My name is Tiffany Martínez. As a McNair Fellow and student scholar, I’ve presented at national conferences in San Francisco, San Diego, and Miami. I have crafted a critical reflection piece that was published in a peer-reviewed journal managed by the Pell Institute for the Study of Higher Education and Council for Opportunity in Education. I have consistently juggled at least two jobs and maintained the status of a full-time student and Dean’s list recipient since my first year at Suffolk University. I have used this past summer to supervise a teen girls empower program and craft a thirty page intensive research project funded by the federal government. As a first generation college student, first generation U.S. citizen, and aspiring professor I have confronted a number of obstacles in order to earn every accomplishment and award I have accumulated. In the face of struggle, I have persevered and continuously produced content that is of high caliber.
I name these accomplishments because I understand the vitality of credentials in a society where people like me are not set up to succeed. My last name and appearance immediately instills a set of biases before I have the chance to open my mouth. These stereotypes and generalizations forced on marginalized communities are at times debilitating and painful. As a minority in my classrooms, I continuously hear my peers and professors use language that both covertly and overtly oppresses the communities I belong to. Therefore, I do not always feel safe when I attempt to advocate for my people in these spaces. In the journey to become a successful student, I swallow the “momentary” pain from these interactions and set my emotions aside so I can function productively as a student.
Today is different. At eight o’clock this morning, I felt both disrespected and invalidated. For years I have spent ample time dissecting the internalized racism that causes me to doubt myself, my abilities, and my aspirations. As a student in an institution extremely populated with high-income white counterparts, I have felt the bitter taste of not belonging. It took until I used my cloud of doubt and my sociological training to realize that my insecurities are rooted in the systems I navigate every day. I am just as capable if not more so than those around me and my accomplishments are earned.
This morning, my professor handed me back a paper (a literature review) in front of my entire class and exclaimed “this is not your language.” On the top of the page they wrote in blue ink: “Please go back and indicate where you cut and paste.” The period was included. They assumed that the work I turned in was not my own. My professor did not ask me if it was my language, instead they immediately blamed me in front of peers. On the second page the professor circled the word “hence” and wrote in between the typed lines “This is not your word.” The word “not” was underlined. Twice. My professor assumed someone like me would never use language like that. As I stood in the front of the class while a professor challenged my intelligence I could just imagine them reading my paper in their home thinking could someone like her write something like this?
In this interaction, my undergraduate career was both challenged and critiqued. It is worth repeating how my professor assumed I could not use the word “hence,” a simple transitory word that connected two relating statements. The professor assumed I could not produce quality research. The professor read a few pages that reflected my comprehension of complex sociological theories and terms and invalidated it all. Their blue pen was the catalyst that opened an ocean of self-doubt that I worked so hard to destroy. In front of my peers, I was criticized by a person who had the academic position I aimed to acquire. I am hurting because my professor assumed that the only way I could produce content as good as this was to “cut and paste.” I am hurting because for a brief moment I believed them.
Instead of working on my English paper that is due tomorrow, I felt it crucial to reflect on the pain that I am sick of swallowing. My work is a reflection of my growth in a society that sees me as the other. For too long I have others assume I am weak, unintelligent, and incapable of my own success. Another element of this invalidation is that as I sit here with teary eyes describing the distress I am too familiar with, the professor has probably forgotten all about it. My heartache can not be universally understood and until it is, I have to continue to fight. At this moment, there are students who will never understand the desolation that follows an underlined “not.” There are students who will be assumed capable without the need to list their credentials in the beginning of a reflective piece. How many degrees do I need for someone to believe I am an academic?
At this moment, I am in the process of advocating for myself to prove the merit of my content to people who will never understand what it is like to be someone like me. Some of you won’t understand how every word that I use to describe this moment was diligently selected in a way that would properly reflect my intellect. I understand that no matter how hard I try or how well I write, these biases will continue to exist around me. I understand that my need to fight against these social norms is necessary.
