Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

White Professor Criticized After Saying Her Life Would Have Been Easier if She Were Black (Or Lesbian)
Face2Face ^ | July 04, 2023 | Francis Akhalbey

Posted on 07/05/2023 1:51:19 PM PDT by nickcarraway

Lois Banner, a renowned USC professor emerita of history, was rebuked by her colleagues as well as others on social media after she claimed her life would have been easier if she were Black. She, however, reportedly refused to apologize after making those comments.

According to The Daily Beast, Banner, a White woman, made the controversial comments while speaking at the Berkshire Conference of Women Historians over the weekend. The event, which has been held biennially since its inception in the 1970s, was co-founded by Banner.

The academic is also known for authoring a Marilyn Monroe biography in 2012. Besides making the aforementioned comments, Banner also said she wished she was a lesbian, as they excel at community building and organizing, per reports.

“She was immediately called out for her blatantly racist remarks, and refused to apologize, let alone listen, to the reason why her remarks were horrifyingly wrong [sic]. ‘You won’t change my mind, I’m 84 years old,’” a doctoral student by the name Stephanie Narrow tweeted. “The room is shaken, it’s palpable.”

Prior to speaking at the conference, Rutgers University historian, Deborah Gray White, had delivered a speech about Black women in their field of work. In an interview with The Daily Beast, Paul Renfro of Florida State University labeled Banner’s comments as “very, very, very problematic.” Renfro also said some people in the crowd “gasped audibly” while others “began to walk out” after Banner made those comments.

Deidre Cooper Owens, a historian at the University of Nebraska, also condemned Banner when it was her turn to speak at the conference. “The Berks Conference was a beautiful one until it was soiled by Lois Banner’s hatefully racist comments. Yes, I did speak out forcefully against her vitriol because she needed to keep Black women’s name out of her mouth,” Cooper Owens, who is Black, later shared on Twitter.

“More urgently, I needed that room to acknowledge the strength, brilliance, and bravery of Deborah Gray White, period. I refused to let a bigoted racist take away from Deborah’s powerfully truthful speech.”

Responding to the incident in a tweet, the Berkshire Conference of Women Historians said its officers “do not condone or support the inappropriate remarks made by one of the speakers tonight”, adding that its presidents will make a formal statement later.

However, some people called out the organization for not mentioning Banner or expressing sharp disapproval. In the wake of the incident, the group also organized a “talking session” on Banner’s comments the following day.

They also took to Twitter to share that “the board and trustees listened, took careful notes, and are planning action. The conversation is not over and the board will have a statement and a concrete action plan soon.”


TOPICS: Culture/Society; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: academia; chat; donatedonaldtrump; donateforjim; donatetrump; education; homosexualagenda; intersectionality; race
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-24 next last

1 posted on 07/05/2023 1:51:19 PM PDT by nickcarraway
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: nickcarraway

Truth hurts.


2 posted on 07/05/2023 1:52:26 PM PDT by gov_bean_ counter (Eccl 10:2 - The heart of the wise inclines to the right, but the heart of the fool to the left.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: nickcarraway

And what she’s going through is the perfect illustration.

Is she were black and claimed that life would be easier being another race she’s would not be catching any flak.


3 posted on 07/05/2023 1:54:47 PM PDT by Truthsearcher
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: nickcarraway
‘You won’t change my mind, I’m 84 years old,’

Good on her! Maybe she's learned a thing or two about what is what in all those trips around the sun. Maybe listen to her.

4 posted on 07/05/2023 1:55:22 PM PDT by Sirius Lee (They intend to murder us. Prep if you want to live and live like you are prepping for eternal life)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: nickcarraway

GOOD! She didn’t apologize!

Never apologize to these jerks.


5 posted on 07/05/2023 1:58:29 PM PDT by FreedomPoster (Islam delenda est)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: nickcarraway

Parents were watching nbc’s 4th celectration yesterday.

I thought they were watching BET.


