Summer 2022 · Torch: U.S. · INTERVIEW WITH JENNY HU
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fewer and fewer students are taking classics, why fewer and fewer students are studying latin, just because it has so traditionally been viewed as a very elitist, closed-off, and exclusive field. I had a friend tell me— she heard I was studying classics, 'Oh, I didn't think that was, like, a thing people of color did.' I was really surprised, because I think the NJCL as an organization— I have never— that there weren't other people of color around, so I was really surprised to hear her say that, and it really reminded me of this conception of the classics that really needs to change."
Some people argue that the sexism, racism, classicism, etc. of the classical world was “part of the culture.” How do you and your suggestions help clarify that claimed “contemporary societal norms” of ancient civilizations are not valid excuses for persecution and discrimination?
Jenny Hu: "I think a really easy way to see this going on is when you see the different ways classes teach American slavey and Roman slavery, for one, which obviously were two extremely different institutions. American slavery was race-based, Roman slavery was not, but generally, as it should be, American slavery is condemned when its taught, and when we get to Roman slavery we just dont see the same kind of negative judgment upon it. We read textbooks where its like 'The happy slaves skipped through the field.' That’s not what was happening, and, yes, it was part of the culture,
but just because it was part of the culture doesn't mean that it was right. Just like with any other aspect of history. Like, yes it happened, we should acknowledge that it happened, we should study it, but we should study it through the lens that this was not right but happened."
I personally find it very helpful as a graduated senior to read through your resources and better understand the language I’ve studied for the past six years. In the introduction you mention that this document is for educators but how do you think these notes can be helpful for students as well? How can this document help people that are not currently studying the classics but have in the past?
Jenny Hu: "Well I'm glad you found it helpful, for one! I think a lot of us studied Latin with this sense of detachment in a way. When we look at antiquity, it's almost like everything kind of turns into that myth space of 'this didn't really happen to people. We just kind of learn about it. It was a long time ago and people do cool things.' And so, I think the document really is just about looking at antiquity and talking about antiquity with this lens of humanization and remembering the different kinds of people, the different voices and kinds of experiences that were had, and for any of us who have studied Latin and for any of us who have maybe experienced that sense of separation, that sense of the classics not really being real things that happened to real people, but kind of just these