In reality, I am tired and I am exhausted. On one hand, this experience solidifies my desire to keep going and earn a PhD but on the other it is a confirmation of how I always knew others saw me. I am so emotional about this paper because in the phrase “this is not your word,” I look down at a blue inked reflection of how I see myself when I am most suspicious of my own success. The grade on my paper was not a letter, but two words: “needs work.” And it’s true. I am going to graduate in May and enter a grad program that will probably not have many people who look like me. The entire field of academia is broken and erases the narratives of people like me. We all have work to do to fix the lack of diversity and understanding among marginalized communities. We all have work to do.
Academia needs work.
TIFFANY MARTÍNEZ 
Tiffany, this system make it almost impossible for POC to thrive. In fact, it is sometimes hard to even breathe. As a Latinx professor, I stand in solidarity with you. I haven’t been able to shake your story off my head. But while painful, I will keep fighting for more people who look like us have access to career paths that have been gentrified by whiteness. You are strong and fierce and amazing and I don’t know you but I DO know you, as your braveness is familiar and your experience is powerful. You are not alone. Your kin is with you.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Please post the *names* and contact information for the people who did this to you *and* to the leadership of the college so that we can take action!
LikeLike
Although my skin is “white,” i am a person of color. In 7th grade, my english teacher submitted a piece i had written to Boy’s Life magazine. They sent it back saying they would gladly publish it if it had actually been written by a 12 year ols. They circled: …the cheetah, whic is said to be the fastest animal on four legs.” And here i thought the world was just and righteous. That was in 1958.
LikeLike
I am 25 years old. I am an enrolled member of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. I reside on the Qualla Boundary, which many mistake for a reservation. I am fortunate to have resided and grown-up on my ancestral homelands. America was born on my land. I am not an American. I am a Cherokee. More than that, I am a Cherokee about to graduate from a Master’s program. I have never been arrested, never been involved with illegal substances, never suffered from any kind of addiction. I’ve never been married or pregnant.
I feel the need to introduce myself in this manner because when I exit the protections of home, it is automatically assumed that I fit in those categories somehow. People find it difficult to accept that a Native American can function in society, excel in academia, without cheating or government handouts. Some people flat out refuse to believe that I exist, because 97% of school textbooks fail to mention my people beyond a 19th Century context.
As a freshman in high school, my guidance counselor admitted that the school had denied my application for Honors English because I’d attended the tribal school, even though I’d left that system two years prior. As a senior in high school, my assistant principal tried to prevent me from walking at graduation by claiming I had not returned a textbook, when I had witnessed the computer system acknowledge the return of that book in person.
As a junior in college, at 17 years old, my first professor called me out in the middle of the entire class claiming that I had no business in his class. Two years later, this same professor outright failed me by claiming I’d never turned in a single assignment. I took the same class as a transfer course at a different college and aced it.
I finished my Bachelor of Science in Communication degree at the age of 20. I began pursuing a Master of Arts in Fashion Journalism at 22, and am graduating at 25. For the first time in my educational career, I am not facing discrimination because of who I am. At this level, it no longer matters to anyone. What matters is what I can bring to the table. Which is how it should be.
My house is paid for. My car is paid for. I have no debt, no student loans. I owe nothing to anyone. At 25 years old. Because my entire education was paid for by tribal scholarships.
Keep fighting. You are not alone. You deserve to be treated with the same dignity as any other student. This professor cannot fathom your success because they’ve never seen it happen. Prove them wrong. Hold your head high and fight the good fight.
LikeLike
Your narrative moved me to tears. I could hug you. Every a beautiful story.
LikeLike
I’ve always stood up for myself against oppressive authoritarians. I was a “problem” student because I knew, understood, and enforced my rights in a school where the modus operandi was sit down, shut up, and turn in work. I’ve threatened legal action in academic disputes as early as age 12. I’ve always been different, and I understand not everyone has it in them to stand tall and loud and force what’s right on people who think they’re above the rules because they’re older, wiser, tenured, educated, or whatever the reason may be. I made things better for other minority students by taking action. I’ve never let anyone get away with it. I’ve cost teachers jobs. I’ve caused resignations. And I regret nothing.
LikeLike
Hi Tiffany!
I’m in exactly the opposite position, it is fuelled by “teacher” insecurity, and it is a terrible thing!!
