“An absolutely vital book that bursts the delusional fallacies of racism. Rigorous, authentic & eye opening – a must to offer substance to the debates about racism & how we challenge it.”

Kehinde Andrews on Jennifer Sims’s Jenn Sims new book OUT NOW!

I received a Spencer Foundation Racial Equity Grant with my amazing colleague, Kehaulani Vaughn <3 The project focuses on indigenous concepts of safety and wellbeing at tribal colleges and universities. Stanislaus State comms interviewed me 👇🏾

This means the world to me Whitney Dr. Whitney Pirtle. 🙏🏽🙏🏽!! You are so kind. Last night was so special.

So grateful to be your colleague. Whatever I/we’ve done for you pales in comparison to how much you’ve done for our campus and students.

Motherhood is *blinking*
and more than a decade passing

Today, everyone who’s leaned on their mother for comfort—and every mother who’s leaned on her child in return— should read this powerful piece by Heba Gowayed هبة جويد on the scores of Palestinians being stripped of that choice every day: inthesetimes.com/article/gaza-g…

The speech was a full circle & this line will stick with me

“The ground is covered by life giving soil. A seed that falls to the ground thrives by being resourceful… so if you ever find yourself on the ground, be like the seed. Plant your feet firmly on the soil, & rise up” 🌱

All this to say, I’m grateful for what she has modeled and so happy for all of her success.

I’m also glad we are no longer only two Black women faculty at UCMerced.

My visit coincided with the announcement of Dr. Asmeret Asefaw Berhe (she/her)👩🏽‍🔬🌍’s confirmation as the Director of the Office of Science at the US Dept of Energy. Betting on herself and doing the work did indeed pay off!

Some years ago I didn’t have a working computer and her partner Teamrat A. Ghezzehei lent me one. I returned it one afternoon and they invited me in. They both pour into me with all the wisdom they had, just as Dr. Asmeret Asefaw Berhe (she/her)👩🏽‍🔬🌍 had done years before

Although diff fields, Dr. Asmeret Asefaw Berhe (she/her)👩🏽‍🔬🌍 offered her time and insights to me. She shared honestly about her experiences on campus and raising Black children in this community. It wasn’t easy, but it could be good.

& her words rang true

Can you imagine? What a huge leap of faith - and trust in yourself- to agree to join a new university and be the first and only Black woman on that campus?!

Standing tall in academic spaces is something she always did in her field of soil science.

Quick 🧵 about this amazing scientist Dr. Asmeret Asefaw Berhe (she/her)👩🏽‍🔬🌍 - who gave such an inspiring grad speech yesterday:

When I got my offer at UC Merced I asked to talk to any Black woman faculty member…

Dr Berhe was the *only one*

ICYMI: I wrote about journalists' anger over student protestors' message discipline, despite the organizations they work for regularly deferring to spokespeople. @Jacobin
jacobin.com/2024/05/studen…

'You Are Being Lied to About Gaza Solidarity Camps by University Presidents, Mainstream Media, and Politicians' — my essay in Literary Hub on life in four campus Liberation Zones (Columbia, Northwestern, DePaul, UChicago) over the last three weeks lithub.com/you-are-being-…

Institutions can't love us. But it's hard for me to be in a space and try not to do what I can to make it better.

Honored to have received the 2024 UC Merced Senate Award for my Contributions to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) sociology.ucmerced.edu/news/2024/prof…

Wondering where to publish your qualitative research? Cant tell if it would fit better as a book or a series of articles? Interested in considering academic & public-facing outlets?

🍉 LePrawn James is TENUREDT. 🍉 & I address this and more in our new book chapter!

Congrats to editors Sara & Jen!

📝 The faculty at UC Merced Sociology affirm our full support of students ‼️

Grateful to my colleagues Meredith Van Natta Stephanie L. Canizales & Charlie Eaton for crafting this letter. Forever inspired by students for leading the way.

When I wrote this essay about Elijah McClain and the policing of Black nonconformity, I thought about how much my nephew and I love to sing to ourselves and dance down the street, lost in our inner worlds.

I love being a weirdo. I want the world to let my nephew stay weird too.…