Lowrider Librarian

The ALA recently solicited comments on a revision to the ALA Code of Ethics's 9th principle.  I added some comments to this document. The comments were full of vile racist comments and they rejected my input. This kind of treatment happens to BIPOC all the time when asked to participate in library work in general.   The white gatekeepers make sure we can't create change. Here is another example of how my suggestions were rejected. Here I added, "anti-oppression actions..."  If the ALA really wants input from BIPOC librarians--they should be much more respectful and not allow racist trolling on their documents.

[This is an unusually long blog post—sorry.] BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) are in an abusive relationship with the colonial culture. We are constantly told to assimilate, act 'professional,' be perfect, be natural and authentic...I could go on, won't.   The point is, the abuser—colonial culture knows that we, BIPOC, can never really assimilate, act ‘professional’, be perfect, be natural and authentic—and we might as well add smile 24 hours a day.   The aforementioned ‘professional’ refers to colonial culturally indoctrinated people demanding BIPOC act, read, write and be white to be ‘professional.’   All the while knowing that we cannot—because the colonial culture will not accept us as such--no matter how we behave.   BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) are put into a double bind constantly in the US.  This happens from the time we enter elementary school at age 5 into our professional c...