Would it make any difference if Jane K. Fernandes were Latina?
July 17, 2006
People often ask me if I know whether or not Dr. Jane K. Fernandes, Gallaudet University’s President-elect, is Latina.
The answer is, no, she’s not. Her Spanish surname comes from her husband, Dr. James Fernandes, whose roots are Portugese.
One of the things I have been wondering about was if Fernandes had in fact been Latina, would this have changed anything in regards to the protest?
I also can’t help wondering what kind of support, if any, she would have received from the Latino Deaf community.
Would we have come forward and supported her?
Or would we have looked away as she was fed to the lions?
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1.
Spicy Girl II | July 17, 2006 at 3:06 pm
Hi Chris. Yes, I do think that the Deaf hispanic community would have rallied behind her. Just because she would be one of us. But she’s not.
2.
JR | July 17, 2006 at 4:29 pm
I don’t think it would matter one way or the other if she was latino or not.
3.
Jonah | July 18, 2006 at 4:59 am
I’m not hispanic but I don’t think it would have made any difference. The protest is about more than just diversity. It’s also about the process.
4.
Becca | July 18, 2006 at 5:49 am
This is an interesting question. I do think that I would be much more symphatic to her.
By the way, unlreated question — are Portugese people considred Latin? Isn’t that in Europe?
Becca
5.
Taco Loco | July 19, 2006 at 1:15 am
No, Portugese aren’t considered Latino. Nor are Spainards. This is because, as you pointed out, they’re from Europe and not Latin America.
6.
Gomez | July 19, 2006 at 6:44 am
I say feed her to the lions and be done with it!
7.
ChilliPeppers | July 20, 2006 at 3:00 am
This is interesting. All this time I had thought her husband was Hispanic. I, and I’m sure others, saw this as a plus.
When people were saying that Jane was racist, I was thinking, “well, how can she be? her husband is Hispanic, which makes her two children half Hispanic.” Someone racist wouldn’t marry someone from a different race. At least that was my thinking, regardless of how flawed it may be.
Despite this new information that her husband isn’t Hispanic, I still don’t think Jane is racist. I also really feel bad for her, her husband and children for all they are going through.
I’m hoping the school year starts without a lot of drama and people eventually come to accept her. I think she has her heart in the right place. I know others may not agree but that’s my POV.
8.
gallygrad81 | July 20, 2006 at 7:59 am
JKF needs to resign now!!!!
9.
Tony | October 12, 2006 at 12:30 pm
Diversity is a bunch of BS .. just hire the most qualified person to do the job.. diversity this and diversity that.. makes me want to puke
10.
Marcus | October 15, 2006 at 6:53 pm
Tony – you’re obviously a white guy. You need to take a course on white privilege. Educate yourself, dude!
11.
pleasure smith | October 30, 2006 at 11:53 am
Havent any of you read Jane’s comments in her letter of application to Gallaudet? About how she(Jane) was a WHITE woman with a pure white family background going back
generations.Wonder why should anyone be such an idiot as to write this in her application letter? Who knows-maybe she knew
about the racist inclinations of a certain Gallaudet administrator
who remains her strong supporter even after she has been terminated
12.
Gil | October 30, 2006 at 4:04 pm
What Jane was trying to do was own her white privilege. I don’t believe she was trying to flaunt it. The fact that her last name is Spanish may have led people to believe she was Hispanic and may have given her points for this. Her owning her white privilege is what many anti-racism trainers encourage white people to do. I believe she did this with her heart in the right place. It’s not her fault that the BOT search committee turned out to be a bunch of racists.