Mucho Work
Remember that my therapist said finals weeks were kind of like hell? It’s true! Grad school really isn’t like undergrad at all and I don’t know why because it feels like I have the same amount of reading and paper writing during my last few semesters.
One Project Down…
One factor is definitely that the work I’m doing for my two publishing courses is totally brand new to me. Developing a mock social media plan for a publishing company was one project, but sadly it was a singular fun project among a lot of brain (and eyeball) strain. Luckily for me that was my least evil project, so it is already done and I don’t have anymore work to do in that course. Woohoo!
And I am proud of that one because I chose First Second Books as my subject and test posted a tweet mockup, which the brand actually seemed to like enough to retweet. 😂 This is exciting as someone who was adamantly against using social media for the longest time, even if it was for the benefit of my brand — this blog!
When my Comics & Graphic Novels Publishing course was canceled due to low registration, I took Digital Audience Development so I could learn ways to direct traffic to my blog. I fully didn’t have any social media except a tumblr and Reddit account (don’t laugh!) before learning tips to use on various social media platforms. I gave in and made a Twitter and look at us making it! I have never had as many followers on the blog or Twitter because I’ve only used it once back in the day.
That’s right. I am very famoose. Joke. But implementing those strategies worked! I gave the course and Professor nothing but positive feedback on the evaluation. I did mention that I wished there was more integration of diversity/inclusivity, but I always ask for that when I can.
I’m going to send the Retweet to my Professor because she’ll probably like that tiny success. It happened as a result of her lessons, after all.
5 Finals Left 💀
I’m writing this post, not to procrastinate for once in my life, but to sort out my plan and set my intentions on timely completion, rest, and good grades.
Tonight: Children’s Book Publishing Final Project Packet.
Surprisingly, I started it a bit. But I’m probably going to be up all night finishing it to perfection. 🤷
Tomorrow: Finish paper on Commercialization of Food at the NY World’s Fairs.
This will also probably take all night. I’m 10000% over this paper and honestly this class. Remind me to do my course evaluations, too.
Also tomorrow: Children’s Book Publishing Focus Presentation.
NOOOOOOOOOO!
Wednesday: Finish up Children’s Studies slideshow presentation.
It’s okay… But it’s not very cute. And I have to make it 20 minutes and I think it’s way over, like all my work always is!
Also Wednesday: Children’s Studies presentation.
Thursday: Sleep until Saturday!
Saturday: Study for Children’s Book Publishing Final.
Also Saturday: Write Children’s Studies paper.
Luckily, this coincides with the presentation and has a good foundation. I just have to write it…
Sunday: Study & Paper
Monday: Study & Paper
Tuesday: PAPER DUE + FINAL EXAM!
Also Tuesday: Boyfriend’s parents arrive & stay with us for one week. 🙀🙀
I hope I have enough time to hide all the contraband around my apartment in between doing all the school work. 😹
Currently Reading
For right now, I’m going to keep reading Nice Racism by Robin DiAngelo because I like to read white people’s perspective on how they should confront systemic racism. This follow-up to White Fragility is humorous to me (sorry) because I know quite a lot of “woke” progressive white people who constantly commit microaggressions and become very defensive when you call out their racist behavior.
Ahem. The majority of my classmates, most of my Professors, and even a few friends.
Antiracism is ever-evolving work and those who have a commitment to dismantling oppressive systems should constantly be making an effort to educate themselves about the construction of race and how it has shaped our present society.
This book is great for white readers because it addresses the “good white people” who position themselves as liberal and don’t see themselves as perpetrators in racism, despite benefiting from generations of privilege.
Off the top of my head, this year I remember being misidentified as a bartender in Salem (we were the only two black people in the bar, I was a patron,) one of my best friends giving me a novelty toy set with a goat and coins called a “dowry,” multiple white classmates saying racism was “considered okay back then” when referring to events in 1900’s, a white student saying “there are more diverse authors now,” and my Professor displaying overtly racist World’s Fair ephemera on the projector and asking the class to unpack the image, with no consideration of how the class with only 3 diverse (out of 14 total) students would internalize the imagery. Even my own boyfriend bought himself some manga and bought me a graphic novel about The Black Panther Party. 😭
Yeah, I did call some of these out, but I really pick my battles. It’s not worth expending emotional energy on these microaggressions to blatant racist remarks/actions. That’s the reality of the world I live in, and that’s what the book tries to point out to the white people perpetuating these commonplace acts of racism.
The only problem is that not everyone is interested in hearing or reading about this, especially not those who call themselves progressive. I have a hard time getting even my “woke” friends to pick up any book, let alone a book that forces them to reflect on their own behaviors.
And I agree, DiAngelo does talk down to BIPOC and other minority groups, but this is the white POV, like I said. It’s useful to arm yourselves with different perspectives on antiracism, although I personally have always favored works by Black authors like Ibram X. Kendi and Tiffany Jewel and Jason Reynolds (all of whom created works to teach antiracism to children.)
But to be crass, it is in the nature of white people to assume a position of superiority over POC after centuries of racial inequality. How else will you teach “the good ones” that they need to do more work unless you coddle their inherent supremacy? -__-
Yeah, sometimes it’s hard to get past the author’s own white supremacy, but, imo, it’s better to read and learn and gain a more sophisticated understanding of what white civil rights activists are thinking and doing.
Honestly, it’s kind of funny to me that DiAngelo reminds readers that white people will take race talks more seriously when they come from other white people. And that she proceeded to name-drop all of her black friends in her introduction, when in White Fragility and Nice Racism she says that’s a common deflection that white people use to prove they are not racist. Not to mention the casual sexuality drop because a past partner was a woman.
I don’t know her IRL, but I’ve brought up issues about white scholars becoming authorities of race and black culture and her work seems to fit right into that mindset.
You can trust what I am saying because I studied this in college. I have black friends AND colleagues. I can be racist, too, so YOU don’t have to feel as bad when I tell you that you’re actually super racist. Definitely more racist than me. You should go make some black friends, don’t forget to bring your kids! How? Well, I’m not here to provide the answer to race. Anyway, here’s a book about every racist problem you perpetuate, with no actual content from those several black colleagues. Because you came here for the white POV since that’s what will actually help you. Don’t forget to read some black antiracism materials, too!
“But who has the time?!”
Sorry. Meta this good should be satire.
Maybe talking about all BIPOC in her life as an extension of herself is what really bugs me. I’d like to see a companion work by the black coworker DiAngelo always references to see her perspective.
EITHER WAY, READ A BOOK!
Miss Moody Lilac 