On Claudine Gay

Some honest thoughts and reflections

This past week, the first Black president of Harvard resigned after 6 months, marking her tenure as the shortest in the school’s history.

Aside from how Dr. Claudine Gay navigated the position (and there are some decisions she made I did not agree with), it is undeniable that the commitment to getting her ousted was fueled by racism and misogyny. With respect to the plagiarism allegations, the best video I’ve seen break it all the way down is this one.

I am going to be super honest and share that since hearing the news, I’ve been thinking a lot about whether all of this — going to graduate school, maybe becoming a professor, and all the things in between — is worth it. I do it for the generations behind me, but when I think about where I am right now and where things are headed. Y’all, I just want to move to a farm and call it a day.

Black women carry so much. Our anger, sadness, disappointment, frustration, and everything in between are so valid, more than valid. We are expected to save everyone but ourselves. It is exhausting.

Regardless of how people may feel about Dr. Claudine Gay, what has happened to her is emblematic of what Black women face every single day, especially in leadership — across academia. I know many Black women whose competence is questioned DAILY.

LeanIn.Org reports that 40 percent of Black women surveyed in their Women in the Workplace report shared that they need to provide evidence of their competence. That is more than any other group. Another study shows that only Black women are affected by having more white colleagues on their teams — specifically, a higher share of white co-workers translates to lower promotion rates and higher turnover. Dr. Claudine Gay’s story, unfortunately, is all too common.

At the crux, I believe that we ain’t seen nothing yet. We are seeing attacks on diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts by those who seek “equality” at the expense of our collective humanity. It is a tale as old as bigotry itself.

All I know for sure is that no institution will ever love or protect us. Therefore, as Black women, we must hold onto each other, uplift one another, and affirm that our existence is not debatable nor has it ever been.