I, not entirely unlike you, come from humble beginnings, but I’m old now. I was born and raised as a “WASP”, with a very well educated / elite crust mother, to whom the English language was pivotal for every action in life. The only thing we did not have was a penny. So, if I were to be put in nice clothes, an observer might believe me to be part of a very prominent, and rich, British family. Conversely, if I were to be in my normal clothes and said nothing, I was regularly regarded as a vagrant.
So I ended up in the military, as an army combat medic. With food being available to me in quantities I had never seen before, I found all my systems began to work! I found the army medical training school was amazingly easy for me, and I was routinely the top of my class. Upon discharge from service, I was able to use some benefits toward an initial Associates’ degree in Emergency Medicine. My Biology professor had a PhD. She was teaching human gestation to us with a textbook-associated slide show carousel that had clearly been dropped, or mixed up somehow, so as to have the chronology of gestation slides completely wrong. I was quite, familiar with human gestation, but not the entirety of her published syllabus when I began the course. I realised that the entire class was taking notes in accord with the schedule of gestational events as the “teacher” was providing. I accepted this as a deep disservice to every student in the class, and decided that I must do what I could to stop the situation. I suggested several times that there may be a problem, but the “teacher” derided me before the entire class. She said the slides were in exactly correct order, as she had been teaching this class for ten years. She finally stated “Well maybe YOU would like to teach the class!” At that, to her astonishment, I accepted, and proceeded directly to the slide projector. I pulled out the numbered slides with the help of a fellow classmate, reading aloud the printed number on each slide, which of course, demonstrated the slide show was completely out of order. I placed the slides in correct numerical sequence, confirmed that the chronology of gestation was also now correct, and then proceeded to teach the course for the remainder of the period. Her final exam was one question. The question was “Tell me what you learned in this Biology 111 class”. There was no time limit. Every other student had left after filling out about one half sheet of paper. I filled 16 sheets over a course of two hours. I had received 100’s on almost every quiz, and all major tests, having only received “A” on any work. I was given a “B” for a final grade.
The point of all that torture you just endured, is that those kind of people are intimidated by you. They are pitiful, hollow parasites, that always take more than they need. Just remember there are many, many of them out there, and they will never be you.
LikeLike
Please tell us if this professor losses his or her job. These people shouldn’t be educating, and this shows that.
LikeLike
Anyone suggesting that she needs to give a solution or way to fix this problem is a jackass. People who experience oppression are not the ones who need to tell their oppressors how to stop oppressing. Simply calling it out is more than enough. I do hope she speaks to someone above her professor about this, though. Because academia is a much more socially educated environment than other fields, this is all the more disheartening.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I hope you will tell us what response you get! (Also, interested in knowing if profs grade papers at your university or if assistants do. <– Not to excuse this behavior at all. Just wondering who does the grading.)
LikeLike
Dear Tiffany, this is disgusting. As a professor I am pretty shocked by the open racism and I am sorry this happened to you. There are a million reasons you might not want to take action against this person. I know it’s an intimidating prospect to deal with administrators and officials. But you do not deserve to be treated this way, you should not have to suffer any more because of it, and he should be STOPPED. I doubt you are the first student of color he has done this to and if nobody ever does anything to him you won’t be the last.
I would NOT recommend you talk to him directly. I would drop his class, not because you don’t deserve to be there (obviously), but because things are unlikely to improve on their own and certain to get worse if you follow up on this in any way. In my opinion he has already demonstrated the kind of person he is — a racist who enjoys humiliating young women. What’s the best he could do for you? Apologize in front of the class? Sign up for some “diversity training”? He’s not going to do it and he is just as likely to try to bully you. He is not going to be converted and turn into an advocate, as someone ridiculously suggested.
I agree, i would absolutely report this prick to the Dean of Students or dean of the College, or whatever. I would not waste my time going to the department chair or head first. All they can do is have a talk with him anyway, and they would likely want to avoid making waves in the department. A dean may or may not care. They may invent excuses for him, like some people above, or they may take it seriously. If there have been previous complaints about him, this could be the straw that broke the camel’s back. They are not going to want to risk lawsuits to defend him. If not, even if the dean is receptive, if he is tenured I cannot see much happening to him. But if he isn’t, this could have a big and richly deserved adverse impact on this future. I would not wait for this idea to pan out, however, before you pursue the FERPA angle. That idea is excellent. He is clearly in violation of federal law and here you might get some satisfaction even if the dean doesn’t step up.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Why do assume the professor is male?
