Tag: Sociology

Whose History Will Be Commemorated? New Orleans, Katrina, and the Continuing Struggle for A People’s Reconstruction

August 25, 2015

The streets of New Orleans are pictured Aug. 30, 2005, in the aftermath of HurricaneKatrina and the city’s levee failures. Ten years later, much commentary has surfaced,but what of it has effectively addressed the event’s social injustices? BY JOHN (JAY) ARENAAssistant professor of sociology at the City University of New York’s College of Staten Island … More Whose History Will Be Commemorated? New Orleans, Katrina, and the Continuing Struggle for A People’s Reconstruction

Defying Borders: Migration in the age of security

August 19, 2015

Global politics both shape and are shaped by borders and the differencesbetween those who have access to crossing them, and those who do not. BY CAWO ABDIAssociate professor of sociology, University of Minnesota Asad, a Somali merchant who runs a corner shop (spaza) in an informal settlement in South Africa, expresses the fear intrinsic in … More Defying Borders: Migration in the age of security

On ‘big data’ and the ways we evaluate women’s lives on a global scale

July 16, 2015

No Ceilings uses data sets to tell stories about gender inequality worldwide.What are the stories behind the data?Image: Screenshot, noceilings.org. BY ALICE KANGAssistant professor of political science and ethnic studies at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln On March 9, 2015, one day after International Women’s Day, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Gates Foundation co-chair Melinda … More On ‘big data’ and the ways we evaluate women’s lives on a global scale

Grace Lee Boggs on biracialism, social movements, and hope for America

July 8, 2015

Grace Lee Boggs, pictured here in 2012, was born on June 27, 1915, in Providence, Rhode Island. She currently lives in Detroit. On June 27, 2015, Grace Lee Boggs turned 100 years old. Boggs is a Chinese-American writer, philosopher, and social activist, and author of several books. Her autobiography, Living for Change, was published by University … More Grace Lee Boggs on biracialism, social movements, and hope for America

What is "Malian music"?

June 10, 2015

BY RYAN THOMAS SKINNERAssistant professor of ethnomusicology at The Ohio State University For many, to think of a place called “Mali” is to hear, first and foremost, its music. Mali may be a poor, landlocked, and sunbaked country in the West African Sahel, but its widely acclaimed music culture—with its bluesy resonances, danceable rhythms, and … More What is "Malian music"?

Despite that white students are no longer the numerical majority in U.S. schools, racial inequality persists.

September 10, 2014

BY GILDA L. OCHOAProfessor of sociology and Chicana/o-Latina/o studies at Pomona College Recently, much has been made about census reports that highlight how white students are no longer the numeric majority in U.S. public schools.  Awareness of these changes is important, but statistics on students’ racial demographics tell only part of the story. These demographic … More Despite that white students are no longer the numerical majority in U.S. schools, racial inequality persists.

Understanding inequality—across ecosystems, species, and human populations.

August 13, 2014

BY DAVID NAGUIB PELLOWAuthor of Total Liberation and professor and Don A. Martindale Endowed Chair of Sociology at the University of Minnesota The concept of total liberation stems from a determination to understand and combat all forms of inequality and oppression. It is comprised of four pillars: an ethic of justice and anti-oppression inclusive of … More Understanding inequality—across ecosystems, species, and human populations.

For military families, the battle for inner peace during deployment is hard-fought.

April 30, 2014

Lisa Leitz was one of approximately 300 members of Military Families Speak Out in attendance at a September 24, 2005, protest in Washington, D.C., organized by United for Peace and Justice and ANSWER. The groups estimate that up to 500,000 protesters were in attendance. BY LISA LEITZAssistant professor of sociology and director of Project Pericles … More For military families, the battle for inner peace during deployment is hard-fought.

Navigating the diversity of autistic experience

January 2, 2014

BY MICHAEL ORSINI AND JOYCE DAVIDSON We live in a world full of autism. Full of a multiplicity of experiences that remind us of the diversity of autistic experience. Full of moments that teach us about the boundaries of our own knowledge about this complex condition. Full of contradictions about what it means to be … More Navigating the diversity of autistic experience