Thread by @artstuffmatters

In 2017 in a brief essay I wrote for Yale Art Gallery, I mentioned that segregation continues in the U.S. beyound the 1954 Brown decision. The gallery's editorial and communications team challenged me on my use of the term segregation.

#MuseumsAreNotNeutral

They told me the Brown decision ended segregation. They claimed segregation no longer exists. I told them I would like to live in that United States. I also noted that I am a historian who specializes in race.

#MuseumsAreNotNeutral

I entered a long back and forth exchange with one editor to prove segregation exists. Yes, it was ridiculous. I noted types of segregation de facto and de jure. They eventually 'allowed' me to say de facto segregation exists.

#MuseumsAreNotNeutral

(But as Rothstein's The Color of Law, published also in 2017, states, residential segregation is/has been de jure in the U.S. well beyond 1954.
Segregation and unequal access to resources and power are commonplace in this nation-state.

#MuseumsAreNotNeutral

The editorial and communications team that challenged my scholarship wasn't composed of any subject area specialists. They, 3 white women, met without me to discuss my terminology and didn't ask me about the meaning before they redacted the word segregation.
#MuseumsAreNotNeutral

They had a segregated meeting and determined segregation doesn't exist. 🤨
#MuseumsAreNotNeutral

*beyond*