were kidding.
If you wrote something that is actually anti-racist, like all people are created equal, or that affirmative action is unfair, or that people should be judged by the content of their character, not the color of their skin, you would NOT be hired.
I’m anti racist. I am against affirmative action, collecting information about race, and CRT