No that wouldn't be racist, as a black person could bring actual life experience to the table (and avoid this controversy). It's not racist to prefer someone of your own race to champion your culture. It is racist to say "this person cannot have this job position for any reason whatsoever because shes white". I've mostly been on the videogame side so I haven't participated in many of these discussions.
I actually don't think it ever needs to come to saying that when I think about it, only if we are to believe out of all the people in the world they couldn't find a qualified black candidate for the job. Can we really say they looked that hard? I don't know, we don't know. I also don't think you have to say it because it doesn't/shouldn't need to be said maybe. A white person wouldn't play Malcolm X in a movie, you don't have to say "no white people can apply", for example.
Thank you for answering honestly.
From what I understand, this woman is literally one of the reasons why there is a hip hop initiative at the Smithsonian at all. She's been working on that particular branch since 2006. From the way it look, this curation is a natural extension of the kind of work she has been doing for the past decade. This gives her expertise and connections that are invaluable to making something like this even happen in the first place, let alone making it as good as it deserves to be. So no, I don't think it's at all surprising that they "didn't find someone more qualified".
Its exactly what happened to House/Techno. Both genres started and originated in black-dominated circles, only to now progress into a scene that is mostly all-white with little to no nods towards it roots.
I automatically assume at this point that any popular cultural staple had some black folks helping to spearhead it.
This dont seem to get though some people heads here at all and thats frustrating as hell.
This wasn't like a job posting with people applying and people having resumes and interviews. She has been working on this collection for 12 years obtaining donations to show to the public with the explicit blessing from the people who donated those items, lobbied the museum to host her section and they approved of her work and agreed to host it.
That is a fair point, but you could also say she could have given her connections to another person and done everything to make sure they succeeded in the position as someone who obviously had a lot of love for the project, that she could still be a great resource on the project.
She worked in the organization for years before in the department. There was likely no hiring process for the position. It's not that hard to understand.
The institution is proud of both the largely black representation in their ranks, as well as the diversity and representation from other races in the organization as well. What exactly do you want? I think expecting the museum to exclusively employ African American individuals is extremist.
The people involved with the NMAAHC are largely black, including leadership. There are lots of African American individuals telling African American history at this museum.
It's only nonsense in a vacuum where white supremacy never existed.
Did it ever occur to you that maybe the people at the NMAAHC like working with her? Why do they have to look for another person when they have someone perfectly capable on staff? Should they just pass her by because of what you think is best for the representation of black culture? And instead of claiming to know what black people as a monolith want in terms of this particular situation, maybe you should also take into account the opinions of the black people she works with, be it her bosses, her colleagues, or her primary sources. She wouldn't be in the position she's in today, presumably, if those people didn't approve of her work.
I mean she's worked for the smithsonian museum for 15 years, curating hip hop exhibits dating back to 2006, I'm sure she didn't have to apply for this one.
I think you're underestimating the amount of work that would take. She has established connections that to "transfer" would involve rebuilding relationships and trust, which would take a ton of time (years). That isn't feasibly possible.
It's the Smithsonian, I bet they have the resources, just a question of if they want to devote the resources to it.
Are you advocating that the NMAAHC should take a hard line stance on only hiring African Americans? (Might take me a bit of time to respond to your response if you chose to make one. I'm off to work, not ignoring you)
How nice of the OP to leave out that piece of very important information..
White individuals are allowed to be experts in hip-hop.
Do you really think her work is free of scrutiny? I don't think the collection she curates is "hip hop through the lens of me, Timothy Anne Burnside". That goes especially if that comments about her not being the only curator on the initiative turns out to be true.
I literally sighed that you edited this question in after the fact.
I mean, why not? Why shouldn't black people be given center stage at a museum where their history and culture is the subject, in a country that denies them opportunities left and right? Why does it feel like you're trying to make me feel bad for having those feelings?
