TESTIMONIALS

"I remember in my exit interview when I finally QUIT due to the constant disrespect from Susan and the toxic work atmosphere, I told Donna about ALL the incidences of racism that I experienced under the leadership of Susan Taylor. All she said was that she was sorry to hear about that, she'd heard it from many other employees before me, and she said to me, well unfortunately, you know what will happen to these ""complaints:"" and then she did a motion with my paperwork where she simply placed it in her inbox and left it alone.


"I witnessed firsthand multiple instances of NOMA administration committing both micro and macro aggressions and blatant homophobia against myself and other Queer and Trans staff - at a time when Trans rights continue to be eroded on a national level. Gender stereotypes were literally written into the handbook. After staff brought their concerns to the administration about how unfair and prejudiced the dress code was they codified the handbooks with language further restricting gender expression so that we couldn't contest it anymore. An institution like NOMA shouldn't just stand for higher principals. They should live them. Moreover, they should be held accountable for their many failures."


"There's too many to account for honestly. I'll say my most memorable is an outreach dinner meeting NOMA invited local Latino community leaders to, where they asked us to support their goal to have more Latino community members participate with and visit NOMA. But it became clear that NOMA was not at all interested in actively responding to the valid feedback about their exhibit selections, representation, placements of exhibits, most notably the makeup of their leadership, in particular their board. I understood this was a sensitive topic, and ultimately nothing came out of this meeting."


"When I worked at NOMA, Susan Taylor would OFTEN walk down the halls in the basement office area LOUDLY criticizing the city of New Orleans, its people and its businesses, exclaiming how 'slow' and behind everyone is. Mind you, I was born and raised in this city but I had to sit there and say nothing. She made it crystal clear that she truly hated the city and openly complained about it all the time."


"While working in visitor services at NOMA I witnessed daily racism, sexism, and homophobia. A frequent and blatant example was the repeated racist language used by museum docents. This occurred during school visits with young children and their parents. During training, I was told to expect complaints about Docents using outdated language and making racist ""mistakes"". I was told to apologize but nothing would be done to stop it. I was basically told from the get-go that NOMA was aware they were perpetuating racism, not to bother reporting it, and to make an empty apology.”


"I grew up so close to City Park but never felt comfortable bringing my multiracial family into that space. I’ve seen young Black women policed in that space. The named administrators should resign immediately and NOMA should accept all demands, now."


"Much of the administrative staff treats security and maintenance as if they do not exist, unless they want to complain. Security is usually the last to hear about event changes, if notified at all. In some cases, there is blatant aggression shown toward employees in uniforms. For instance, the director of the museum Susan Taylor has referred to gallery attendants as 'vultures'."


"While I worked at NOMA I was witness to countless instances of the facility manager dressing down everyone on his staff with little to no regard for their humanity. It was especially unsettling to see him speak with such disrespect to my black and brown friends on staff on what seemed like a daily basis, in view of everyone, many times over staff-issued walkie talkies that could be heard by anyone on staff. It was a known part of the culture there and it's as incontestable as it is indefensible."


"I blame the upper management named in the DismantleNOMA letter for NOMA's afflicted environment and policies. This institution forces complacency. I only ever saw formal complaints dismissed and devalued (unless against POC staff, which resulted in firing). NOMA should have applauded those brave enough to speak up and been grateful for opportunities to eradicate bigotry from their community. Instead, they perpetuated it."


"As a graduate from the local Museum Studies program at SUNO, I have never understood NOMA's resistance in hiring our graduates into positions other than Security Guard or other lower-level positions."


"It was common knowledge that NOMA’s current Deputy Director; Anne Banos was brought on board in 2016 to help Susan Taylor push out Brooke Minto; the Deputy Director for Development and External Affairs. Not surprisingly, Minto, who is Black had more than 10 years of experience in the museum field before coming to NOMA while Banos had none, yet Banos’s starting salary was almost double Minto’s."


"My partner and I attended a NOMA gala and were pretty uncomfortable and dismayed to see the lack of diversity (not many BIPOC folks) among the crowd, attendees, and members. We were also members for a year of the Young Fellows - attended a couple of events and were usually the only 2 Black people in attendance."


"I worked with NOMA for a month and felt the environment was a negative space for BIPOC, women, and members of the LGBT+ community. The treatment of certain positions and the divide between upstairs and downstairs employees was evident in certain conversations, especially with leadership. I often felt unsafe and mistreated, coming home crying after almost every shift. I eventually decided to leave because my mental, emotional, and physical health were being affected. Reading the DismantleNOMA letter made me realize my experiences, although very negative, could not even begin to equate to other former employees. I hope NOMA realizes the environment they have created is heavily influenced by the tumultuous past and founding of the institution and make appropriate changes in structure."


"I was born in Monroe and raised in New Orleans. As a Black woman, NOMA was never an institution I looked to in order to see myself. I feel that NOMA has much work to do in representing the demographic of its city. I stand in solidarity with others who have endured toxic experiences in and by this institute."


"I never felt welcomed or appreciated by senior members of the staff. When I tried to apply for upper level positions, I was given false hope to apply and then quickly denied. In some instances I spoke with the HR manager about things and then found out that they were not handled in a manner in which HR should handle them. I was also coerced by HR to gain information on other employees, of which I did not provide. It was an extremely hostile and toxic environment to work in, which trickled down from Susan Taylor."


"It is very sad to say but nothing has changed….the morale of current NOMA employees is extremely low and the tension so thick that we hate coming to work. In order for things to change you have to first admit that there is a problem and NOMA’s problem is racism. It has been that way for so long that the leadership and administration (who it doesn’t affect) doesn’t see anything wrong with it. Something needs to be done about it NOW!!!!"


"I have observed many instances of overt racism and sexism during my employment at NOMA. These include white staff members commenting on the body shape of African art objects and mimicking the voices of POC staff members, and male staff making inappropriate, unprompted comments about a female coworker's reproductive choices. I have always felt that the atmosphere at NOMA is one where any action seen as "being difficult" will be noted for the future, and as soon as a higher-up needs or has an excuse to fire you, it will come right back up again. It feels like this hunch was confirmed by the recent layoffs, and it's a shameful feeling to work somewhere that operates that way."


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