“Anti-racist” author Ibram X. Kendi, “1619 Project” author Nikole Hannah-Jones, and a number of others claimed that the long-awaited exit of Harvard University President Claudine Gay was a coordinated racist attack — and the backlash was immediate.
Kendi claimed that Gay’s ouster — which came on the heels of her disastrous Capitol Hill testimony and multiple accusations of plagiarism impacting more than half of her published academic works — was the result of a “racist mob” eagerly gunning for a black woman in a position of power.
“Racist mobs won’t stop until they topple all Black people from positions of power and influence who are not reinforcing the structure of racism. What these racist mobs are doing should be obvious to any reporter who cares about truth or justice as opposed to conflicts and clicks,” he said. “Too often mainstream reporters join the racist mob or give it credibility—as they did in this case—just as they did a century ago.”
Too often mainstream reporters join the racist mob or give it credibility—as they did in this case—just as they did a century ago.
— Ibram X. Kendi (@ibramxk) January 2, 2024
He later cheered The Associated Press, calling it “real journalism” when the outlet identified plagiarism as a “conservative weapon” against academics they did not like.
“This is journalism. Getting closer to what truly happened and why. ‘The plagiarism allegations came not from her academic peers but her political foes, led by conservatives who sought to oust Gay and put her career under intense scrutiny in hopes of finding a fatal flaw,'” he said.
This is journalism. Getting closer to what truly happened and why. “The plagiarism allegations came not from her academic peers but her political foes, led by conservatives who sought to oust Gay and put her career under intense scrutiny in hopes of finding a fatal flaw.” https://t.co/fJrAJYdHpJ
— Ibram X. Kendi (@ibramxk) January 3, 2024
The Daily Wire Editor Emeritus Ben Shapiro warned the AP, “When grifter extraordinaire Ibram X. Kendi praises your ‘journalism,’ you should start thinking about another career.”
When grifter extraordinaire Ibram X. Kendi praises your "journalism," you should start thinking about another career https://t.co/Zh2f4uSckP
— Ben Shapiro (@benshapiro) January 3, 2024
“This is bad journalism and inaccurate; allegations were first made on an academic message board. The latest round of plagiarism discoveries precipitating Gay’s firing came from an anonymous academic. The accusations came from her peers. Rufo and Brunet only publicized them,” Mark Hemingway pointed out.
This is bad journalism and inaccurate; allegations were first made on an academic message board. The latest round of plagiarism discoveries precipitating Gay's firing came from an anonymous academic. The accusations came from her peers. Rufo and Brunet only publicized them. https://t.co/Sh0Jp3w1XZ
— Mark Hemingway (@Heminator) January 3, 2024
“You see, only her peers are allowed to notice she was a serial plagiarist, but her peers would never do that for political reasons, as evidenced by this and other reactions. Therefore, Gay should have been awarded total protection,” Red State’s Bonchie explained.
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You see, only her peers are allowed to notice she was a serial plagiarist, but her peers would never do that for political reasons, as evidenced by this and other reactions.
Therefore, Gay should have been awarded total protection. https://t.co/ipmijF3XhW
— Bonchie (@bonchieredstate) January 3, 2024
“The 1619 Project” author Nikole Hannah-Jones took a slightly veiled approach, claiming that Gay’s exit was nothing less than the desired result of a “well-executed plan.”
Well, they got what they wanted from their well-executed plan. https://t.co/SsdhSYYnEk
— Ida Bae Wells (@nhannahjones) January 2, 2024
“I love the part of the plan where they went back in time and got Claudine Gay to plagiarize a bunch of s***,” @RBpundit posted in response.
I love the part of the plan where they went back in time and got Claudine Gay to plagiarize a bunch of shit. https://t.co/BgPXN5Wx74
— RBe (@RBPundit) January 2, 2024
“Step 1: Encourage Ph.D. student/prof to plagiarize numerous times; Step 2: Get her hired as Harvard President; Step 3: Have her show contempt for Jewish students’ safety in front of Congress; Step 4: Expose all the previously encouraged plagiarism,” another laid out the steps of the alleged “plan.”
Step 1: Encourage Ph.D. student/prof to plagiarize numerous times
Step 2: Get her hired as Harvard President
Step 3: Have her show contempt for Jewish students' safety in front of Congress
Step 4: Expose all the previously encouraged plagiarismWell executed @real_chrisrufo https://t.co/OfQsIoLDuh
— Fusilli Spock (@awstar11) January 2, 2024
Even self-appointed congressional fire alarm Jamaal Bowman (D-NY) got in on the action, claiming that Gay’s ouster was an attempt to intimidate other black men and women who aspired to positions of power.
“This isn’t about plagiarism or antisemitism. This is about racism and intimidation. This makes no one safer. The only winners are fascists who bullied a brilliant & historic Black woman into resignation. 2024 will be a battle for truth, democracy and our shared humanity,” he said.
This isn’t about plagiarism or antisemitism. This is about racism and intimidation. This makes no one safer.
The only winners are fascists who bullied a brilliant & historic Black woman into resignation.
2024 will be a battle for truth, democracy and our shared humanity.
— Rep. Jamaal Bowman Ed.D. (@JamaalBowmanNY) January 2, 2024
Dan McLaughlin summed up the situation: “When Jamaal Bowman sounds the alarm, you know what that means.”