Today, I’m contemplating the numerous threads that I see about “success” as a troubling word that is losing its persuasiveness in the commercial enterprise of higher education. People are asking for “better words” when euphemisms will not make this problem go away. I don’t have any words to substitute “success” and can agree that like any rhetorical concept, it can be used in ways that harm, esp when associated with linear narrow career pathways. These “success” convos tend to focus too much on symbols and not enough on purpose/substance.

I’m reviewing several 19th and early 20th century anthologies about Black Women’s Achievement. It is inspiring me to consider how identity categories of “free” vs. “enslaved” mapped on to color hierarchies that deeply affect Black folks sense of collective identity. (A thread) I grew up in a military family where Blackness was understood through my parents escape from the South. My late mother is from NE TX, my late father from rural GA. They often fought over who was poorer. Daddy always won b/c no shoes on a dirt road was worse than how she had it.

When teaching research, it is critical to spend time cultivating curiosity. One thing that’s awesome about being @SpelmanCollege is that I can unapologetically focus on Black Women as a gateway to teaching them the politics of knowledge production. (Note: a very long thread) 1. Today, we watched videos about algorithmic bias by Joy Buolamwini to better understand how Ida B. Wells also served as a “data scientist” through her anti-lynching work. We, thus, connected algorithmic bias to very long continuous history of data politics & anti-Black misinfo.

They don't even hide that they are propagandists. This 21st century disinformation strategy spreads its truth by teaching you how to be a propagandist. "Liberal" journalists keep taking their bait, exposing their moral weakness: trying to educate/civilize the opponent. (Thread) I haven't seen any of today's mainstream media pundits, regardless of their political ideology, model the definition of "debate" with exception of none. Debates have terms. If you can't agree on the facts of a resolution (Should CRT be taught in schools?), no debate should occur.

Can we please stop using the language of #impostersyndrome to describe our psychological adaptation to the complex processes of being asked to perform as a “professional” with insufficient training and little pay, often within a context of hazing and constant critique? I would prefer to refer to the experience as “uncertainty anxiety,” or “good pet syndrome.” Lots of teachers teach because they were praised as students. Grad students, eager approval, might feign credibility to gain favors. But many can’t fake it til they break it.

I see lots of posts about instructors interested in trying #ungrading, or contract-based grading. Here's some materials that showcase how I do it. (Thread)

1) Here's a syllabus that provides some context and the framework I’m operating in: drive.google.com/file/d/13lKkiB… 2) These are final portfolio templates that illustrate how I ultimately assess students at the end of term. They select most work they want me to review, with exception of the final:

*for FY Writing: docs.google.com/document/d/1Hz…

*for adv. writing courses: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAI…

Spent the whole day feeling unproductive, tapped out by the million and one paperwork demands. But my imagination is on teaching. I’m tinkering with various ideas for making the semester as meaningful as possible for my students. How can I do that right now though? In particular, I’m thinking through some designs that might enable us to structure the class in ways they look forward to:

1. Learn at your own pace. All classes are available for asynchronous engagement.

2. Learn how to network. Schedule 1-1 w/instructor and socialize w/ peers

I will use a capital “B” when spelling Black in my publications for the same reason that one author explained in 1878, “White men being printers long before the black men dared read their works, had power to establish any rule they saw fit...

(A thread)

#SpellitwithaCapital As a mark of disrespect, as a stigma, as a badge of inferiority, they (...) agreed to spell his name without a capital. The French, German, Irish, Dutch, Japanese, and other nationalities are honored with a capital letter but the poor sons of Ham must bear the burden of a small n

@AcademicChatter If you are beginning a program, first off—congratulations! If you are in a US program, don’t worry about narrowing down a topic immediately. It is normal for your interests to shift while you are taking seminars and learning more about your field’s history and methods of research @AcademicChatter Topic development will probably emerge naturally and you can use seminar papers, reading groups, casual conversations, walks, and shower time to let your interests flow. Once you start noticing patterns, examine all the resources on your campus even outside your discipline...