Dear Palaeontological Scientific Trust (PAST)
On 17 June 2020, you posted a Tweet which quoted the late American Novelist Toni Morrison; specifically a line she delivered to American Host Stephen Colbert: “There is no such thing as race. None. There is just a human race — scientifically, anthropologically.” The PAST Twitter account received a backlash, with many (primarily black South Africans) admonishing you for including only the most sanitized version of the quote while neglecting to mention racism. Morrison, for context, is radically anti-racist.
You then posted the following HuffPost article, as though highlighting good intentions, but still neglecting to mention racism: https://www.huffpost.com/entry/toni-morrison-colbert_n_6199402
Since it was clear that whoever was managing the PAST Twitter account was still not quite understanding the nature of the criticism, I replied with the following clarification: “I think you are misinterpreting the criticism: this type of status, without acknowledging the reality of racism (i.e. the extent of her quote), comes across as trying to pacify anger against racism rather than address racism. This is a tactic used to not discuss racism.”
By the following morning, as a group (i.e. those who Tweeted their criticism, those who replied to your Tweet - regardless of nature and intention - and those who even retweeted criticism), those in any way critical of your posts and response, were blocked by you on Twitter.
Now, I want to be clear about this: I probably wouldn’t have known unless I was informed. And I am sure I have been blocked on Twitter by many people, and I am sure you have needed to block your fair share of “trolls” before this as well. This is not of concern.
But I am concerned about the broader systemic issues that this highlights. In particular:
No engagement or evidence of reflection as to why an anti-racism stance - especially from an organisation that has consistently used and benefited from phrases of unity and common origins - is vital;
Some evidence regarding selectivity about your messages of race and racism;
The use of diversity openly when it is palatable and non-controversial, at the expense of students and young academics, particularly black students and students of colour;
An apparent lack of diversity (e.g. diverse perspectives/experiences) in your scientific and advisory teams;
The lack of clarity regarding the proportion of funding allocation (is there an annual report which is easily accessible? What proportion of this allocation is to South African black scholars?);
The number of engagements I have since had, with scholars and students at varying levels since I made this public, which spoke of subtle bullying and coercion, and who are worried that any criticism will affect their funding; and
The concerns scholars of varying levels have of a backlash from you (and even others) towards me for making this public.
These final points are particularly insidious if true. Regardless, I am still concerned that this event speaks of an organisational culture that blocks criticism which asks that you do not use quotes from radical anti-racists when trying to deliver a message that appears sanitized and incomplete. I am concerned that PAST has used this model for a long time.
From the conversations I have had both before and since, this is not a concern that can only be extended to PAST. I am worried about this same model being a reflection of broader issues in the palaeosciences in South Africa. I would therefore like to extend an opportunity to you to both reflect on your sanitised messages, as well as offer clear avenues of transparency and communication, which can be modelled in the discipline more broadly.
What I would like to know, first, is the following:
What roles, in terms of funding decision-making and internal accountability, are played by non-white stakeholders in the organisation? What are you doing to change this?
Would it be possible to gain access to the annual report? And could it provide those of us who are interested with information regarding who has received funding and what proportion of the funding available is given to black South African students?
To what level is dismissiveness of anti-racist criticism tolerated? At the social media level? At the funding level?
How will any of us who are concerned know or be able to express our concerns through channels which are not dismissed or blocked?
Are there paths through which those who have concerns may come to you with these concerns, without suffering a backlash in terms of funding and institutional power?
What is PASTs stance on racism?
In an ideal world, this letter, and the above questions, will be taken as an opportunity for reflection and change. PAST is ideally situated in the South African palaeosciences to progress the message of unity into one of clear and unambiguous anti-racism. But it can only do so if the messages become less sanitized, and the scholars who you support feel safe and free.
In an ideal world, this letter will be taken as an opportunity to create greater transparency and honest conversation in the discipline regarding these issues of anti-racism and the addressing of institutional power.
I definitely hope you agree, and position yourself in such a way as to lead by example.
Yours sincerely,
Kerryn A Warren, PhD