Racial Justice, Hegemony, and Bias Incidents in U.S. Higher Education

Abstract

Formal administrative protocols for responding to bias incidents are now the norm in higher education. In considering these developments, the author of this article poses critical questions about racial justice work on campus, identifies key features of an under-acknowledged institutional racism, and contributes to discussions about ways that diversity and social justice efforts often reproduce rather than challenge systemic inequities.

Notes

An Internet search for “Bias Response Team” (October 30, 2012) generated results for hundreds of campuses, including the University of Chicago, Ball State, University of Rhode Island, University of Northern Iowa, Towson State, Loyola of Chicago, University of Oregon, Tufts, Rutgers, multiple University of California campuses, Duke, Syracuse, Oregon State, Alfred University, Columbia University, and the University of Richmond.

The Society for Diversity self-describes as “the largest and most comprehensive professional association dedicated exclusively to diversity executives and professionals.… We can help others see the value in diversity and experience measurable business impact.” (http://www.societyfordiversity.org, accessed July 7, 2012).

“Black” and “African American” are neither synonymous nor mutually exclusive. I tend to use “African American” to emphasize the culture and history of people of African ancestry in the Americas and the United States in particular, and the current day nuances related to those histories. I use “Black” when it seems appropriate to emphasize the movement-based, contestational history of African Americans.

Bonilla-Silva (2006) offers a further typology of “colorblind” rationalizations.

This is a term coined by Williams (1977), though here I am referring to Gordon's (1997) development of the concept.

Here I am quoting Alexander (1995, p. 85), who is invoking James Baldwin's “Biblical phrase.”

The myopic law-and-order response is exemplified by the DOJ's document, “Responding to Hate Crimes and Bias-Motivated Incidents on College/University Campuses” (2000), and then helpfully decentered in its subsequent “Hate Crimes on Campus: the Problem and Efforts to Confront It” (2001), which was commissioned by outside researchers.