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Old White Women

They fired all the docents In Chicago. This is why: They’re mostly old white women, Though they’re well-informed and spry. They train for months and volunteer; That’s right - they earn no pay, But since they’re old white women, They won’t be allowed to stay. They mainly are retired And, of course, a few are men, But questions of diversity Have cropped up once again. So someone thought it would be wise, Despite the years they’ve spent, To replace the demographic That they seem to represent. In New York, I’m a docent And an old white woman, too. If my museum follows suit, There’s not much I can do.

Copyright © | Year Posted 2021




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Date: 11/4/2021 8:04:00 AM
We are seen as so "replaceable" - it is a travesty! Thank you for pointing this out.
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Date: 11/3/2021 3:00:00 PM
It seems that the value of wisdom and experience is dismissed because of age, gender and ethnicity! More than sad - tragic - and just plain sick and wrong. Thanks for sharing this insight ilene! Time to wake up from this nightmare. Thank you for sharing your wisdom.
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Date: 11/3/2021 11:41:00 AM
Discrimination is what America does best! Age, sex, race, religion, birthplace, -, Americans will keep at it until they find someway to feel they are better than you! Let them suffer the consequences of their prejudices! What you can do is be yourself! Aloha!
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Date: 11/3/2021 9:26:00 AM
As I have traveled the country and visited our cultural institutions, it is the docents, the "old white women" who have been the reservoirs of information. Always greeting with a smile, ready to answer questions, an doing their part to make the tour both pleasant and rewarding. Ah, I fear what will happen without them! Thanks, Ilene for all you do!
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Date: 11/2/2021 5:45:00 PM
Oh, ilene! I shall go to bat for you! If I'd known even one of those Art Inst. docents I'd have been knocking on the fool's door who did the firing. I used to know docents elsewhere, and they were marvelous, marvelous ladies! And now the Art Inst. is gonna have inferior -- no doubt -- (poorly) paid 'diverse' zhlubs who will simply collect a paycheck, without putting their hearts into their work. I hope the AI winds up closing its doors. It'd serve them right. ~ In Solidarity, Gershon
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