Tag Archives: diversity

Why Howard U:  A White Guy Explains (Part Two of Two)

With a year of teaching under my belt, I started thinking about getting my Ph.D. in sociology.  I was teaching a full-time load (five courses) at Baltimore City Community College.  Married a couple of years earlier, I was a new … Continue reading

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Why Go to Howard U:  A White Guy Explains

Howard University’s The Illtop Journal, sponsored by comic genius Chris Rock, opened with a piece titled “white student’s guide to howard u.”  Chuck O’Fay, the name given for the author of this humorous piece, describes some observations he made as … Continue reading

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A Relaxing Summer Vacation without Aggravation Is Still a Luxury for Many Minorities  

Woodbine Cottage, Lake George NY “Modern hotel, air conditioned, television, good food, variety of amusement sports. Protection for the Negro traveler.  Contact Samuel ‘Pinky’ McFerson and his wife Dorothy (proprietors).” Protection for the Negro traveler?  In Lake George, a resort … Continue reading

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Students Make Themselves Heard: The Central Park Five :  Part 2 (of 4)

Previously: As a White professor teaching sociology and diversity at a Historically Black college (Baltimore City Community College), I often dealt with sensitive and potentially divisive issues. This particular day, one of my Intro Soc students raised a question on … Continue reading

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Students Make Themselves Heard: “The Central Park Five” (Part 1 of 4)

Whenever I teach a class, I feel it’s critically important to set the tone on the very first day we meet.  In part, this means going over the syllabus and my expectations for the course.  Equally important, I share a … Continue reading

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Responses to Gruden’s Emails:  Wait a Minute

Jon Gruden, former coach of the NFL’s Las Vegas Raiders, made headlines during the last week for all the wrong reasons.  Recently made public emails sent by Gruden target individuals and groups, Blacks and whites, female referees, cheerleaders, gays, and … Continue reading

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Learning About Race and Racism:  Is Discomfort Always Bad?

Leonard Moore, author of Teaching Black History to White People, due out this month, is currently a Professor of History at the University of Texas at Austin.  For more than two decades, he’s taught white students in the south about … Continue reading

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Is Life Fair?

Lots of times growing up, I can remember thinking life just isn’t fair.  For example, I remember my dad not allowing me to practice the day before my Pleasantville (NY) junior varsity basketball game against Pelham.  I was in the … Continue reading

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Blindsided by the N-word

Ten years ago or so, a student of mine was blindsided by the “N-word,” and so was I.  I had just uttered this troublesome word in my Introduction to Sociology class at Baltimore City Community College, a college with a … Continue reading

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Public Promises About Race and Justice:  Time to Assess Our Progress

“We are committed to engage our community in dialogue and action to realize a world in which “Black lives matter.” “Arrest Brionna Taylor’s killers.” “We are creating an Inclusion Advisory Board to work on increasing diversity and inclusion in our … Continue reading

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