Could not possibly have come at a better time. I've spent the past decade working with colleagues and collaborators to articulate what, exactly we can do to change the rules of the game that we play by self-governing (a) our own communal relationships and (b) our work as academics. I never meant to be an academic, spent most of my offer decidedly not one, and according to most prestige paradigm measures, I don't really count as one now. But I do teach and study as a contingent faculty member (words that didn't mean anything until about 7 years ago, and that any previous version of me would have never understood). While I definitely am working adjacent to the Above right now, I grew up deeply Below, most relate to that, and can basically only see the academy as a place of potential redistribution of access and resources. I find enormously helpful Sara's metaphor of The Game amd the reality that if we play it, we can rewrite The Rules. A lot of my paid work right now is developing training and support systems to help people reinvent the rules when they have spent their whole professional lives in the academy and don't reallyknow how to see the rules, let alone believe they can change them. Thanks for this very helpful framework, Sara! I'll definitely be sharing it.
So glad the piece resonated and feels timely Bethann and appreciate so much you sharing your experience about how it plays out in your life. Want to give credit where it’s due to @lindaquiquivix for opening my eyes to the above/below/side by side frame: this piece is 1000% in conversation with her and her book, Palestine 1492!
Also Bethann super curious from your experiences if you’ve found ways to subvert the game: communal relationships and academia both ripe places for practice!
Thank you Garrett for decades (!) of time watching one another evolve, and for giving this essay a share on the White Pages. Grateful for all of it.
Could not possibly have come at a better time. I've spent the past decade working with colleagues and collaborators to articulate what, exactly we can do to change the rules of the game that we play by self-governing (a) our own communal relationships and (b) our work as academics. I never meant to be an academic, spent most of my offer decidedly not one, and according to most prestige paradigm measures, I don't really count as one now. But I do teach and study as a contingent faculty member (words that didn't mean anything until about 7 years ago, and that any previous version of me would have never understood). While I definitely am working adjacent to the Above right now, I grew up deeply Below, most relate to that, and can basically only see the academy as a place of potential redistribution of access and resources. I find enormously helpful Sara's metaphor of The Game amd the reality that if we play it, we can rewrite The Rules. A lot of my paid work right now is developing training and support systems to help people reinvent the rules when they have spent their whole professional lives in the academy and don't reallyknow how to see the rules, let alone believe they can change them. Thanks for this very helpful framework, Sara! I'll definitely be sharing it.
So glad the piece resonated and feels timely Bethann and appreciate so much you sharing your experience about how it plays out in your life. Want to give credit where it’s due to @lindaquiquivix for opening my eyes to the above/below/side by side frame: this piece is 1000% in conversation with her and her book, Palestine 1492!
Also Bethann super curious from your experiences if you’ve found ways to subvert the game: communal relationships and academia both ripe places for practice!