DIY History | Transcribe | Campus Culture | Women Against Racism records, 1982-1984 | 1984-04-19 The Ad Hoc Committee for the Women Against Racism Workshop to Doris Davenport

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Women Against Racism records, 1982-1984

1984-04-19 The Ad Hoc Committee for the Women Against Racism Workshop to Doris Davenport

19 April 1984
TO: Doris Davenport
From: the Ad Hoc Committee for the Women Against Racism Workshop

In this revised letter of apology we want to reiterate that we regret having used your article, "The Pathology of Racism: A Conversation with Third World Wimmin", without your consent. We recognize that this act was irresponsible, especially in light of your having declined ur invitation to be the keynote speaker for the Women Against Racism Workshop, and the fact that it would have been easy enough to ask for your permission. 
We are grateful that you brought out attention to this matter, and we also want to thank you for your appearance at the workshop on April 8. Your comments provided insight into out neglect and stimulated discussion throughout the day. We regret that you interpreted our action as a violation of your rights. Our purpose for including your article in the packet was to help educate women about various aspects of racism.
We are a multi-racial and multi-ethnic committee of women who planned the workshop and selected informative and pertinent articles that would complement our educational goals for the program. The women of the Ad Hoc Committee, who share your opinion that using your article in the packet without first asking for your permission was an institutionally racist act of cultural imperialism, have agreed to pay you the $60 you have requested as compensation for the hardships you have suffered as a result of this experience. These women are acting as individuals in this instance and not as members of the Ad Hoc Committee.
We apologize as well for the amount of time and energy you have had to put into dealing with this issue. Some good has come out of it and you can be sure that such a mistake will not be repeated by any of the women who participated in the planning of the workshop. Also, in the future, if any of the women from this committee participate in the preparation of a reading packet for a similar workshop, all of the authors will be contacted, and their approval secured, before any articles are reproduced.
It is too late for this letter to appear in the May/June issue of the Women's Resource and Action Center newsletter. Since July is the earliest it could appear, we feel that it would be more appropriate to make copies to distribute to the participants of the workshop, as requested earlier.
We want you to know that the drafting of this letter is the last action the Ad Hoc Committee will take as a collective body. We hope this letter is an adequate clarification of our intentions, and we are sorry for any problems our oversight may have caused.
Sincerely,

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19 April 1984 TO: Doris Davenport From: the Ad Hoc Committee for the Women Against Racism Workshop In this revised letter of apology we want to reiterate that we regret having used your article, "The Pathology of Racism: A Conversation with Third World Wimmin", without your consent. We recognize that this act was irresponsible, especially in light of your having declined ur invitation to be the keynote speaker for the Women Against Racism Workshop, and the fact that it would have been easy enough to ask for your permission. We are grateful that you brought out attention to this matter, and we also want to thank you for your appearance at the workshop on April 8. Your comments provided insight into out neglect and stimulated discussion throughout the day. We regret that you interpreted our action as a violation of your rights. Our purpose for including your article in the packet was to help educate women about various aspects of racism. We are a multi-racial and multi-ethnic committee of women who planned the workshop and selected informative and pertinent articles that would complement our educational goals for the program. The women of the Ad Hoc Committee, who share your opinion that using your article in the packet without first asking for your permission was an institutionally racist act of cultural imperialism, have agreed to pay you the $60 you have requested as compensation for the hardships you have suffered as a result of this experience. These women are acting as individuals in this instance and not as members of the Ad Hoc Committee. We apologize as well for the amount of time and energy you have had to put into dealing with this issue. Some good has come out of it and you can be sure that such a mistake will not be repeated by any of the women who participated in the planning of the workshop. Also, in the future, if any of the women from this committee participate in the preparation of a reading packet for a similar workshop, all of the authors will be contacted, and their approval secured, before any articles are reproduced. It is too late for this letter to appear in the May/June issue of the Women's Resource and Action Center newsletter. Since July is the earliest it could appear, we feel that it would be more appropriate to make copies to distribute to the participants of the workshop, as requested earlier. We want you to know that the drafting of this letter is the last action the Ad Hoc Committee will take as a collective body. We hope this letter is an adequate clarification of our intentions, and we are sorry for any problems our oversight may have caused. Sincerely,