Awakening our Democracy: Ferguson, Charleston & Beyond - SUGGESTED READINGS

The Office of University Life hosted the second installment of its ongoing conversation series, AWAKENING OUR DEMOCRACY, Thurs. Nov. 5, with panelists who represent a range of perspectives and viewpoints on race, violence, policing and community safety. You can watch the livestream here. Their suggested readings and topical music selections follow.

From Columbia Law Professor Kimberlé Crenshaw (@sandylocks)

• #SayHerName: Resisting Police Brutality Against Black Women – African American Policy Forum
• The Charleston Imperative: Why Feminism & Antiracism Must Be Linked – African American Policy Forum
• Isley Brothers – Fight The Power (Parts 1 & 2)
• Earth, Wind & Fire – That’s The Way Of The World

From GlobalGrind.com President Michael Skolnik (@MichaelSkolnik)

• The New York Times: "Mr. Skolnik took part in a panel talk at Columbia University called "Ferguson, Charleston and Beyond."
• The Case for Reparations – Ta-Nehisi Coates, The Atlantic
• Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie: The danger of a single story – TED Talk
• J. Cole – Be Free (Live on The Late Show with David Letterman)
• Ani DiFranco – Subdivision

From The Nation contributing writer Mychal Denzel Smith (@mychalsmith)

• Black churches taught us to forgive white people. We learned to shame ourselves. – Kiese Laymon, The Guardian
• Trying to Forgive the Black Church – Jamilah Lemieux, The Nation
• Kendrick Lamar – Alright
• Gil Scott-Heron and Brian Jackson – Ain’t No Such Thing As Superman
• Run the Jewels feat. Zack de la Rocha – Close Your Eyes (And Count To F**k)

A sampling of questions from our guests:

• In what ways can we protest inequalities effectively?
• Do you believe that the conventional language of news reporting underscores racial divides over what is considered a 'riot' versus a 'protest?'
• How can I have a level-headed conversation on police brutality with a family member who does not support the black lives matter movement?
• Although race issue is not black and white anymore, why hasn't our society gone beyond this discrimination, hatred and disrespect?
• Is there enough attention to this subject in academia, in terms of programs, courses and research? (for instance, is the fact that Criminology programs/ studies are taught mostly outside of big mainstream universities such as Columbia conducive/ harmful to the cause?)
• How does the university factor into this?
• Can you please talk a little bit about the implications and effects of the backlashes embodied by #alllivesmatter and, more recently, #bluelivesmatter, to the #blacklivesmatter movement?

Do you have ideas and questions for panelists? Send them to [email protected] - and include your name, UNI, school and year.