Among other aspects of my identity, I am a Christian and a Social Worker. Both of these pieces of my identity help me make values based decisions, including my thoughts on capital punishment. I have utmost empathy for victims of violent crime and for their surviving family members. I cannot imagine the pain they haveContinue reading “Social Work, People of Faith, and the Death Penalty”
Tag Archives: social justice
Tennessee and policy violence
Yesterday was my day to read the Psalm reading at church, and to offer the prayer that follows. I read Psalm 11 in its entirety, but the section I personally held onto was Verse 4 and Verse 5: The Lord is in his holy temple; the Lord is on his heavenly throne.He observes everyone onContinue reading “Tennessee and policy violence”
Hattie Cotton Elementary and the Twin Towers
Though the Brown vs Board of Education Supreme Court ruling in 1954 admonished states to “end racial segregation with all deliberate speed”, the “Nashville plan”was to integrate one grade a year beginning in 1957, meaning that a complete desegregation plan would take 12 years to roll out. (Spoiler alert: The court case of Kelley vContinue reading “Hattie Cotton Elementary and the Twin Towers”
Birthday truth-telling
It’s almost your birthday, 48 Contiguous States plus Alaska and Hawaii. I would say “Happy birthday America” but some years ago I learned that there are other Americas. (It is a lesson I should have learned earlier.) I would say “Happy Birthday to the US” but we don’t seem to be united. (And when thereContinue reading “Birthday truth-telling”
Environmental Impacts of AI
I hate AI on principle because of the impacts on the environment. It is profoundly, negatively affecting our environment, of which we only have one. As a professor, I reaaaaallllly hate AI because it has made my work harder. (Harder in the frustrating sense, not harder in the sense of “I am struggling but learning”Continue reading “Environmental Impacts of AI”
Render unto Caesar + Sources for helping people understand federal spending
As 1/2 of “married filing jointly” household that just paid their tax bill the day before it was due, I am a little salty. Hear me clearly: I would cheerfully pay my current taxes (and pay more) if we had less income and wealth inequality in our country, and if we were taking progressive measuresContinue reading “Render unto Caesar + Sources for helping people understand federal spending”
Thoughts on a culture of toxic power, and the second death of a “hero”
Late one night this past week several friends sent me links to the stories about Cesar Chavez, a primary figure of the United Farmworkers’ Movement. One of the classes I teach most every fall includes content on community organizing, and I always talk about the tactics and strategies he used in organizing farmworkers. Thankfully, heContinue reading “Thoughts on a culture of toxic power, and the second death of a “hero””
Harriet Tubman, Revisionist History and Fact Checking
Below is a photo of Harriet Tubman. Abolitionist. Leader/conductor of the Underground Railroad. Student of stars in the nighttime sky. Seer of visions. Spy for Union forces. A woman with a disability (inflicted upon her by a slaveholder). She was a woman who didn’t stop. She was a believer and a faithful witness. In aContinue reading “Harriet Tubman, Revisionist History and Fact Checking”
Happy Birthday, Dr. King: I am sorry we haven’t bent the arc more yet.
Though we have an official day to recognize Dr. King’s birthday coming up next week, today (January 15) is his actual birthday. Going to college in Memphis and spending several years there after college, I visited the National Civil Rights Museum (at the Lorraine Motel where Dr. King was assassinated) many times. I have hadContinue reading “Happy Birthday, Dr. King: I am sorry we haven’t bent the arc more yet.”
Difficult conversations in the classroom
In social work education, we often have difficult conversations in the classroom as we grapple with teaching and learning about systemic racism, other forms of discrimination, and oppression. These discussions are relevant to the course and student learning, so I can’t “duck” them, but even though I have been in the classroom for 20 years,Continue reading “Difficult conversations in the classroom”
