Part 3 of Hunter College Acting Provost Rebukes Department of Film & Media Studies for Its Negative Campus Reputation & Image of Hostility to Black Instructors and Staff

That’s me talking about being bullied and mobbed in and by my department, Film and Media Studies. I wasn’t out front about racism or Teaching While Black at the time because, after consulting with several attorneys, I learned that city, state and federal laws against racial discrimination were incrediblely weak. That I had a better shot at remedies and justice by joining the ranks of grassroot activists fighting for passage of a New York State Healthy Workplace Bill, which at the time of the picture above, seemed like it had weight. I had an active Moveon.org petiton back then when things seemed promising. And worked actively with the New York State Healthy Workplace Advocates … until I got fed up with the internal politics.

I wish Acting Provost Valadia Dent had just straight out assailed the department for its racism and bigotry and smacked it with a barrage of sanctions. As time has passed since the rebuke was announced at a faculty meeting by Chair Kelly Anderson, I realize that ulterior strategies yet to be fully discovered and realized were at play regarding that announcement.

Maybe Dr. Dent didn’t rebuke as I wrote, based on what Anderson had said at the faculty meeting. Maybe it was a scolding without teeth.

One reason for my suspicion is a recent smirking comment by the D:F/M Acting Chair Ricardo Miranda that Dr. Dent was no longer in office. Dent MIA?

Nevertheless, a former exceptional student of mine reach out to me several days ago. I thought publishing my response might provide insight to the scurrilous things that take place in the Department of Film and Media Studies. I’m withholding the identity of the former student.