On Tuesday, writer and English professor Randa Jarrar was informed that Fresno State University would take no disciplinary action against her acrimonious statements celebrating the death of former First Lady Barbara Bush or her other controversial statements.
After the passing of Barbara Bush, Jarrar sent out a series of tweets. Perhaps the one that gained the most attention was the one that said, “Barbara Bush was a generous and smart and amazing racist who, along with her husband, raised a war criminal. F*** outta here with your nice words.”
Before the announcement, The Cut published a piece on Jarrar in which she told the Cut that she “absolutely” stands by her comments.
“I felt compelled to speak up because I want people to remember history. I want people to know that our country’s actions don’t just disappear; they have real, negative consequences,” said Jarrar in an email to The Cut. “If we want a better future, we have to confront our past.”
“The Bush family — including Barbara Bush — supported policies that harmed and destroyed the lives of millions,” Jarrar said.
Jarrar was asked if she believes she receives more abuse because of her Egyptian, Greek, and Palestinian heritage. According to her, she does. “I am not the only person who has stated the belief that Barbara Bush was a racist,” Jarrar said. “But women of color routinely have their tone policed, their justified anger painted as hatred, and their criticism of injustice framed as racism toward white people.”
Before finding out the decision of Fresno State University to not take any action against her, Jarrar stated, “Our First Amendment rights must be protected, now, more than ever. The university must remain a space for critical inquiry, even if it challenges what we believe.”
Jarrar publicly stated that she was tenured through Fresno State University. Jarrar says she made the statement because many were saying that she was unfit to teach college students.
“Some may characterize those tweets as gloating,” Jarrar explained. “I would say that when a woman states any facts about her employment, she is usually met with charges of arrogance.”
After seeing how she was covered in the media after her comments, Jarrar said in her statement to The Cut, “Again, because I can be at times overly optimistic or perhaps idealistic, I wish the conversation we were having as a nation today was about how we mourn problematic figures. Instead, it has become a kind of mourning of our rights to free expression.”
Aside from her comments about Barbara Bush, Jarrar also created many vile and racist tweets earlier this year.
One tweet said, “I can’t wait for the old white guard of literary writers and ‘critics’ to die. Their time is f**king up, too.”
Another tweet issued by Jarrar said, “Coming up: a bunch of f**king white women.”
An official letter was posted to the Fresno State University Twitter page confirming that no action would, or could be, taken against Jarrar.
@RealKyleMorris is a Yellowhammer News contributor and host of a radio program that airs noon-2 p.m. Saturdays on 101.1 WDYE