LikeLike
Thinking about this, the Ombudsperson or if you have an office of anti-discrimination at your inst. would be places to try. I hope that making other people in the system aware of this so-called teacher and his/her behavior will both relieve some hurt and also ensure that, if they aren’t tenured, they don’t get tenure.
LikeLike
I read this, and my main thought was “I want to have you as an English professor.” Not because of your amazing credentials, but by your deliberate working of this post. You could certainly teach me many things!
LikeLike
I had an English teacher who wouldn’t even grade my papers. I’d get comments like, “Surely you’re too glib” and “That’s not even English”. Nothing constructive. His point was the writing was so bad he couldn’t even fail me for it.
This was an Honors Society class. I was taking two other english classes at the same time. One was an Austin/Byron comparative class and the other was creative writing. I was acing both of them with lots of encouraging and supportive comments from the teachers.
I booked time to see him in his office. Told him his comments were useless and that based on the fact I got a near perfect score on my English SAT, my performance in my other english classes, and the fact that I had to be somewhat decent to get into the honor class in the first place the only logical conclusion was he had no idea what he was doing.
He couldn’t see it.
I reported him to the head of the honors society and ended up getting another teach to grade my papers. They ended up giving me B+s and As.
Naturally nothing happened to that teacher but at least I showed him he doesn’t have the power he thought he did.
I’m fully aware being a white male their response to my protest was probably taken more seriously than they might have taken a lot of other people.
Bottom line though, there are many teachers who don’t belong anywhere near the front of a classroom. Even at the collegiate level. You may have to adjust your writing to get the letter grade, but don’t ever let them make you question yourself when you know you’ve done well. You are the final arbiter of your sense of worth.
Having been in the work force for a few decades now and in a position where I have hiring power I can tell you this. The only thing a degree, from BA to PhD, proves is that the person had the time and money to dedicate to it. It doesn’t guarantee anything about their level of knowledge or ability.
LikeLike
Fellow scholar Tiffany,
I am simultaneously saddened and outraged to read about what happened to you! I read about this on buzzfeed and clicked through to read your blog post in its entirety. You are strong, brave, and brilliant — keep fighting! You inspire me as a woman.
LikeLike
I am very surprised a professor would do this. Even if the paper was plagiarized, no professors in their right mind would address it to the writer publicly in front of the entire class.
I typed some of the key phrases into turnitin, and didn’t find anything outstanding. I am very curious what made the professor think she was copying&pasting. “Hence” is a word many students use, and often incorrectly. I don’t see any connection between using that word and plagiarizing.
LikeLike
I feel your frustration, and it is entirely possible that the prejudice came from the place you assumed. That being said, I am a white female, who had the EXACT same thing happen in my Freshman year of college (in 1982, so hush…) I was given a failing grade on a paper because the professor said (I can’t quote, as I don’t have it in front of me, but I remember it vividly enough to give a pretty good paraphrase) there was no way those ideas were mine. I wrote this essay IN CLASS, mind you. It took two meetings and a another paper for her to believe that, yes, indeed, I was capable of those ideas, and that writing, and she did apologize. So, for whatever reason your work was questioned, please continue to fight so that others don’t have to. Let us know how it turns out, as well! I’m really sorry you felt so publicly called out, if nothing else. Regards.
LikeLike
I’m sorry this happen to you. It is clear you are very articulate with well developed writing abilities. I think you are brave, and I admire your will and commitment to your education. Thank you for your commitment to your education, and please know that you inspire us.
LikeLike
Hey, come work with me at the University of Illinois
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes! Come to the U of I!!!!
LikeLike
I’m a prof. Take it to the chair or to the Dean of the school. It’s totally unacceptable to assume someone has “cut and paste” something without any proof whatsoever. That prof wants slapping. Seriously.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Professor should be fired immediately. Demonstrates a very small/uncritical mind and based on these qualities I would assume is an academic hack. I get that plagiarism is a touchy issue in academia, but geez, wouldn’t you just google the whole sentence or use another tool if you wanted to verify it?
