Episode 113: Should "The Bright Ages" Be Pulped For Its Racism, Or Merely Burned In Village Squares Nationwide?

The hosts discuss one of the most memorable online meltdowns in recent memory, and then they talk about the fallout from last week’s episode. To discuss this episode with other premium subscribers, click here.

Show notes/Links:

“Allegations of white supremacy are tearing apart a prestigious medieval studies group”: https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2019/09/19/its-all-white-people-allegations-white-supremacy-are-tearing-apart-prestigious-medieval-studies-group

Jesse on Gabriele: https://reason.com/2020/07/08/the-reaction-to-the-harpers-letter-on-cancel-culture-proves-why-it-was-necessary/

Some David Perry receipts:

Jesse Singal @jessesingal

David Perry, who has publicly called for my ouster from a listserv and for my real-life friends to disavow me -- without explaining what I've gotten wrong in my dysphoria coverage -- has moved on to back-channel efforts to sabotage my ability to write about other subjects, too.

Original complaint about spiked review and more positive one published in LARB was here but is now protected:

This is whiteness in action. This is silencing BIPOC scholars *doing* the work and labor while white men (and women) profit by doing half-assed work and their club of editors (yes they are friends - as noted in an email) work behind the scenes to keep us in the "dark".

Also:

24 hrs later & no word from anyone. Notably columbusing, gatekeeping and academic dishonesty takes place daily for BIPOC and it is more often than not that particular wyte scholars aren't receptive to call-ins, let alone being held accountable.

Seph Rodney backs up Bond:

Erik Wade tweetstorm:

Jesse Singal @jessesingal

What gives the game away is none of these people ever sends a *private* email. Because that wouldn't let them build clout and grandstand. The "Look, I love your work, but I'm SO disappointed in you" is always public. That's part of the ritual, and it's opportunistic.

Bond is weaponizing her feelings:

𝕶𝖍𝖗𝖎𝖘𝖙𝖎𝖆𝖓 𝕾𝖒𝖎𝖙𝖍 @KhristianSmith1

Speaking with my close Classicist friends, it’s clear that this defense mechanism is S*r*H B*nd’s MO. She has previously weaponized her feelings against scholars with less protection in order to appear as the victim. This 🧵 is a textbook case of white fragility at play. https://t.co/9uIkfGaD0f

She also apologized too quickly for MRO’s liking:

Jesse Singal @jessesingal

Sarah Bond apologized, but she apologized *too quickly*, and that necessitated further emotional labor on the part of the person she apologized too. I really hope she does better.

Some whole other apology rejection:

Dr. Erik Wade @erik_kaars

This is not remotely an apology. You said Dr. MRO was a race-faker, compared her to Jessica Krug, doubled-down, and blocked anyone who criticized you. This led to a huge amount of others attacking Dr. MRO as a race-faker. Why not apologize TO HER? #BrightAgesSoWhite

Ana Lucia Araujo, PhD @analuciaraujo_

Last week, I sent several tweets that I regret. I understand that I was wrong. I apologize. I am taking a break from Twitter to reflect. Wishing you all well.

The spiked review: https://mrambaranolm.medium.com/sounds-about-white-333d0c0fd201

Gabriele apology:

Matt Gabriele @prof_gabriele

hi everyone. let me be clear, I condemn all racist, sexist, or otherwise bigoted attacks of any kind and for any reason. if I, because of my past actions (or inaction), have given the opposite impression, then that is entirely on me and I apologize.

The LARB, too, has failed various accountability checks:

Nav Persaud @NavPersaud

@ISASaxonists I encouraged the LARB to make a public statement that would ameliorate the racist mistreatment of Dr MRO @ISASaxonists and help others The Editor-in-Chief initially responded positively. But today I received this disappointing response.

Smithsonian Mag review of The Northman: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/the-true-history-behind-robert-eggers-the-northman-180979954/

The Guardian on same: https://www.theguardian.com/film/2022/apr/22/norse-code-white-supremacists-reading-the-northman-robert-eggers

The image of “Christ of Mercy between the Prophets David and Jeremiah” by Diego de la Cruz comes from here.