Same God, Three Years Later
Three years ago, today, my colleague and friend, Dr. Larycia Hawkins, displayed embodied solidarity with persecuted Muslim women. In a now infamous Facebook post that was heard ‘round the world Larycia wore a hijab and acknowledged her respect for fellow human beings of devout faith. I was supportive of her gesture and told her that, but, knowing the rampant Islamophobia in the evangelical subculture and at Wheaton College, I was concerned about her wellbeing. I commented on her post “if you get any grief at work give me a heads up because I’ll be teaching Islamic prayer in my spring class.” While this was technically true I also knew that it could attract the same paranoia as Larycia’s post.
Within hours I received a phone call, a text message and an email from the college provost, panicking about the way these two “equally innocuous” social media posts were being misinterpreted by media outlets and donors. Having studied authoritarian systems and worked in an authoritarian institution for nearly thirty years I immediately “groveled,” figuratively rolling over to expose my belly and throat. I know that in such systems one is expected to be submissive when confronted by authorities. Within hours I had edited and approved the explanation the provost requested to have available for dissemination to media outlets or angry donors. I felt trusted, valued and supported. But over the next few days I watched in horror as the college administration shamed and ostracized Larycia, eventually scapegoating her and throwing her under the bus.
At a faculty meeting to discuss this fiasco a female colleague asked, “Does anyone know of a time when a white male faculty member with tenure did something similar but was treated differently then our black female colleague with tenure?“ I said “yes, that would be me.” And I told everyone about the events I have just described. When a journalist asked if I would confirm the account I had shared with the faculty I agreed. The administration had already released information about the events to the media with their version of the narrative. While I was reluctant to fuel the media frenzy, I felt the injustice of their actions and the betrayal of the governance process moved beyond the level of “in house” solutions. I could not be silent when it seemed so obvious that Larycia’s image as a black woman in a hijab led the administration to respond so differently to her than they did to me. It is common in American Evangelical institutions, which are overwhelmingly white, for people of color to have to prove that they are not “too different “ for the institution. I have witnessed this many times for Dr. Hawkins and for other colleagues of color.
The administration confirmed my interpretation of the rules of patriarchal authoritarianism when they issued a press statement noting that “Unlike Dr. Mangis' immediate apology, retraction, and collaboration” Dr. Hawkins did not immediately put to rest all their concerns.
As I said to the press then and still believe, an educational institution that stops learning and refuses to change is essentially dead. The purpose of diversity is to deepen and change the institution. When you ask someone with a fresh perspective to breathe new life into the community with the promise that they will be valued and supported, it is unacceptable to then punish them for not sounding like the stale old voices that have never changed. Dr. Larycia Hawkins brought a depth of thought and passion to her teaching that inspired her students to learn and to live out the call of Jesus Christ in the public square. I stood by her and stand by her still. Sadly we must both stand anywhere but at Wheaton College.
The details of these events have been Documented in the Film Same God
