By Gavin Mackintosh-
An academic is suing Leeds Beckett University after she was dropped from her advisory role over tweets calling a mixed-race man a “house negro”, alleging the decision was discriminatory because of her belief in critical race theory and Black radicalism.
The mainly sports based university ended its association with the academic adviser Aysha Khanom after accusing her of “racist language” in relation to tweets using the terms “house negro” and “coconut” – the former in a question.
Khanom is arguing that critical race theory and Black radicalism are protected beliefs under the Equality Act. Critical race theory says race is a social construct used to oppress people of colour and which begets systemic racism.
Her defence of the Equality Act is controversial and critics say no amount of legal refrence can support the academic using the language on social media, given the sensitivity of the language and the offence it could cost.
The legal claim has been supported by many antiracist organizations and academics in an open letter. It was penned by Kehinde Andrews, a professor of Black studies at Birmingham City University, and accuses Leeds Beckett of censoring “central concepts in Black intellectual thought”.
Kehinde is an academic, activist and author, whose published books are mainly about the fight against racism, his first book called: ‘Resisting Racism: Race, Inequality and the Black Supplementary School Movement’ (2013).
The letter states the term house Negro was popularised by Malcolm X popularized the use of house negro, which described Black people who defended the status quo, eager to fit in with and please white people.
The first tweet was sent in February after the conservative political commentator Calvin Robinson said on BBC One’s The Big Questions that he had been attacked for being Black and rightwing: “For example I have been called Bounty, Uncle Tom, house negro for not having the right opinion.”
Specific Tweet
The legal suit relates to a tweet shared on 14 February by the Race Trust, which was founded by Khanom, posted a tweet, tagging Robinson and asking: “Does it not shame you that most people see you as a house negro?” Khanom said she accepted responsibility for the tweet, but denied sending it herself.
She reacted to a barrage of tweets by using the term “coconut”, when responding to someone about the earlier tweet. The next day, the university tweeted saying she was not an employee but it had terminated its association with her and “condemns the use of racist language”.
Khanom told the Uk Guardian: “They were offensive – they’re meant to be offensive because they’re antiracist terms. You’re highlighting a problem, so how can someone be racist by calling someone out for going against their own kind? It’s almost upholding white supremacy. It’s so contradictory it’s unreal, racists have taken these terms and defined them for us.
“There is no way they are racist. They are meant to make someone feel uncomfortable but just because something’s offensive doesn’t mean you can’t say it.”
Mental Health
Khanom said the university’s actions had affected her professionally and personally, in terms of her mental health.
“Leeds Beckett condemned me to be a racist,” she said. “I still get trolled on Twitter all the time and they [the trolls] post Leeds Beckett’s tweet. It’s always going to be there, that’s my main worry, especially as the work that I do is antiracist.”
In June, finding that gender-critical views were a protected belief, the employment appeals tribunal said only views akin to nazism or totalitarianism were unworthy of protections for rights of freedom of expression and thought under the Equality Act.
Emilie Cole, a co-founding partner of Cole Khan solicitors, which is representing Khanom, said the case would establish whether Khanom’s beliefs were protected. She added: “Immediately publishing her termination on Twitter and publicly condemning her as racist was a gross abuse of power and sets a dangerous precedent. Ms Khanom’s case is of significant importance for everyone who stands for academic freedom, freedom of speech and equality.”
A spokesperson for the university said: “We are unable to comment on ongoing legal proceedings although we can confirm that we will be presenting a detailed response against this claim.”