Thanks for writing this piece and congrats on your academic accomplishments, but you gave this person waaay too much credit in allowing their (unforgivable) inadequacies to impact your self-worth.
LikeLike
You are brilliant and courageous.
And might I suggest that you do not need academia, academia needs YOU.
Academia is rooted in privilege, patriarchy and racism. It is a slave to the powerful. Dismantling it will take time.
Your strength is true, your spirit incorruptible.
Stay you.
LikeLiked by 3 people
Bullshit. BULLLLLLLLLLLLSHIIIIIIIIIIIT.
Nuh-uh.
Nope.
Fuck that.
Fuck them.
That CAN’T fly. You should cut your foot and paste it into your professor’s ass; that’s just outrageous.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Please let us know if this is resolved justly.
Also, the extremely petty side of me is advocating sending the comments section to the “educator” in question!
LikeLike
Please Please Please, for everyone who looks like you and every POC who experiences this, PLEASE fight this. It is really not just about the grade. Of course you know that. However, I relate to you and it hurt me just reading this.
When I speak exactly how I was raised and taught, people say “I sound white.” THEN, when I continue to do (i.e write and speak like an educated, young scholar), people assume that because I am African American, I cannot speak eloquently. You were judged because your intelligence did not fit inside of the stereotypical box that people put you in as a POC. This happens way too often and I’m tired. No one shouldn’t have to undergo that. What’s more, the teacher acted as if “hence” is not a common word to use! As an undergraduate, OF COURSE you would be using words like that.
Honestly, if not for anyone else, please just show that professor that you’re not what (s)he thinks of you. I really do wish you the best.
LikeLike
Great response to the questioning of your knowledge and expression. People will always question your abilities, but don’t be discourage. You are opening the path for others, changing the mindset of what is possible for our community to achieve. It means you are strong, capable and hungry to make a difference. BE PROUD. Some people just have a limited view of the world, but you are making a big difference. Thank you for sharing your amazing work. Suset Vega
LikeLike
LOVE YOU TIFFANY!!! I just started your wiki: https://www.everipedia.com/tiffany-martinez/
LikeLike
Wow! This such a powerful post. I have been in your shoes and I have to say it is a terrible place. It unfortunate that this is familiar tale. But the hope is that we get to change it. We get to be the change agents. I encourage you to report this incident. Even if it is a terrible ordeal to recount it, you deserve better and justice at that! Stay strong! This too shall pass as the saying goes..
LikeLike
Hermana querida, I just defended a dissertation on Latina literature this week and had a similar experience. Your words are healing to me. The problem is not your professor, as you say. These are not isolated incidents. It’s a system that does not want to understand us, include us, or let us participate at any cost. It will always be a moving target because we’re expected to assimilate to their thinking. This is beyond diversity training and sensitivity. It’s about unpacking their own privilege and recognizing how the academy is structured to always work in their favor. Please feel free to reach out to me. In solidarity.
LikeLiked by 2 people
As a university professor myself, I say fuck that guy/gal. Who the hell can establish plagiarism on the basis of a single word, anyway? Take it to your Dean. Unacceptable. Folks like me would love to rid the academy of folks like that, and fill it with folks like you.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Welcome to academia. Whatever you may use as an excuse- your race, gender, hair color or even clothes- it’s an ugly and unforgiving place so pull up your boot straps and fight. Fight with integrity and discipline. You may still lose but it’s your integrity that matters. Never ever try to explain why it’s happening because sometimes there’s absolutely no reason other than the person perpetrating has power.
LikeLike
Thank you for sharing this painful, unjust experience. You are right. Academia needs a lot of work. But you are helping make change!! Your post has reminded me to always examine my biases as a professor and work hat to never make the mistake that professor made with shaming and doubting you.
LikeLike
That “professor” is not worth the degree that got him/her where “they” are — plain and simple! S/he is to be pitied, because s/he’s only projecting on to you his/her own lack of self-respect and self-confidence. SAD!!!
