In her reflective piece, Tiffany N. Younger expresses the disillusionment she faced upon entering academia as a Black woman after the Trump election. Initially seeking a safe space to promote progressive change, she found academia entrenched in systemic oppression, characterizing it as the 'belly of the beast'. She cites the influential works of Black feminist scholars to illustrate how dominant ideologies shape academic structures, often rendering her presence a threat. Her experience is marked by complaints about her pedagogy, ultimately revealing that her humanity is not safeguarded within these institutions, highlighting the need for structural change.
Entering academia after the Trump election, I sought safety to disrupt impending violence. However, I faced systemic whiteness, patriarchy, and coloniality that define the institution.
The academic institution is the 'belly of the beast,' where whiteness, patriarchy, and coloniality are maintained through research and pedagogy, threatening the existence of Black women.
My existence as a Black woman scholar was treated as a broken policy, signaling that my humanity wasn't enough to protect me within academia's oppressive structures.
Despite my efforts to navigate these systemic challenges, the repeated complaints and mediations reveal that my presence and pedagogy are often seen as a threat.
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