sorry you re going and wish you all luck in your continuing academic 
career, francoise r


-----Original Message-----
From: Darrell Newton <[log in to unmask]>
To: BASA <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Sat, 20 Oct 2012 13:17
Subject: Re: Farewell



Greetings everyone,
I’m writing this note to bid you a fond farewell. I’d like to request 
that Sean remove me from the BASA listserv, forthwith. The reasons are 
rather simple.
When I originally joined you about eight years ago, it was in an effort 
to gain a better understanding of contemporary views on race and 
ethnicity in England. I felt this would not only inform portions of my 
research, but also provide insights into the work of other members.
However, I’ve found that the organization as it stands is far more of a 
matriarchy that sometimes denigrates into arguments over mere semantics 
and methodology. While this is not a reflection of the organization, 
and surely not true of most members, I have found some to be 
mean-spirited, cruel, and obviously bitter. As an example, please 
consider the review of my book in BASA Newsletter 63 by Eleni Liarou, 
as directed by Marika Sherwood.
To say that this attempt was condescending and crass is an 
understatement. Further, it did not address what the book was truly 
about. Instead, it set out to inform the reader of how it should have 
been written from the “critic’s” perspective. This is not what a book 
review is supposed to do, nor was this approach helpful to me as 
author. Please also note dear colleagues, that this is not the first 
time someone “reviewed” my work, nor am I some brash American scholar 
who is above reproach. I learned very early in this business called 
academe to develop thick skin.
However, it is this very kind of controlling behavior that caused me to 
withdraw from my speaking engagement at the University of London, 
particularly after awkward criticisms were leveled directly at my 
publishers. Again, these weren’t constructive suggestions over the 
style or content of the book, but a host of nit-picking comments that 
reflected how someone else felt I should have addressed a specific 
issue. The comments went further, offering an indictment of MUP’s 
abilities as a publishing house. As mentioned to some of you 
previously, my editor and others at Manchester University Press wrote 
to tell me that this particular member was clearly someone “looking for 
a fight.” How embarrassing.
I also sincerely believe that after my post to the listserv about the 
canceled presentation, a certain vindictive attitude began to permeate 
some of my efforts. It’s rather telling that a generous portion of the 
subsequent "book review" used the very same wording found in emails to 
me and MUP. I’ll let you figure that one out. Further, the review was 
placed without the approval of the newsletter's own editor.
Having written several book reviews in my academic career, I’ve always 
attempted to be as gracious as possible. Instead of statements like, 
“the author knows little about British history,” I would have written 
“while the author needs to brush up in their knowledge of British 
history, the chapter…” and so forth. Further, to end the review with, 
“it’s a pity that such a thoroughly researched book fails to give its 
readers a better understanding of the BBC’s role in shaping the 
nation’s attitudes toward Black Britons,” only serves to remind me yet 
again that certain individuals missed the entire essence of this book. 
But then again, they really weren't trying to get it, were they?
As explained in the introduction, the book deals with BBC television’s 
broadcast policies as they relate to Black Britons. That’s a very 
different subject matter, and page limitations placed upon me by my 
editor wouldn’t allow me to digress. I assure you everyone; MUP would 
have never touched my book if it was that poorly written.
Forgive me, but after four degrees, 22 years of teaching at three 
universities, after writing 10 academic publications, 41 peer-reviewed 
academic presentations (most of which were in the UK at media history 
conferences, and at SCS), and chairing a communication studies 
department with 22 colleagues and 800 majors, I‘m a little too road 
weary for this. I’m at a point in my life where I welcome camaraderie 
and healthy, intellectually stimulating debate – not bias, and blind 
disapproval.
Again, dear colleagues, it’s not my intentions to draw you into a 
fracas. Instead, I’d like to offer this final post as a kind of distant 
view of a much larger picture. As you well know, sometimes it’s 
difficult to clearly see an object or circumstance when standing too 
close.
Take care of yourselves, everyone. Some of you have expressed an 
interest in changing the direction of the organization. I applaud your 
efforts. They seem long overdue.
On personal note: Stephen, Arthur and Kathleen; I surely hope to see 
you again.

 
 
Darrell M. Newton, Ph.D.
Chair and Associate Professor
The Department of Communication Arts
Salisbury University
260 Fulton Hall
Salisbury, MD 21801
(410) 677-5060 Office
(410) 543-6229 Department
http://faculty.salisbury.edu/~dmnewton/
 

 

------------------------------------------------------------
 From: The Black and Asian Studies Association [[log in to unmask]] On 
Behalf Of Miranda Kaufmann [[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Saturday, October 20, 2012 7:51 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: My article on Guardian website today




Dear Phil,


Is there a page on your black presence website or another forum you 
would suggest?


Best wishes,


Miranda. 

Miranda Kaufmann
www.mirandakaufmann.com

[log in to unmask]
07855792885




On 20 Oct 2012, at 12:40, Blackpresence Website 
<[log in to unmask]> wrote:



Dear members,


I urge you to have these valuable conversations on a public and open 
forum where people currently unaware of BASA can contribute. there are 
many educated voices here, but your brains are wasted having a 
conversation in what is essentially one of our kitchens.


I urge you to be more public when sharing your understanding of this 
complex topic.



--

Kind Regards,
Phil Gregory - Editor / Author
------------------------------------------------------
Black Presence Website - Black British History, Black History Month

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