I would like to second Ms. Castillo's statements (both of them) and add
that in the midst of much belated talk among museum professionals about
multiculturalism and commitment to community, in the current climate of
anti-Affirmative action backlash, and in light of the previous
discussions on this list about the number of women museum directors, it
would be useful for this list to engage in a serious discussion about
the racial dynamics/politics of the museum world. Are there any
statistics about the number of people of color museum directors-in
"mainstream" museums? What about women of color? What about the
numbers for our representation in the field overall-in all positions?
Mr. Herring's comment is reminiscent of statements made by so-called
"angry white men" in other fields (I'm thinking specifically of
academia) who decry their inability to get jobs because people of color
(subtext: less qualified) are taking all "their" jobs. For example,
there was a major fight in an African Studies association where the
charge was leveled that too many Black people were entering and "taking
over" the field. I suspect that there is little evidence to support
such a claim either in academia or the museum world. In the meantime,
museums are scrambling to conduct remedial diversity training for staff
to make up for years of insensitivity and ignorance, while people of
color remain largely underrepresented among the ranks. Wow--what a
shame it would be if the Armstrong museum really wanted to hire an
African American in a position of some authority (extreme sarcasm very
much intended!)!
Tracye Matthews
Public Historian
Chicago Historical Society
-----Original Message-----
From: Anna Castillo [SMTP:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Thursday, August 13, 1998 2:46 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Social Consciousness
Museum L-ers,
Let me first appologize to Mr. Cogswell - I was responding to
the
insensitive words of a Mr. Michael Hering.
Second, I would like to respond to Mr. Strzyzewski's statement
that I
should "leave your social consciousness at home and get off your
high
horse". My understanding and abhorrence of inappropriate,
racist remarks
is not something that I keep neatly tucked away in a box on a
shelf. It is
my responsibility as an educator and citizen to speak up when
hurtful
remarks or actions are made. I would hate to imagine what the
world would
be like if everyone left their "social consciousness at home".
I am firmly grounded atop my soap box Mr. Strzyzewski and I'm
not going
anywhere!!!
Anna Castillo
[log in to unmask]
At 11:41 AM 8/13/98 -0500, you wrote:
>Please, leave your social consciousness at home and get off
your high horse
>while you're at it. If you don't like the remarks someone made
on this
>mailing list then leave!
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Anna Castillo <[log in to unmask]>
>Newsgroups: bit.listserv.museum-l
>To: [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>
>Date: Thursday, August 13, 1998 11:36 AM
>Subject: Response to remarks by M. Cogswell
>
>
>>Mr. Cogswell,
>>
>>Your derogatory remark, "they probably want someone who is
black", in
>>regards to the position at the Louis Armstrong House and
Archives, was
>>offensive. If this comment was intended as a joke', I'm not
laughing.
>>
>>Anna Castillo
>>
>>At 04:57 PM 8/12/98 -0600, you wrote:
>>>Considering I just resigned from the SAR, this looks very
interesting, but
>>New Yoorrkk City-- yuk!; they probably want someone who is
black; and the
>>pay is way too low!
>>>
>>>>>> Michael Cogswell <[log in to unmask]> 08/11/98
03:36PM >>>
>>>Date: Tue, 11 Aug 1998 17:36:08 +0200 (IST)
>>>From: MICHAEL COGSWELL <[log in to unmask]>
>>>Subject: Job Opening: Asst. Director
>>>To: [log in to unmask]
>>>cc: [log in to unmask]
>>>Message-ID: <Pine.VMS3.89:b9
QCM.9808111617.A538987541-0100000@>
>>>MIME-Version: 1.0
>>>Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII
>>>
>>>
>>>Note: New closing date of 31 August 1998.
>>>
>>>Please excuse any cross postings.
>>>
>>>Thank you.
>>>
>>>Michael Cogswell
>>>Louis Armstrong House and Archives
>>>
>>>******************************
>>>
>>>PERSONNEL VACANCY NOTICE R-770
>>>
>>>TITLE: Assistant Director, Louis Armstrong House and
Archives, Queens
>>>College, CUNY.
>>>
>>>DUTIES: (1) Writing, packaging, and submitting grant
proposals and grant
>>>reports; (2) Assisting researchers with use of the
collections; (3)
>>>Processing archival materials; (4) Hiring, training, and
supervising
>>>staff; (5) Planning the development and operations of the
Armstrong
>>>House; (6) Designing and presenting public programs; (7)
Designing and
>>>installing exhibits and displays; (8) Negotiating use fees
and
>>>permissions; (9) Responding to emergency alarms; and (10)
Other duties as
>>>assigned.
>>>
>>>QUALIFICATIONS: (1) Bachelor's degree in Music, Museum
Studies, Library
>>>Science, Africana Studies, or American Studies; or equivalent
>>>professional experience; (2) Demonstrated success in grant
writing; (3)
>>>At least five years of increasingly responsible employment in
an
>>>archives, library, or museum; (4) Excellent writing skills;
(5) Excellent
>>>interpersonal skills; (6) Excellent references.
>>>
>>>RANKING FACTORS: (1) Knowledge of Louis Armstrong; (2)
Previous
>>>administrative experience; (3) Previous success in grant
writing; (4)
>>>Graduate studies in a relevant field or equivalent
professional
>experience.
>>>
>>>SALARY RANGE: $40,000 - $44,200 per year.
>>>
>>>TO APPLY: Please send cover letter, curriculum vitae, and
three letters
>>>of reference to: Michael Cogswell, Director, Louis Armstrong
House and
>>>Archives, Queens College, CUNY, Flushing, NY 11367.
Applications
>>>accepted until 31 August 1998. For more information, call
718-997-3670.
>>>
>>>The Research Foundation of the City University of New York is
an equal
>>>opportunity/affirmative action/Americans with Disabilities
Act employer.
>>>
>>>******************************
>>>
>>Anna M. Castillo
>>Curator of Education
>>Edwin A. Ulrich Museum of Art
>>Wichita State University
>>1845 North Fairmount
>>Wichita, KS 67260-0046
>>
>>tel: 316.978.6413
>>fax:316.978.3898
>>email:[log in to unmask]
>>
>
Anna M. Castillo
Curator of Education
Edwin A. Ulrich Museum of Art
Wichita State University
1845 North Fairmount
Wichita, KS 67260-0046
tel: 316.978.6413
fax:316.978.3898
email:[log in to unmask]
|
