August 28 - September 3, 2020

In honor of Juneteenth 2020, I've committed to educating myself on systemic racism, discrimination, and bias. Every day from June 19, 2020 to June 18, 2021, I will read an article or book chapter, listen to a podcast, watch a movie or documentary, view a webinar, or do something substantive to educate myself in these areas. As part of that commitment, I will post to this blog each Friday with a list of what I've done over the past week as well as any pertinent thoughts or reflections.

Today's post covers the week of August 28-September 3, 2020.

 

Race Matters: America in Crisis, A PBS Newshour Special

In the aftermath of George Floyd's killing, PBS interviews a number of prominent people about race, policing, inequality, and reparations. Those interviewed include Ava DuVernay, Darren Walker, Tiffany Crutcher, Tef Poe, Tracie Keesee, Lauren Powell, William Darity, Nikole Hannah-Jones, and Cleve and Bakari Sellers. This hour-long special is a good survey of the relevant issues associated with systemic racism.

 

An Expert's Take on the Symbolism in Childish Gambino's "This is America" 

I remember watching this video several times when it came out two years ago but only recently did I watch it again in the context of today. I've included the above link to a Time Magazine review of song's symbolism, and also this Undefeated article. The song juxtaposes Black bodies as either entertainers or criminals, as happy and peaceful or as murderers. There's a lot more here, so I'd encourage you to watch and see for yourself.

 

Breonna Taylor's Life Was Changing. Then the Police Came to Her Door.

This long-form piece from the weekend New York Times details the life of Breonna Taylor, how the police ended up at her apartment on the night she was killed, and the details that led to her shooting. H/T to President Leebron for tweeting about this article over the weekend.

The Long, Bloody Strike for Ethnic Studies

With a recent decision by the Cal State system to require an ethnic studies course for graduation from its colleges and universities, the Code Switch podcast dives into the longest, student-led strike in the history of higher education - at San Francisco State in the late 1960s. The strike included members of the Black Student Union, Third World Liberation Front, and Students for a Democratic Society along with faculty and staff. The groups were looking for more students of color to be admitted and for an ethic studies major and curriculum.

 

The Manager's Guide to Inclusive Leadership

This 15 minute read focuses on ways managers can become more self-aware, spot gaps, and create truly inclusive environments for their employees. As a good rule of thumb, the most inclusive leaders leave every person and every room feeling better than they found it. H/T to Tina Villard for providing the link to this valuable article.

 

How Black Lives Matter is Changing the Church

This 10 minute piece for The New Yorker examines the evolution of discussions on race in Evangelical churches. For much of the 1990s until recently, pastors and parishioners focused on the idea of racial reconciliation, or undoing racism through Biblical teachings. Only now are many churches exploring broader notions of structural racism and social justice. The 2014 protests in Ferguson, Missouri, are mentioned as a turning point for one prominent pastor.

Race and Class Can Color Teachers' Digital Expectations for Their Students

This short article examines the ways teachers respond to the technological proficiency of their students based on race and class. Through studies of three different middle schools, teachers tend to embrace and push for such proficiency for White and upper-class students, while students of color from middle and lower socioeconomic classes are viewed as troublemakers or time-wasters if they demonstrate similar skills.