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The New Orleans Museum of Art "NOMA" now in cancel culture crosshairs
Posted on 7/8/20 at 9:07 pm
Posted on 7/8/20 at 9:07 pm
“It’s clear there has been a history of injustices done to marginalize groups at NOMA, and we’re not OK with that,” Ifatumininu Bamgbala Aresa said.
Bamgbala Aresa is part of “Dismantle NOMA”, a group of former employees who resigned because of “institutional racism” and a “hostile work environment” at the museum.
Through a blitz of social media posts, the group went public with its allegations, and also listed demands for more diversity among NOMA’s staff, leadership and operations.
“We all feel that we have a lot of work to do internally in order to make sure that we represent all of the people of New Orleans, every constituency,” Taylor said.
Responding to Dismantle NOMA, the museum apologized for “any hurt we have caused." It laid out a plan to add more diversity in its exhibits and throughout its organization. It did not remove Taylor as director, which was one of as Dismantle NOMA’s demands.
“I believe in my staff and I believe in our senior leadership that we will work together to effect change,” Taylor said.
Dismantle NOMA says it’s not satisfied with the initial proposals the museum has presented.
“It is important that people choose, wisely to be on the right side of history, we see those changes happening cyclically every so often. I personally feel very grateful to be able to witness it in my lifetime,” Bamgbala Aresa said."
WWL TV
Dismantle NOMA website
Posted on 7/8/20 at 9:08 pm to MrLSU
"The anti-Black culture at the New Orleans Museum of Art is pervasive.
We are taking a stand and demanding that NOMA make the changes outlined below (we are inspired by our comrades at For the Culture 2020):
1. We demand NOMA stop all forms of performative allyship, Black tokenism, and virtue signaling immediately.
2. We demand a public apology from NOMA on noma.org and all social media avenues to all Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) & LGBTQ former and current employees who have experienced discrimination and aggression at the institution, as well as an apology to the New Orleans community for failing to provide a safe space for visitors.
3. We demand the immediate removal of the following NOMA administrators who have facilitated this toxic culture: Director Susan Taylor, Deputy Director Anne Banos, Facility Manager Steve Lewis, and Human Resources Manager Donna Dunn (and replace HR with at least two qualified individuals).
4. We demand the hiring of more Black curators! Hire and retain a cohort of Black and People of Color on the board of trustees and in leadership positions in the staff.
5. We demand a complete and independent investigation of the origins and history of ownership of all African and Indigenous objects in the museum. This investigation must take place in collaboration with DismantleNOMA representatives, independent BIPOC curators and representatives from the respective countries for the expressed purpose of returning all sacred and religious objects to their country/people of origin.
6. We demand that NOMA actively support locally-based BIPOC artists and creators by acquiring and exhibiting their work.
7. We demand that NOMA actively support locally-based BIPOC arts and cultural institutions by forming meaningful and mutually beneficial partnerships and sharing resources and platforms.
8. We demand an equitable redistribution of departmental budgets and staff wages that includes a permanent policy that all employees and contract workers make a living wage.
9. We demand a mandatory formal, independent investigation into all complaints made to HR and museum leadership regarding BIPOC bias, LGBTQ bias, gender bias, and sexual harassment during current director Susan Taylor’s 10-year tenure. NOMA must immediately dissolve all NDA’s for current and former employees so that the findings of this investigation can be released publicly no later than 12/31/2020.
10. We demand that NOMA will implement a safe and unbiased system for reporting workplace discrimination and racial bias to be evaluated externally by a council composed of independent BIPOC and LGBTQ stakeholders, including representatives from DismantleNOMA. NOMA must standardize anti-racist training for all current and future NOMA staff.
11. We demand that NOMA announce and implement anti-racism as an explicit part of their mission; structural changes that come out of this new mission are to be supported by policies, procedures, and budgets that are aligned with clearly articulated equity outcomes.
12. We demand that NOMA create and equitably fund a permanent Diversity, Equity, Accessibility, and Inclusion department with at least two full-time staff.
