Open Thread Thursday: 2.25.10

February 25, 2010 | Open Thread

The blog is yours.

What is an open thread? An open thread refers to a blog post where readers may comment and discuss any topic that they choose.

So, what do you guys wanna talk about? What’s challenging or exciting about your work right now? Do you have any burning questions for me to answer? What’s on your mind as you go about doing the work of social change?

Let’s talk.

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Tags: Open Thread Thursday

Kim

@Adrianne: I don't work at a museum or anything, but I do have to admit that if I did work at one which taught a culture of which I wasn't a part, I would feel that I wasn't as qualified. Or, even if I had done tons of research and were academically qualified, I would feel that others would always suspect that even if I knew it, I didn't "get" it. I think there can be some legitimate reasons why someone who wasn't, say, black would not be as knowledgeable about the black community, but it would be difficult to say exactly how or why.

As far as black people not working in non-black museums, I think it would be a symptom of black people being underrepresented in pretty much every professional sector, rather than any thing specific about the museum sector. I think that black history museums would probably simply be more likely to hire black people because of the nature of their enterprise; it wouldn't surprise me if they had specific hiring philosophies toward hiring people of minorities, to the extent they'd be allowed to by whatever grants they might be getting, etc.
Jason H. Parker

Rosetta, I will be transitioning to DC over the next month. In addition to the weight of moving to a new area, I will also be job searching. Here's my question for you: in your professional opinion, what is a better option--applying to a wide variety of social sector jobs with the hopes of landing one, or applying selectively to organizations I'm passionate about?

Also along those lines, do you have any advice on pursuing social justice work in DC? Would appreciate your thoughts.

Best,

Jason H. Parker

Twitter @jasonhparker
kristenej

@Jason- Let me know how your search goes. I've been working on a possible transition to DC for a few months, and was accepted into grad school up there. I'm targeting my search to nonprofits/social service groups I can go to sleep at night proud of representing. I've gotten success with groups up there by really talking about what I can do for them and why I want to work for them on a mission level. Best wishes and follow me as well on Twitter-@KristenEJ
Adrianne Russell

What's challenging me today? I'm working on compiling information regarding African-American museum workers--any type (natural history, science, visual art, etc.) and job classification. Early research (and professional experience) tells me that this is an area where African-Americans are underrepresented (especially in upper management sections), unless it is an organization that focuses on that culture group specifically.

So the burning questions: Are African-Americans overrepresented in museums that focus on that culture because that is where their interest lies, or are they pushed toward that work due to cultural affiliation? Also, if you are of a different cultural group and working in a museum that focuses on African-American culture, are you considered less knowledgeable because you do are not part of that culture group?

What do you think?

Feel free to forward any names of African-American museum workers that you know or admire or anyone who is not of African-American descent working in a museum focusing on that culture. I'd love to chat with them!

http://twitter.com/adriannerussell
russell.adrianne@gmail.com