A professor at the University of Tennessee-Knoxville was forced to undergo a racial sensitivity training session for referencing a rapper’s album that contained a “racial epithet” in it.
According to Campus Reform, Africana studies professor Melissa Hargrove wrote the n-word above the acronym: “Never Ignorant About Getting Goals Accomplished,” when teaching about the title of a 1993 music album by rapper Tupac Shakur. The album is fully titled, “Strictly 4 My N****Z.” Hargrove specializes in researching the hip-hop movement.
Students posted pictures of the racial slur on social media, which drew the attention of the school administration. In a letter to students, the chair of the Africana Studies Program condemned Hargrove for writing the word.
“We have been confronted with the image of one of our faculty members in Africana Studies standing in front of a whiteboard with a word that presents as a racial epithet for Black people,” Chairwoman Shayla Nunnally said. “Without context and the acronym alone, this word presents a very painful and derogatory one that is not only uncomfortable but also hurtful and troubling.”
The word was written to discuss whether it is appropriate, and why, black people refer to themselves as the ‘n-word.’ The letter admits that the professor teaching the course “also raised the questions and pursuit of knowledge about how Black people have been able to define and identify themselves.”
Nunnally claimed that the takeaway from Hargrove’s written words was that more people need to understand the “power dynamics” of race and the history of racism.
“Let us also consider that ‘the lesson’ in this incident has illustrated even more how complex this languaging may be in any form — verbal or in print — and the significance of race, politics, and cultural appropriation. Understanding this is rooted in a knowledge about the power dynamics of race and the history of race relations.”
In an update to students on the incident, university leadership announced that Hargrove will undergo training to “improver her presentation of difficult, potentially painful topics.” The university provided a temporary instructor for the class while Hargrove underwent training.
The university has yet to receive a complaint from a single student in the classroom, though students who were not part of the class discussion have demanded that the school terminate Hargrove.
“University leaders have had discussions with students who were not a part of the class but who raised concern after a screenshot from the class was posted on social media. Some of these students have demanded that we terminate the faculty member’s employment,” the update reads. “The university has not received a bias report from any student who was present for the class discussion.”
The school also offered students counseling sessions in light of the incident.
The call for Hargrove’s termination was also pushed by the undergraduate student government. The organization claims that Hargrove has a record of “traumatizing” black students.
“Professor Hargrove is infamous among students for traumatizing Black students by eschewing appropriate teaching methods and instead dragging students through generational trauma that persists to this day,” the letter reads.
Students said that regardless of Hargrove’s intent to teach difficult content, she still deserved to be fired.
“Though Dr. Hargrove may have held ‘good’ intentions for her class content, good intentions do not validate inflicting trauma. A professor who is at best ignorant to what she inflicts does not belong in her coveted position … the time for removal has come.”