Sara Ivy
History Class Is Just One Big Mansplain
Over 70 countries in our modern world had or do have female heads of state, but I cannot remember a single one of their names being discussed in my 19 years of education. In fact, Harriet Tubman, Rosa Parks, Cleopatra and Eleanor Roosevelt are the only females I can recall learning about in a history class. Looking back history was really just one big mansplain. However, when it comes to males I can recall five times that. The significance in my recall of 20 historical mal
Dr. Marie Cartier
Blue
Editor's Note: We are so thrilled to host parts of Dr. Marie Cartier's forthcoming novel Blue. In the following post, you'll get a brief glimpse into this amazing world and, like us, be washed up (pun intended) in its' beautiful prose and character development. We cannot wait to learn more about Blue! Preface The entirety of Blue would not have revolted, if it had not been for the slaughter of the dolphins, and other sea creatures. After that, there was just no reason to fo
Kalle Westerling
Queer Pedagogies and Pedagogy for LGBTQ Instructors
On September 11, I was thrilled to host this semester’s first event in the Futures Initiative’s signature series The University Worth Fighting For: “Queer Pedagogies and Pedagogy for LGBTQ Instructors.” The event was co-sponsored by The Futures Initiative and CLAGS: The Center for LGBTQ Studies, both housed at The Graduate Center, CUNY. For the past couple of years, I have been on staff for both of these organizations, and I have also served a tenure of three years on the Boa
Elizabeth Walker
In The Shadows
“Why am I black?” My 5-year-old daughter asked me this question. I paused, and I made a joke – “You are black because your momma is black and your daddy is black.” This question made me realize a greater discussion that is surrounding her. We have been speaking about black and white in politics that has made it appear that one race is better than the other. As much as I believed I have shielded her from race, especially since her best friend is Asian, the reality is that r
Kirsten Gerdes
The Justice of Resistance
In my Intro to Philosophy classes, we talk a lot about justice. We read most of Plato’s Republic, as well as several other thinkers that attempt to define what justice is or the parameters for ethical behavior. We contrast the position of one of Plato’s interlocutors, Thrasymachus, with that of Martin Luther King, Jr., in “Letter from a Birmingham Jail.” Thrasymachus argues that justice is whatever benefits those in power, since those in power make laws to benefit themselves
Kevin J. Johnson
Concerning Cinematic Universes
Hollywood has a story problem. Sure, the studios regurgitate concepts, sequelize to the point of destroying brand integrity, and insist on centering the bulk of their narratives from a white male perspective. But beyond that, Hollywood seemingly doesn't get Story, or rather the purpose of story, the "why" of it all. "How" is simpler to grasp, the rudimentary steps of plot mechanisms and deus ex machina. As such, summer movies have become more and more plot-driven with thinly-