LikeLike
Tiffany, it is unfortunate you had to deal with this form of bigotry, but I sense from your description of the event that you have the passion, drive and personal strength to make your dreams come true. There are a few professors that appear to have lost their ability to help students, and tend to lash out with petty remarks instead of constructive criticism, but thankfully these seem to be rare.
Stay strong and show the world with your actions that you are so much more than that professor’s little mind could comprehend.
Viva Tiffany!
LikeLike
Look inside for your happiness. Your mind is all you need. I would say you have a skillful tool if you can surprise people with your words. Sometimes the best ideas catch fire because others underestimate them.
LikeLike
I trust you’ve already gone to the dean, and/or whoever can properly punish this “teacher.” This must be addressed – it cannot be swept under the rug. Courage!
LikeLiked by 3 people
Unbelievable! My response would have been “How dare you!!! How dare you assume that I am not capable of speaking or writing proper English! Did it ever occur to you that because I am fluent in two languages, I am probably more capable than half the people in this program?” And I would call him or her out on their prejudices. Then I would take it up to the next level. Tiffany you should be proud of yourself. As a stranger, I am proud of you!
LikeLike
So sorry for your experience. As an older adult, I wonder if this also be (reverse) age discrimination. Although my daughters, whose ages range from 13-23, are extremely well read and educated, I would be surprised to see even the oldest, a college graduate, use the word ‘hence’ in a paper simply because it’s less common these days than in the past. Please speak to the professor and see if it opens his eyes to how his comments affect students. Honestly, it may very well not help, but if we all keep talking about these kinds of experiences, change will eventually happen.
LikeLike
I have experienced this as a blended white-American Indian-Hispanic English teacher. Not so much as a college student because I had enlightened mentors and professors, but in my professional experiences. One high school administrator ruthlessly targeted me–constantly sabotaging my teaching, sitting in the back of my classrooms and writing nasty, inaccurate critiques of my teaching. When I saw her notes, I knew what the real issue was. An illiterate “Indian” could never be qualified to teach English. She was fairly blatant about it. When I appealed to my union, they sided with her and basically told me to put up and shut up. I gave up on teaching high school (paid more than college teaching in my state) and switched to community college. It happened again. You are in college still–I hope you get your doctorate (I got as far as an MA) and prevail. I left the country and now teach in Morocco where I do not have to deal with it.
LikeLike
Oh my … words fail me. I am deeply infuriated on your behalf, feel complete sympathy for you for having to deal with this completely inept professor who thinks humiliation is some kind of teaching tool, and want to share my similarly horrendous teacher/student interaction which was thankfully private but no less harmful and humiliating . A professor once said to me , “I’m worried that you’re not going to make it in the real world.” Speechless, horrified, fearing he was in some way right, that he had in some way cursed me. I wish I could have been there for you and could have challenged him on his poor skills.
LikeLike
My problem with the writer’s article is she doesn’t tell us how she responded to her racist professor nor a solution to the problem. Did she teach him a lesson on racism and academic progression or did she just break down and let it get to her? Near the end she keeps saying Academia needs work, but what does she actually suggest to improve the problem?
LikeLike
Here’s a clever solution that took a lot of analysis and reflection: stop assuming PoC cannot or will not accomplish goals Whites do. “Hence,” stop being racist.
Also stop assuming PoC need to teach others to act fairly. Because it’s insulting.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Just??? When was the last time you were outed in front of peers for something you didn’t do? How did you resolve handle immediately it or resolve it? Wow. The only thing she offered up was a testimonial that this still occurs and her judgement that we are not there yet. Why would you take this opportunity to demand more? What failure on her part exactly are you suggesting? My problem with your comment is that you left so much unexplained about why this is a personal issue for you. (Hows that feel?) Sooo many questions for you ( and you only risked < 75 words.)
LikeLike
She addressed that, actually. She said she didnt respond at the time and she is planning now how to respond. Seems like having an immediate confrontation with the teacher in front of the class would have been ill advised, and she’s instead chosen to respond after she’s had a chance to think it over, discuss and plan.
