Talks on ‘Love’ and ‘Philosophy and the World’ (Central APA Report)
Last weekend I presented two papers at the Central American Philosophical Association Meeting in St. Louis. I had a great time having fruitful discussions and just kicking my feet up.
The UnMute Podcast: Episode 002 w/ Justin Clardy on Love
Our next episode is up. Go ahead and check it out. Here I chat with Justin Clardy about the nature of love, polyamory, and so much more. Press Play below and also head to the www.unmutepodcast.co for show notes and resources.
Introducing the UnMute Podcast
I have a new project that I’ve started for 2015. I have been in the business of making philosophy accessible for several years. This year I want to focus on doing it in a different way that will have a reach for beyond what I can do physically. In my twenties, I co-hosted a two […]
My Latest Piece at HuffPost: The Police and Their Masculinity Problem
In this article I examine the role masculinity plays in police brutality and in civilian deaths at the hands of police. It is easy to confuse asserting your humanity and defending your life with asserting and defending your manhood. But it’s necessary to figure out the difference. It’s a matter of life and death. […]
My Latest Piece at HuffPost: Minorities, State Violence, and the Price of Self-Respect
Check out my latest for HuffPost: Minorities, State Violence, and the Price of Self-Respect. Here is an excerpt. When phrases like “I am Sean Bell” is articulated, it is said in hopes that people will realize that we are all vulnerable to ill treatment by the state and one should have a right to assert their […]
Workshop at the Cuny Grad Center on Walkerian Virtues
If you are available, stop by.
Russia Thanks Us for Our Intolerance
We would like to think that we are not like our once cold war enemy, Russia. “They” are intolerant and oppressive. And “they” are presently doing an injustice to gay people. But before we start throwing stones from our red, white, and blue glass house, we need to take a look at our own intolerance. […]
Anita Hill Documentary Trailer
Against a backdrop of sex, politics, and race, ANITA reveals the intimate story of a woman who spoke truth to power. Directed by Academy Award®-winning filmmaker Freida Mock, the film is both a celebration of Anita Hill’s legacy and a rare glimpse into her private life with friends and family, many of whom were by […]
My Students and I Meet Michelle Obama
This week my students and I were invited to BET studios to be a part of the studio audience of a live show dedicated to Michelle Obama. Her main focus was on explaining her 2020 Education Initiative as well as to talk about her own life and use it as a motivation for youth. It […]
My Appearance on HuffPost Live: “Fusion Forum: This week news affecting minorities”
HuffPost Live has a Fusion Forum, where guests comment on this week’s news affecting minorities. Today I was on the panel and talked about NYC election, Alabama sorority exclusion, and Julia Chen asian eye plastic surgery.
Behind Bars: Life Behind Prison Panel (Pics and Audio)
I had the opportunity to participate on a panel about life in prison recently. The event was sponsored by New America NYC and The Atavist. The panel included: GARY RIVLIN: Investigative Reporting Fellow, The Nation Institute SABINE HEINLEIN: Author, Among Murderers: Life After Prison PIPER KERMAN: Author, Orange is the New Black MYISHA CHERRY: Faculty […]
The Different Faces of Rebellion (My New Article)
I have a new article up on the Huffington Post. In it I argue: We should be careful not to dismiss subtle forms of fighting oppression, for they are no less valuable than street fights and mass strikes. Just as there are different types of artists, there are different types of rebels. The sooner we […]
Separate Church and State: The Hit Song (Video)
There is no doubt in my mind that church and state need to separate. There is good rationale behind it. Plus isn’t it written in our constitution? Well not exactly, argues Garrett Epps in the Atlantic but the idea of separation is in the constitution. At times it seems hypocritical when the phrase is thrown […]
A Theory of Justice: A Very funny & Accurate Online Musical
Can you believe it? Some folks got together and decided to do a musical about Rawls’ political philosophy treatise, “A theory of Justice”. Yes, there actually is a musical filled with melodies about the veil of ignorance, the original position, and principles of justice. It bought me back to the day when my colleague Sophia Wong played a Rawls […]
The Politics of Emotional Dismissal
I have a new Op-Ed in the Huffington post this week called “The Politics of Emotional Dismissal”. Here’s an excerpt below. Check out the full article here and leave a comment on the site if you can. Let me preface: This is not a man-bashing reflection. What I am arguing is that anger has its […]
Cornel West and Tavis Smiley After the Election
Cornel West and Tavis Smiley appeared on Democracy Now yesterday to discuss the election. Here are a few responses. The question is, are these critiques dead on or simply too harsh? On money spent on the election and Obama in blackface… “I think that it’s morally obscene and spiritually profane to spend $6 billion on […]
Obama Wins and His Anger Translator Celebrates
Here is some funny. Obama has been re-elected. Ok that’s not the funny part. That’s the “thank god, all fairies, and the stars and the moons because I was nervous” part. The funny part is Key and Peele or should I say Obama and his anger translator, Luther. They celebrated last night by doing the […]
Advice from Martha Nussbaum
I love Martha Nussbaum. Its not only because we share similar philosophical interests (value of the emotions, philosophy of law, political theory, and cosmopolitanism) but because I also think that she combines brilliance, class, grace, and confidence in a very beautiful way. James Harmon has a book out called “Take My Advice” and has included […]
SCOTUS, Kerry Washington, Myths, and Affirmative Action
Yesterday Supreme Court Justices began hearing arguments against and in support of affirmative action as an ethical necessity in achieving the goal of diversity in higher education. While this is not a new issue in public policy or within philosophy (Bernard Boxill & Howard McGary has written great articles about this issue), affirmative action is […]
Let My People Vote: What You Should Know and Do About Voter Suppression
I hear people all the time who are disillusioned by the political process say “my vote don’t matter”. My initial response is always “If it didn’t mater, then why have “they” and why do “they” try to stop you from voting”. The logical reason is because it does matter! Your vote matters. Forget the jargon […]
New Angela Davis Documentary Trailer & Free Essays Too
I love Dr. Angela Davis. As a black, woman philosopher I look up to her. As a human who wants to see change in the world, I admire her. Early this summer we got a peak into her infamous case through the Black Power MixTape, but soon we will see a documentary devoted fully to […]
Intellectuals & Activists To Speak Out Against Prisons 9/14 Harlem, Ny
To Commemorate the 41st Anniversary of the Attica Uprising and to discuss the current state of prisons, mass incarceration, prison industrial complex and more, intellectuals and activists will come together in Harlem this Friday. Come out and Hear Angela Davis, Michelle Alexander, Cornel West, Marc Lamont Hill, and others as they take part in a […]
How Sensitivity to Disgust Affects Your Moral and Political Views
A.J. Ayer in “Critique of Ethics” argues that moral judgments are not objective. He denies that they are even propositions at all. So for Ayer, when we say Fornication is wrong it is meaningless because there is no way to verify its truth or falsity. Ayer argues that moral judgments are simply expressions of disapproval […]