The Black Erudite

I chose to define erudite, because it can be easily defined as an adjective.

Black….not so much.

erudite

/ˈɛrʊdʌɪt/

adjective

1. having or showing great knowledge or learning.

"Ken could turn any conversation into an erudite discussion"

To the unexposed reader, and the ignorant mind, black is a colour, it’s an adjective used to describe a noun.

Being a black erudite is an interesting conundrum for me. What does it mean to be black? What does it mean to have great knowledge? There are epistemological and ethical arguments that date back for centuries that seek to pontificate on both of these questions. Unfortunately, historically, the conversation around knowledge is dominated by white philosophers who at many times articulated their views of the emptiness, heaviness, and lack of value associated with blackness. As a member of the academic community, there’s a pull toward the view that subject matter expertise from “scholarship” is the critical factor in being an erudite.

I will note here that there has been no consensus on either of them: what can be considered great knowledge, or blackness. They are both relative constructs. Relative to the individual, the society, and the groups within society.

So, I get to decide.

Considering the changing landscape of conversation and intellectual engagement in HE with the principles of decolonisation, and the offshoot engagement with anti-racist work in strategic management, I have been given the space to reflect on my own identity and how it engages with my academic practice.

I’ve decided that my blackness appeals to me as not an adjective, but as my reason to be. Being black doesn’t describe me because there is no universally accepted definition of blackness, and even if there was, I’m pretty confident I would not fit that descriptor - I’ve been somewhat of a non-conformist my entire life. While there are at times shared experiences, views, and appreciation for great knowledge with other black people…black erudites, we are all containers of our own great knowledge, and facilitators of unique learning. The value that I have found in being in spaces at work, and in my personal life surrounded by critical, intelligent, reflective black men and women is immeasurable. That value at times is on anti-racism, it is at times on pedagogy, and it is at times on matters in life unrelated to either. From these black erudites, I have learned patience, reflection, how to listen, how to deal with grief, how to mend broken familial relationships, how to mend myself after heartbreak, how to enjoy my life, how to be a better mother, how to be disciplined, how to be very undisciplined, and the list could go on. I have learned these invaluable lessons in “academic” spaces that were highly oppressive, sought to marginalise us, and continued to shirk our contributions to a better learning environment for employees and students of colour.

While many of these black men and women do not have PhD’s, Masters, Bachelor’s degrees, or other professional qualifications, in these very academic spaces I have learned more from them than I could have in any classroom, or structured learning environment.

Symone could turn any conversation into an erudite discussion

Adwoa could turn any conversation into an erudite discussion

Louise could turn any conversation into an erudite discussion

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Kendrane could turn any conversation into an erudite discussion

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LeRoy could turn any conversation into an erudite discussion

Sajeeda could turn any conversation into an erudite discussion

Sathya could turn any conversation into an erudite discussion

Jena could turn any conversation into an erudite discussion

You could turn any conversation into an erudite discussion