Finishing up page proofs for The Whiteness of Wealth that shows how tax policies designed with white Americans in mind disadvantage black Americans at every turn AND HOW WE CAN FIX IT (Available for pre-order here:penguinrandomhouse.com/books/591671/t…) I did NOT write it for academics 1/ 14
My first publication in 1996 was a book chapter showing how married black couples’ taxes were more likely to be higher than their white peers. Taxing America amazon.com/Taxing-America… eds. by Karen Brown and Mary Louise Fellows who were very gracious to this junior colleague. 2/14
While tax profs @ProfBCrawford@Narfnampil@TaxLawProf@bearerfriend engaged my work, for the most part tax law scholars have ignored my work. However some of the responses to my research and the race and tax project have been downright hostile and frankly mean spirited. 3/14
Like the time a “progressive” senior white male scholar announced to a room full of tax professors after my race, tax, and marriage presentation in January 2002 “Dorothy everybody knows your work is irrelevant because blacks are poor and don’t pay a lot in taxes.” 4/14
I wrote about it here: taxreview.law.pitt.edu/ojs/index.php/… And now I thank Tony Infanti who was in the audience a decade letter when I was telling that story and he suggested I publish my remarks because as he put it: these stories need to be told. He. Was. Right. 5/14
Zelenak organized an entire symposium in 1996 entitled: Taking Critical Tax Theory Seriously where regarding the race and tax project he did everything but. I write about it here papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cf… 6/14
So when THAT guy writes a piece over 20 years later that doesn’t start with: I. Was. Wrong. Be afraid. Be very afraid. 7/14
Nevertheless I persisted. I continued researching and writing and finding my voice. What helped? I STOPPED TALKING TO LAW PROFESSORS. THEY DON’T GET #SystemicRacism And I joined the faculty @EmoryUniversity 8/14
In our numerous conversations over the years they have taught me, supported me, and nurtured me. The Whiteness of Wealth owes an intellectual debt of gratitude to each and every one. 10/14
I decided to write a book for a general audience because I’m done talking to CLUELESS law profs about #SystemicRacism because they don't want to understand why it should be part of tax policy discourse. 11/14
In stark contrast every time I have presented my work to any audience other than law professors, including a general audience, the audience is engaged and wants to hear more. So this book is for you. 12/14
For those who want to understand why no matter how hard black Americans try, they can’t get ahead and how tax policy plays a significant part. Once you see how it happens you will understand what needs to happen next. 13/14
Since we're talking about the LSAT I have time today. AT MOST LSAT score predicts first year law school grades. Once you have actual grades only an idiot would care about an LSAT score - unless the question was pre-textual but I digress. But the LSAT story gets worse 1/8
For black law students the LSAT overpredicts first year grades. Why? I argue because law school does something to black students that hinders their learning. What could law schools be doing? Glad you asked 2/8
Professors teaching law like it's only balls and strikes; neutral and objective decision making when black law students (and many other students) know that's a lie. 3/8
I’m pre-tenured. The Dean asks me to serve on Hiring Committee because he knows I’m interested in racial diversity. I say: well I’m concerned about finishing up this book chapter which will be my last tenure file piece. He responds ... without missing a beat...
‘I’m not sympathetic to that claim’ That little voice in my head says: he’s not interested in your success. I’m in shock. I go to my office call an employment lawprof friend and ask: can my Dean order me onto Appointments because I’m black? He says: no. Next day...
I argue that tax subsidies for homeownership disadvantages blacks and latinos/as who are less likely to be homeowners than whites and Asian-Americans. Racism in housing in the 21st Century is now in our tax code. #racialjustice
The @TaxPolicyCenter has examined zip codes and concluded that "zip codes with high claiming rates tend to be disproportionately white, middle-aged, and married." #racialjustice
So yesterday I talked about my book deal with @CrownPublishing and @emmafberry and my agent @AliaHanna Today I want to talk about my amazing agent @AliaHanna and the book proposal process.
I send @AliaHanna my proposal and I think it’s really really good. Uh…not so much.
I get her document edits back and it’s lit up like a Christmas tree. I am afraid she’s going to fire me. Seriously. @AliaHanna says no worries, this is common. I think can’t be. She’s not making enough money if that’s true!
@SloaneStephens I think there's not much justice in our tax laws. I'm motivated to finish my book on tax policy that deals with these kinds of issues. Fini