Law Schools

Dean At Elite Law School Apologizes For 'Offensive Characterizations'

His books perpetuated a culture of racism and misogyny.

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University of Michigan Law School (via Getty)

A racial controversy at a top law school has resulted in a “thoughtful” apology from the school’s Dean.

A student at the University of Michigan Law School raised red flags last week over a trio of Dean Mark West’s book covers, pointing out how they contribute to the culture of racism and misogyny. Well, she actually brought her concerns to West’s attention last year, but renewed focus on the covers came after the Atlanta shooting put increased attention on the oppression experienced by AAPI women. (UPDATE: Sources at the law school say the issue was also publicized in June 2020, during #MLawLoud protests.)

The tweet also provides the stark visualization of the artwork adorning West’s books, which brings into focus the way West — whose area of academic focus is the law of Japan — uses stereotypes to sell books.

As outrage over the Dean’s book covers began to ignite, West sent out an email to the law school about racism. Except, it never mentioned anything about his own issues.

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It wasn’t until this past weekend that Dean West addressed the controversy directly. In an email to the Michigan Law community (full version available on the next page), West offers an apology:

I could have—should have—done better. I’ve hurt members of our community, they’ve told me so, and I’m devastated that my actions had those consequences. In this situation, anyone, but especially one in a position of leadership, should do the work of reflecting and apologizing. I am sorry.

He also gives a specific mea culpa for the “offensive characterizations” that “contribut[e] to a harmful narrative”:

One thing that I got unequivocally wrong: some of my book covers. I understand the pain I have caused by giving tangible form through those covers to the often-invisible experiences of racism and sexism some of you have experienced in your own lives. I didn’t actively interrogate historical racism and hurtful stereotypes or damaging depictions of gender roles—instead I sometimes traded in those stereotypes and reproduced those depictions. My doing so contributed to a narrative that promotes a two-dimensional and offensive characterization of people, and especially women; it suggests that women should think of themselves in ways that are lesser. Further, it reinforces a view of women founded on damaging stereotypes. And while contributing to a harmful narrative was not my intent or understanding at the time, I understand it now, and I understand that my intent does not excuse or lessen the harm.

He also goes on to detail the efforts he’s making to undo the harms he’s contributed to:

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I began actively working to change the covers last spring. In 2005, when the publisher and I initially discussed the artwork for my Scandal book, I saw the photo that was proposed as “edgy,” but I simply didn’t consider it in the context of reifying racist and sexist tropes. Over the years, I found myself increasingly uncomfortable with the image, but I assumed the book would go out of print soon and that this would take care of the issue. Waiting for that, however, became increasingly untenable—so now, the publisher has removed the artwork from its website, and I am told that on Monday it will be replaced with new artwork. (In an apt metaphor for the staying power for this kind of harm, I recognize that these steps won’t eliminate the problem—the cover will still be present on Amazon and so on for some time.) I am also working with other publishers to change the artwork on the covers of other books I have written. Frankly, I had never really devoted much thought to any individual book cover—and I had never considered what my books look like when they’re placed next to each other. I wish I would have recognized all of this earlier, and I am sorry that I didn’t.

And while some still feel the Dean’s words are lacking — one Above the Law tipster characterized it as “too little, too late” — it does seem like this is the first step to let the healing begin.

And as other recent law school scandals have taught us, opening up real and meaningful dialogue about racial incidents is incredibly important.

headshotKathryn Rubino is a Senior Editor at Above the Law, and host of The Jabot podcast. AtL tipsters are the best, so please connect with her. Feel free to email her with any tips, questions, or comments and follow her on Twitter (@Kathryn1).

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