13. We demand transparency in institutional operations, acquisitions, and collections.
We demand these terms with the support of a far-reaching network of colleagues, artists, activists, and community leaders. This letter is an invitation to engage so that together we can help build the framework for real and necessary change at NOMA. We believe that this institution can begin to heal past wounds and authentically serve the New Orleans community."
We are taking a stand and demanding that NOMA make the changes outlined below (we are inspired by our comrades at For the Culture 2020):
1. We demand NOMA stop all forms of performative allyship, Black tokenism, and virtue signaling immediately.
2. We demand a public apology from NOMA on noma.org and all social media avenues to all Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) & LGBTQ former and current employees who have experienced discrimination and aggression at the institution, as well as an apology to the New Orleans community for failing to provide a safe space for visitors.
3. We demand the immediate removal of the following NOMA administrators who have facilitated this toxic culture: Director Susan Taylor, Deputy Director Anne Banos, Facility Manager Steve Lewis, and Human Resources Manager Donna Dunn (and replace HR with at least two qualified individuals).
4. We demand the hiring of more Black curators! Hire and retain a cohort of Black and People of Color on the board of trustees and in leadership positions in the staff.
5. We demand a complete and independent investigation of the origins and history of ownership of all African and Indigenous objects in the museum. This investigation must take place in collaboration with DismantleNOMA representatives, independent BIPOC curators and representatives from the respective countries for the expressed purpose of returning all sacred and religious objects to their country/people of origin.
6. We demand that NOMA actively support locally-based BIPOC artists and creators by acquiring and exhibiting their work.
7. We demand that NOMA actively support locally-based BIPOC arts and cultural institutions by forming meaningful and mutually beneficial partnerships and sharing resources and platforms.
8. We demand an equitable redistribution of departmental budgets and staff wages that includes a permanent policy that all employees and contract workers make a living wage.
9. We demand a mandatory formal, independent investigation into all complaints made to HR and museum leadership regarding BIPOC bias, LGBTQ bias, gender bias, and sexual harassment during current director Susan Taylor’s 10-year tenure. NOMA must immediately dissolve all NDA’s for current and former employees so that the findings of this investigation can be released publicly no later than 12/31/2020.
10. We demand that NOMA will implement a safe and unbiased system for reporting workplace discrimination and racial bias to be evaluated externally by a council composed of independent BIPOC and LGBTQ stakeholders, including representatives from DismantleNOMA. NOMA must standardize anti-racist training for all current and future NOMA staff.
11. We demand that NOMA announce and implement anti-racism as an explicit part of their mission; structural changes that come out of this new mission are to be supported by policies, procedures, and budgets that are aligned with clearly articulated equity outcomes.
12. We demand that NOMA create and equitably fund a permanent Diversity, Equity, Accessibility, and Inclusion department with at least two full-time staff.
13. We demand transparency in institutional operations, acquisitions, and collections.
We demand these terms with the support of a far-reaching network of colleagues, artists, activists, and community leaders. This letter is an invitation to engage so that together we can help build the framework for real and necessary change at NOMA. We believe that this institution can begin to heal past wounds and authentically serve the New Orleans community."
Posted on 7/8/20 at 9:11 pm to MrLSU
People literally sat down and came up with that outrageous list of “demands”... the best part of this is that blacks historically do not support the LGBTQ lifestyle but during all this they’ve somehow got lumped together.
ETA: And the demand to hire more black curators. There is not a huge surplus of people who are qualified (MLIS or similar) to be curators. And simple math and demographics means that there’s even fewer blacks for those roles.
ETA: And the demand to hire more black curators. There is not a huge surplus of people who are qualified (MLIS or similar) to be curators. And simple math and demographics means that there’s even fewer blacks for those roles.
This post was edited on 7/8/20 at 9:14 pm
Posted on 7/8/20 at 9:11 pm to MrLSU
quote:
1. We demand NOMA stop all forms of performative allyship, Black tokenism, and virtue signaling immediately.
Uh, if there was no tokenism then a lot of blacks would be out of jobs
Posted on 7/8/20 at 9:13 pm to MrLSU
I love NOMA. It’s the shite. They always have really good exhibits
Posted on 7/8/20 at 9:13 pm to MrLSU
TMDDR
*Too Many Demands, Didnt Read
*Too Many Demands, Didnt Read
Posted on 7/8/20 at 9:17 pm to MrLSU
quote:
as well as an apology to the New Orleans community for failing to provide a safe space for visitors.
