We hates us some poor people. First, they insist on being poor when it is so easy to not be poor. They do things like buy expensive designer belts and $2500 luxury handbags. To be fair, this isn’t about Eroll Louis. His is a belief held by many people, including lots of black people, poorRead More “The Logic of Stupid Poor People”
Monthly Archives: October 2013
Brief Reflections on Living Structure
Is there a more enviable job than working for StoryCorps? Other than being Beyonce, I cannot think of many. Today’s story on a father who took his daughter to college with him is a tearjerker. It prompted me to quickly share some of my private thoughts on structure and marginalized groups. One of the mostRead More “Brief Reflections on Living Structure”
Lessons from Research: It’s The Numbers
There are lots of numbers in social science research but here are a few you rarely see from backstage. 9 = the number months I spent going from degree requirement to principal investigator. 24 = the number of months I wish I’d had to go from degree requirement to principal investigator. 47 = my totalRead More “Lessons from Research: It’s The Numbers”
My Syllabus for “Class, Status, Power”
As I mentioned before, I teach stratification. I approach syllabi kind of like I approach the Constitution. It is a living, breathing, collaborative document constantly under revision for attention to different voices and standpoints. The trick is always balancing that against a necessary framework that cannot be totally negotiated away. There is some appeal toRead More “My Syllabus for “Class, Status, Power””
One of These Things is Not Like The Other: Speaking While Black
I had a great time this week speaking to a collection of some of the nation’s higher education leaders. I also spent some time with my family. The story about family time is much more entertaining but the story about the keynote panel at the National Association of Community Colleges and Entrepreneurship is more enlighteningRead More “One of These Things is Not Like The Other: Speaking While Black”
Academic Whores
When Does an Academic Become a Whore? That’s a question weighing heavily on me today after biologist Danielle Lee was called a whore when she declined to write an essay for a science blog. Danielle does things with rats in labs. I do not always understand it but I read her blog at Scientific AmericanRead More “Academic Whores”
Presenting Selves: Race, Social Class, Gender and Intersectionality in Ethnography
This should have been, if not easy, then certainly not a disaster. When I was in admissions I killed my peers in productivity because I spoke the same language as our students. While my history of poverty was comparatively shallow, it was not non-existent. I’ve used the oven to a heat a home and washedRead More “Presenting Selves: Race, Social Class, Gender and Intersectionality in Ethnography”
Story Behind The Story: Does HIgherEd Know Its Neediest Students During the Shutdown?
This week’s column at Counter Narrative picks up on the national discussion about the federal government shutdown. As a highered person I have kept an eye on how the shutdown will affect students. I’m not the only one. But by day two of the media coverage it did seem that I was the only oneRead More “Story Behind The Story: Does HIgherEd Know Its Neediest Students During the Shutdown?”
On Mentorship and Advice
I participate in a lot of college prep programs designed to help minority and first-generation students navigate academia. I also take any survey someone shoves in my face and answer any call for research participants for which I may be even remotely qualified. I do all of the above because of where I exist alongRead More “On Mentorship and Advice”