LikeLike
“entonces” is a conjunction I heard a lot as a kid growing up in South Texas. It translates to “and therefore” or “hence”. To say that “hence” isn’t your word displays an ignorance of the multifaceted roots of English as well as a total ignorance of Spanish. This professor needs a history lesson.
Sincerely,
A Digital Redneck
LikeLiked by 1 person
I agree with your sentiment, but I do have to be a little pedantic on your post. While “entonces” may translate to “therefore” or “hence”, a translation is different from an etymology, while you seem to imply that they are the same in referencing the roots of English. A translation at its core is the communication of an idea from one language to another. “Hence” has its roots in the old Germanic language English evolved from. It was “heonan”, which became “hennes” in Middle English to “hence” today.
English borrows words from many languages, but “hence” isn’t one of them. That being said, the professor is still showing prejudice. If you can use a word properly, then it’s your word, regardless of yours or its origins.
LikeLike
What I think OP was getting at is that while “hence” is not in common, casual use in English, “entonces” is in Spanish. Therefore, a bilingual speaker of Spanish and English might be more prone to use this relatively rare word than a unilingual English speaker, as it would be more present to their mind. A unilingual English speaker who wasn’t aware of the frequency and ease of use of “entonces” might be surprised at finding it used properly by a person whose mother tongue is not English. They would be wrong. Sometimes, foreigners use English better than native speakers. This is one of those times.
LikeLike
Tiffany, this is a slam dunk case of slander. Get a lawyer. This also raises questions of discrimination against Hispanic and Latinx students. Any school receiving federal money must follow Title IX. File a claim with your EEOA office at your university. I have no doubt that this professor has behaved this way before and will do so again. By taking action you will defend not only yourself but all students at your university.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Tiffany, this is a slam dunk case of slander. Get a lawyer. This also raises questions of discrimination against Hispanic and Latino students. Any school receiving federal money et must follow Title IX. File a claim with your EEOA office at your university. I have no doubt that this professor G has behaved this way before and will do so again. By taking action you will defend not only yourself but all students at your university.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I cannot tell you how angry I am on your behalf. If this is anywhere in Northern California and you want to recruit random people to chew your professor out, let me know. I’m also up for an angry letter writing campaign.
LikeLike
This Prof needs to go DOWN and I’m sure “they” will.
LikeLike
Thank you Tiffany for bringing this to light and sharing your story. Sadly you are not alone in this struggle, I have fought through this my whole life, despite graduating at a young age, defying the odds, achieving 2.5 degrees, and employed by the government…I am still left feeling less than my pale-skinned counterparts, often last to turn to for work advice, or expertise, etc, etc. I have come to doubted myself, my qualifications and knowledge as well and this has placed a burden on my performance. Your story reminds me why I did what I do…to overcome the oppressive state I have been born into based on my brown skin, to help my people prevail whether it be through me or with me and to shake my proverbial finger in the faces of those people who doubt my strength, power and intellect. You WILL get through this sister! Keep at it ❤️
LikeLiked by 1 person
Reblogged this on The Adventures of Kathy.
LikeLike
I re-blogged this on my blog and my Facebook site. I am so sorry that Professor’s are still ignorant! This must stop! I hope and pray this gets resolved. Completely ignorant.
LikeLike
Take it to the chair. If the professor doubted you, it was COMPLETELY unprofessional–and as someone pointed out above ILLEGAL!–to call you out publicly. Every institution has a clearly outlined method to deal with suspected plagiarism, and it generally involves proving the violation in advance and talking to senior members of the department or even the dean’s office before saying word one to the student. The use of the word “hence” is not prima facie evidence of plagiarism. The professor’s response was lazy, sloppy, possibly racist and the actions violated your privacy, embarrassed you in front of your peers, and were hurtful to boot. Somebody needs to be called to account.
LikeLiked by 5 people
I agree, and I think you might have overlooked something- that the professor might have been acting out against you specifically BECAUSE of all of your credentials. If you continue in your pursuit of an academic position, it’s something to keep in mind, as it could become more common as you move up in the ranks. But don’t let this criticism shake your opinion of yourself- that would be letting fear and ignorance win.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Agreed. Also probably didn’t like the content of her paper because it challenged his or her personal politics or biases.
LikeLike