Tag Archives: sociology

The Wilding Incident: A Teachable Moment

25 years ago, a so-called gang of “wilding” youth supposedly attacked a female jogger in New York City’s Central Park.  There were racial overtones, given that the female jogger was white and the attackers were minority teens, four Blacks and … Continue reading

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Superdads?

Way back when, my oldest daughter Katie nominated me for The Baltimore Sun’s  “Father of the Year” award.  I was fortunate to win this award, and I am sure it had something to do with my daughter’s creative and persuasive … Continue reading

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Diversity Training: SME or Experience?

When it comes to diversity training, is it more important to be a subject matter expert (SME) or someone who is well-versed in training?  When hiring a diversity trainer, the question itself is problematic.  With a subject as complex as … Continue reading

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Our Feelings About Trayvon

I teach at Baltimore City Community College (BCCC).  BCCC has a population that is predominantly African-American.  As a Professor of Sociology, I hear about all of the issues, concerns, and feelings that my students bring to class with them each … Continue reading

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Unscripted Moments

Early in my teaching career, I remember meeting one of my classes for just the second time. I asked them for feedback on their reading assignment, Chapter One from our sociology textbook. After a few routine comments, one student took … Continue reading

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CQ Megaskill: Shifting Perspectives

As a professor of sociology, one of the most important learning outcomes in my classes is that students will learn to shift perspectives. Shifting perspectives, a “megaskill” I discuss in Building Cultural Intelligence (CQ), is the ability to put oneself, … Continue reading

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Choose to Stretch Your Cultural Comfort Zone

When we select a college, most of us look for a place where we will be comfortable. This might mean finding a student body that looks like us, talks like us, and acts like us. Perhaps, this is one of … Continue reading

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