Jessica Krug’s Apology Is BS w/ Lisa Betty

In this episode Lisa and Weeze have a deep discussion on the problematic behavior of Jessica Krug. They talk about the ways in which Jessica, a whyte woman, extensively and intentionally chose to study Black + African cultures of the diaspora and co-opt Black, Hispanic, and Latinx as her racial-ethnic identities. Not only did she assume these identities, she took professional academic positions, opportunities, and grants away from the people they were meant for. Then she decided to "out" herself and apologize for it.

ABOUT WEEZE

Louiza Doran, known and referred to as Weeze, is a cis-het Amazigh* female identifying human who uses she/her/they/them pronouns. She’s known as a coach, podcast host, advocate, agent of change, strategist and educator (to name a few) but is ultimately a compassionate provocateur that is out to help folks uncover their path of possibility.  

ABOUT LISA

Lisa Betty (she/her) is a Ph.D. Candidate in History at Fordham University. She teaches on themes of labor, migration, and diaspora in the Americas, the Caribbean, and Africa. Lisa's dissertation research contributes to the growing body of scholarship on the Caribbean diaspora, with a focus on Jamaican migrants, in Cuba and the United States from the 1930s through the Cuban Revolution. She has worked in the field of nonprofit advocacy serving in organizations that advocate for children, families, immigrants, and incarcerated people, and leads antiracist teaching workshops. Proud of her family's southern and Jamaican roots, Lisa contributes to the development of safe, sustainable, and healing spaces for Black and Brown people. 

IN THIS EPISODE, WE TALK ABOUT

• A full breakdown of Jessica Krug’s problematic behavior and how she wore Blackness for her own pleasure.

• The weaponization whytness by reinforcing characterizations and stereotypes of Black identity.

• How academia encouraged Jessica’s performance and elevated her.

• Why reparations is so important and necessary for the Black community.

CALL TO ACTION

Find an Africana Studies department in your local university and read + share one thing a Black or African Diaspora academic has written. Make sure to tag them and Weeze at @accordingtoweeze and @whichwayweeze!

FOLLOW WEEZE TO STAY ACTIONABLE

Website: https://www.accordingtoweeze.com

IG: @accordingtoweeze

The Academy (it’s like Patreon): https://www.accordingtoweeze.com/the-academy

FOLLOW LISA TO STAY ACTIONABLE

THE ROOT | Episode 1 | Racism As A System

In The Root Episode 1: Racism as a System, Dominique Drakeford speaks with scholars and academic activists Nikki Sanchez and Lisa Betty on the importance of dismantling colonial systems and reclaiming the fullness of Native American & Afro-Indigenous history as a regenerative framework for liberation and true sustainability across every industry.

 

"Jessica Krug’s Medium Post is Not an Apology: Centeri