The Left has racists in all western nations. They try their games everywhere, to the people’s disgust in all nations.
Woke academics have received nearly £1.5 million in taxpayer funds to examine the “white-centricity” of English folk music and the ways to “decolonize” this art form.
The primary goal of this initiative is to make the folk club scene more accessible and to initiate a decolonization process within the folk music canon. The grant of £1,485,400 was awarded by the UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) through its “Future Leaders Fellowship,” financed by British taxpayers.
Critics argue that institutions repeatedly burden financially strapped households by spending millions on academic endeavors that seek to rewrite history and deliver minimal tangible outcomes.
https://t.co/HpWekF7k6N
‘White-centricity’ of folk music investigated in £1.5m academic study
University of Sheffield researchers handed taxpayer cash to ‘decolonise’ folk singing pic.twitter.com/5hIuvWRggU— Lady Kate Chamberlayne (@KateChamberlay2) June 23, 2024
“There is a pressing need for the next government to tighten control over research councils to ensure that only meaningful projects are approved and that taxpayer-funded research provides real value,” said one critic.
In a trend similar to that in the United States, UK academics are increasingly focusing on social justice ideologies, with a particular emphasis on the alleged wrongs of the British Empire.
There’s also a strong movement to “deconstruct” English heritage and even question the essence of English identity. For instance, last year, “anti-racist” scholars at Cambridge University disputed the historical existence of the Anglo-Saxons, arguing they were a construct used to bolster “nationalist” sentiments.
Professor Dennis Hayes, director of Academics for Academic Freedom, commented on the ongoing focus on “whiteness” in academia, stating that there’s an “endless supply of stories about academic disciplines being pressured by universities to ‘decolonize’ and the extensive funding going towards studies of ‘whiteness’ across all subjects.”
‘White-centricity’ of folk music investigated in £1.5m academic study https://t.co/MA2vHqRqW5 pic.twitter.com/7py15LefiB
— Fancypants Maloney (@fancypants_s) June 23, 2024
Hayes believes that the root cause is institutional groupthink in universities. These institutions have embraced the need for decolonization and the victim hierarchy of intersectional theory as critical to maintaining their inclusive values, which stifles almost all opposition. Academics fear accusations of racism if they oppose this directive.
“The only solution is for academics to actively participate and engage in time-consuming work in university committees and meetings where they can challenge this institutional groupthink,” he added.
Why are schools getting federal funding? Have you you seen the cost of a semester. University Granted £1.5 Million in Taxpayer Money to Decolonise ‘White-Centricity’ of English Folk Music https://t.co/bXl7UK9L2Z
— They Lied (@iamIT4life) June 23, 2024
Defending the £1.5 million project, Professor of Music at Sheffield University, Fay Heild, said, “The term ‘decolonization’ is often misunderstood. Our research aims to spotlight the diverse communities that have contributed to England’s cultural life. Folk music is a dynamic genre that has absorbed influences from various groups over centuries.”
A UKRI spokesperson stated that the organization funds a diverse research and innovation portfolio. “Decisions on which projects to support are made through a rigorous peer review process involving independent experts from both academia and industry,” the spokesperson noted.
Key Points:
i. UK academics have been awarded £1.5 million in taxpayer funds to explore the “white-centricity” of English folk music and ways to “decolonize” the genre.
ii. The funding is provided by the UK Research and Innovation’s (UKRI) “Future Leaders Fellowship” to enhance accessibility and initiate decolonization in the folk music scene.
iii. Critics argue that such projects force financially strained households to fund academic studies that attempt to rewrite history and offer minimal benefits.
iv. There is an increasing trend among UK academics to focus on social justice ideologies and to question aspects of English heritage and identity.
v. The project’s defenders argue that folk music is a dynamic genre influenced by diverse communities, and the study aims to highlight these under-recognized contributions.
Kirk Volo – Reprinted with permission of Whatfinger News
