For over 50 years, I have dedicated my studies to the evolving relationship between white and Black Americans. My first scholarly article, published in 1972 while I was a graduate student at the University of Chicago, focused on Black political power in the industrial Midwest following the riots of the late 1960s. However, my personal …
In the 1989 surrealist satire Chameleon Street, two Black men engage in a conversation about preferences for women with light skin and “good hair.” The dialogue is later sampled by the rap duo Black Star in their song “Brown Skin Lady,” which challenges these biases and celebrates the beauty of dark skin and kinkier hair. …
On Monday, the Biden administration sent letters to 16 governors, highlighting a long-standing issue of underfunding historically Black land-grant colleges. The letters, signed by Education Secretary Miguel Cardona and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, mark the first time the federal government has quantified the extent of financial discrimination against these institutions over the past 30 years. …
Earlier this month, the Pac-12 athletic conference, which has been around for a hundred years, was dealt a devastating blow. In just a few hours, five member universities decided to leave for rival conferences that offered them huge financial rewards through TV-sports contracts. Jemele Hill, writing for The Atlantic, described this move as a clash …
One of the most significant moments in American history occurred during a confrontation between Justice Clarence Thomas and Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, as they openly expressed their dislike for each other’s opinions on a major affirmative-action decision in the current term. However, this was not simply a one-on-one battle. Another notable Black voice reverberated throughout …
The recent Supreme Court ruling on race-based affirmative action in college admissions has sparked a discussion about the advantages that certain individuals enjoy in the admissions process. However, a new study from Opportunity Insights reveals that these advantages go beyond race. The ultra-rich have a significantly higher chance of gaining admission to elite colleges, even …
The majority of my colleagues are highly educated individuals who have limited exposure to individuals like me – someone who grew up in foster care, with parents who were felons and addicts. The only time they encounter someone with a similar background is when they volunteer at homeless shelters or group homes. Whenever the topic …
During my freshman year at Alabama A&M University, I found myself overwhelmed with homework and in need of a change of scenery. Foster Hall was getting too monotonous, so I decided to explore the library at the University of Alabama at Huntsville, which offered longer hours of operation. Making my way across town, I was …
As an admissions officer at a prestigious private university, I quickly became aware of the constraints of my job. My colleagues and I were tasked with creating a diverse and competitive student body, but that often meant relying on trauma narratives from historically marginalized students to showcase their resilience and adversity. This practice is not …