A disturbing, appalling, and revealing incident that occurred at Cornell University two months ago is finally receiving the spotlight and shame it so utterly deserves.
Professor Grant Farred, a professor of English and Africana Studies from South Africa, invited two of his advisees, both African-American female graduate students, to a conference in early February on Black Studies at the University of Rochester. When they arrived at the conference, they walked in on a panel that had already begun.
Farred walked over to the two students, lowered his voice and said, according to the Cornell Daily Sun and an inside source, “When you both walked in, I thought, ‘Who are these fine Black bitches?’”
The two Black women were visibly shocked at his remark, coming from the then-director of the graduate studies of the Africana Studies and Research Center (ASRC). Noticing their absolute dismay, Farred changed the subject before quickly walking away. The women later informed Farred that his comment was offensive. He apologized, saying he did not mean any harm, according to the Cornell Daily Sun.
Last week, 39 alumni of Cornell’s ASRC issued a blistering open letter not only condemning Farred’s insensitive words but the inaction and intransigence of the current chair of the center, Professor Salah Hassan.
“Over the past year, there have been an increasing number of racist and sexist incidents at the Africana Studies and Research Center; actions which, in previous years, would have not only been intolerable but would have been unthinkable,” the letter read. “Yet under the current chair … these events have become routine and commonplace. In fact, they have become so notorious that alumni such as ourselves, who are scattered across the country, have received word of these episodes and now feel compelled to speak out.”
Cornell officials apparently are investigating the matter (even though Farred has openly admitted to using the phrase). But the letter blasted them as well. “How could you, members of the University leadership, remain essentially silent in response to an incident of this magnitude? We are particularly shocked by the inaction demonstrated by President David Skorton and Provost Kent Fuchs given the commitment you pledged to diversity through the formation of the University Diversity Council.”