I went to NOMA once and felt totally safe
Posted on 7/8/20 at 9:18 pm to MrLSU
quote:
Ifatumininu Bamgbala Aresa

This post was edited on 7/9/20 at 1:22 pm
Posted on 7/8/20 at 9:19 pm to MrLSU
quote:
Ifatumininu Bamgbala Aresa said.
NOMA said the chances of them meeting these demands are about as good as all of their members pronouncing Ifatumininu Bamgbala's name correctly on the first try.
Posted on 7/8/20 at 9:19 pm to MrLSU
Who in the frick are these people and why is anyone even dignifying their ‘demands’ with a response?
Posted on 7/8/20 at 9:20 pm to Big EZ Tiger
quote:
Bamgbala's
It’s the Bamg part that’s really throwing me off. How does one make that sound? I’m guessing the G is silent. Pronounced Bam-bala?
Posted on 7/8/20 at 9:22 pm to MrLSU
quote:
4. We demand the hiring of more Black curators! Hire and retain a cohort of Black and People of Color on the board of trustees and in leadership positions in the staff.
15% Sorry we have to let some of our values employees go.
Cuts both ways
Posted on 7/8/20 at 9:27 pm to MrLSU
quote:
It is important that people choose, wisely to be on the right side of history,
That sounds like something Hitler or Stalin said
Posted on 7/8/20 at 9:29 pm to MrLSU
quote:
Dismantle NOMA says it’s not satisfied with the initial proposals the museum has presented.
Who didn’t see that coming?
And I’m sure this will shock you, they will NEVER be satisfied. These are people who if you take away their reason to bitch would have no more purpose in life.
Posted on 7/8/20 at 9:29 pm to sweetwaterbilly
quote:
the best part of this is that blacks historically do not support the LGBTQ lifestyle but during all this they’ve somehow got lumped together.
Because it’s not about black people. It’s about identifying power structures for the purpose of destroying them. Utilizing subdominant groups is effective because they’re the ones with the “lived experiences” that strengthen the rhetoric of the cause. It’s 100% Postmodern-Marxist strategy (though may not be explicitly carrying the Marxian banner).
The only way to combat this is to say no and carry on with life. Don’t be actively racist. Tell these critical race theory anarchists to pound sand.
Because you know what? If NOMA gives in to any of them, they’ll be back the next day with more ridiculous bullshite.
Posted on 7/8/20 at 9:32 pm to MrLSU
I don’t know the following folks but I think I like ‘em!
quote:
the following NOMA administrators who have facilitated this toxic culture: Director Susan Taylor, Deputy Director Anne Banos, Facility Manager Steve Lewis, and Human Resources Manager Donna Dunn
Posted on 7/8/20 at 9:33 pm to MrLSU
quote:
“It’s clear there has been a history of injustices done to marginalize groups at NOMA, and we’re not OK with that,
I love how these people argue nowadays.
Simply add something like "It's clear that" or "We can no longer ignore" at the beginning of your statement so that you can establish that your beliefs are already accepeted facts.
Throw in a catchy phrase like "history of injustices" to score a couple woke points from the college professor who taught you theories of transgender Native American basket weaving.
Then sprinkle a bit of "this is not ok" to remind everyone how morally rightous you are.
Posted on 7/8/20 at 9:34 pm to MrLSU
quote:
“It’s clear there has been a history of injustices done to marginalize groups at NOMA, and we’re not OK with that,” Ifatumininu Bamgbala Aresa said.
Bamgbala Aresa is part of “Dismantle NOMA”, a group of former employees who resigned because of “institutional racism” and a “hostile work environment” at the museum.
With a name like that, it is exactly as I expected it to be. The look fits the name.
This post was edited on 7/9/20 at 5:15 am
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