Black Historian Cries Racism After Scholars Call Out Fabricated Citations

A black historian has been dismissed from her position at Tufts University following accusations that her award-winning book contained fabricated citations. Kerri K. Greenidge, whose book The Grimkes: The Legacy of Slavery In An American Family won acclaim for its focus on the bi-racial nephews of abolitionist sisters Sarah and Angelina Grimke, is no longer employed by the institution. The controversy emerged after scholars pointed out discrepancies in her citations, leading to a formal review and subsequent termination. Greenidge's book reinterpreted the legacy of the Grimke family by centering the experiences of their mixed-race nephews rather than the abolitionist sisters themselves. The work was initially praised for its fresh perspective, drawing attention to the complex legacies of slavery and race within the family. However, recent scrutiny has cast doubt on the accuracy of her historical claims. Critics argue that Greenidge cited non-existent sources, including letters from the University of Michigan’s archives that do not appear to exist. When confronted with these findings, Greenidge suggested that her work was being scrutinized due to her racial identity, stating, “The attack on black women academics is real.” Myra C. Glenn, a retired professor of American history at Elmira College, was among the first to raise concerns about the book’s credibility. In a March 2024 review, Glenn criticized Greenidge for lacking sufficient evidence to support many of her major claims. She noted that the book contains factual errors and omits necessary endnotes. Glenn alleged that Greenidge misrepresented the Grimke sisters as “alternately cruel and relentlessly judgmental” toward their bi-racial nephews, a characterization she argued lacked supporting evidence. According to Glenn, this portrayal served a broader narrative that underpinned the book’s central thesis. Further allegations suggest that Greenidge fabricated a dramatic scene involving the Grimke sisters. Specifically, she wrote that the sisters led thousands of antislavery women through prayer during an anti-abolitionist mob attack in 1838, helping them escape the burning Pennsylvania Hall. Glenn stated that this claim contradicts existing historical records, which indicate that no one was present in the building during the fire. These inconsistencies have fueled ongoing debates about the reliability of Greenidge’s scholarship. Following Glenn’s initial critique, other scholars joined in questioning the book’s authenticity. Despite being named one of the 10 best books of 2022 by Publishers Weekly, The Grimkes is no longer listed on Greenidge’s author page. A spokesperson for Tufts University, Patrick Collins, confirmed that Greenidge was no longer employed by the university, though he did not specify whether she resigned or was terminated. Collins explained that the university became aware of the book’s “multiple errors of fact and failed to give appropriate credit to the work of another.” He emphasized that the review process conducted by external experts was fair and unbiased. Greenidge herself declined to elaborate on the circumstances of her departure, though she accused Tufts’ peer review panel of harboring hostility toward black women in academia. She claimed that the review was initiated by a white female scholar and that she intends to seek a restraining order against her. Collins countered by asserting that the independent review was thorough and objective, and that the university stands by its decision. The controversies surrounding The Grimkes have also raised questions about Greenidge’s other works, particularly Black Radical. Stephen Fox, a historian who has written extensively on similar themes, noted that while his own work on the subject appears solid, he began to suspect that Greenidge’s research might be flawed upon closer examination of her footnotes. He remarked, “It seems well done, except when you look at the footnotes. I started to think maybe it wasn’t just sloppy,” before concluding, “I think it’s something deeper.”