6 posted on 07/05/2023 1:59:25 PM PDT by bicyclerepair (Let's Go Brandon!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: nickcarraway
Progressives used to treat blacks as morally inferior, now they treat whites as morally inferior. But their bigotries effect everyone that lets it affect them. Blacks these days are condemned as traitors to their race by Progressives if the black dares stray from Leftist dogma. And of course whites are considered guilty of the sins of their ancestors and expected to atone by even more slavishly adhering to Leftist dogma.

The real issue is not race at all, its Leftist dogma being forced on us by hustlers who use racial strife as just one tool in their arsenal of division and control.

7 posted on 07/05/2023 2:00:58 PM PDT by AndyTheBear
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: nickcarraway

Guess this is her theme somg now. . .

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=NYmg3lrX374


8 posted on 07/05/2023 2:04:30 PM PDT by Salgak (You're in Strange Hands with Tom Stranger. . . .)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: nickcarraway

And her life would have been easier had she claimed to be an Indian...she might even be a Senator.


9 posted on 07/05/2023 2:11:38 PM PDT by hanamizu
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: gov_bean_ counter

White liberal women are the reason for all the woke crap. They assumed their “struggle as a woman” would always maintain their victimhood status so the mob won’t come after them.

Now just being a white liberal woman doesn’t earn you enough intersectionality points, you’re white and not LGBT, so you’re at the bottom now...maybe a little better than a white Christian straight male, but not by much.

Off to the gallows for you!


10 posted on 07/05/2023 2:22:54 PM PDT by fuzzylogic (welfare state = sharing of poor moral choices among everybody)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: nickcarraway

“Thou shalt not say that reverse discrimination is real in the face of overwhelming evidence it is real. One must accept two opposites truths as both true”

This is what “Double Think” in “1984” was, Orwell was a genius and Sage. He warned us. We did not listen.


11 posted on 07/05/2023 2:29:27 PM PDT by cpdiii (cane cutter, deckhand, roughneck, geologist, consultant, pilot, almost chemist, pharmacist)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: nickcarraway

The only thing better would be a black lesbian Indian.

Yes blacks belong to tribes once their ancestors were freed from being their slaves. Look it up


12 posted on 07/05/2023 2:36:57 PM PDT by NWFree (Sigma male 🤪)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: gov_bean_ counter

It worked for ‘kjp” prett well.


13 posted on 07/05/2023 2:47:46 PM PDT by rktman (Destroy America from within? Check! WTH? Enlisted USN 1967 to end up with this💩? 🚫💉)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: gov_bean_ counter

The truth is banned in 2023.

Those who speak the truth are “haters”!


14 posted on 07/05/2023 2:51:15 PM PDT by cgbg (Claiming that laws and regs that limit “hate speech” stop freedom of speech is “hate speech”.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: gov_bean_ counter

You can be assured that when the Chinks finally do secure their hostile takeover of the US, that the college professors and intellectual class will be the first ones rounded up for elimination. Just like Stalin did.

These people are brainless clowns, but very very useful right now to the left and its goals. They are a threat to ANY society. They are intentionally bringing Western civilization down yet would also be stupid enough to question or challenge a genuine tyrannical regime. That equals highly volatile and dangerous type of person. best to send them to Siberia right away.


15 posted on 07/05/2023 2:52:50 PM PDT by Jaysin (Trump can’t be beat, unless the democrats cheat)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: nickcarraway

16 posted on 07/05/2023 3:04:01 PM PDT by Bubba_Leroy ( Dementia Joe is Not My President)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: nickcarraway

“reportedly refused to apologize “

Good for you girl!

I wonder what she would apologize for, anyway?


17 posted on 07/05/2023 3:20:11 PM PDT by Sarcazmo (I live by the Golden Rule. As applied by others; I'm not selfish.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: nickcarraway

This is more brave, than most !!!
Say the truth, say it loud, and NEVER apply for it!!!!


18 posted on 07/05/2023 3:46:23 PM PDT by bantam
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: bantam

🤦‍♂️apologize


19 posted on 07/05/2023 3:47:00 PM PDT by bantam
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 18 | View Replies]

To: nickcarraway

Life was easier for Lizzie Warren when she was an Indian.


20 posted on 07/05/2023 3:49:37 PM PDT by windsorknot
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-24 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson