I am so glad for a community of people who know everyone matters. Because unless everyone matters, no one matters.
At my own extremely homogenous, all-white school, people nod and smile and have the best of intentions, but …. just cannot break through to something different. Some of that is money. Small school, low budget, poor support by our upper administration…
Meanwhile, I’ve just been handed two bright shining gems:
First: I get to give a TEDx talk in early April, and I’m talking about self-emancipated slaves. (The bit of history people love to remember is the Underground Railroad. It’s romantic, dashing, provides heroes….) Instead, I hope to open people’s eyes to self-empowerment, to the great, brave people who said no and fled. They hid in swamps without food for weeks, their hair froze, they carried their children in improvised packs. One brave teenager rescued his little brother from a deep swamp in northern Ohio—He dove in not knowing that, up north, there are no alligators and crocs just waiting to strike. I’ll also talk about the ordinary people who helped them—washerwomen and train conductors and turnip farmers, who could lose everything they owned to government seizures for helping. And I’ll close by talking about the vile human trafficking going on now and ask, what will you do?
(Ideas and suggestions welcomed. I want this to be IMPORTANT.)
And second, I was asked to teach a first-year seminar. (Well, frankly, I was required to.) Rather than teach some same-old, same-old class I’ve taught before, I am going with a class on the IOWA CAUCUSES, because the whole damned world is about to descend on little bitty Iowa and Drake is at the epicenter. For this, I am trying to break through into student’s notion of politicians and people who “count” as “old” and white. For speakers, we have….Addisu Demissie (friend from previous campaigning days and Cory Booker’s campaign manager—yay!), two young women from Drake journalism who ran for Iowa house and senate and WON, minority student TV producer at local station who covers national politics, Drake junior who is a director at another station…..and still adding.
Because. Everyone counts, or no one counts. (And weirdly, I learned that saying from a mystery novel.)
Thank you for offering me someone to TALK WITH.
Lee
Lee Jolliffe, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Journalism
108 Meredith Hall
Drake University
[log in to unmask]
On Mar 3, 2015, at 10:12 PM, LILLIE FEARS <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> Hi Meta, and All,
>
> I think that you (Meta) bring up some very timely issues. Two weeks ago, I hosted a panel discussion on my campus. It was titled "All Life Matters." We set up enough chairs for 100 people, and the students really showed up. That suggested to me that they want to talk and have a voice. I mean I have even thought about hosting more public forums on other issues, perhaps once each month. So, again, I agree that students today want to talk about social justice and other issues, and could use some help in organizing events that will assist them in making a difference.
>
> Let's keep this conversation going. -- Lillie
>
>
> Lillie Mae Fears, PhD
> Professor of Multimedia Journalism
> College of Media and Communication
> Arkansas State University
> POB 1930
> State University, AR 72467
> 870.972.3210 (office/message)
> ________________________________________
> From: FOR THE MINORITIES AND COMMUNICATION DIV. OF AEJMC [[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Carstarphen, Meta G. [[log in to unmask]]
> Sent: Tuesday, March 03, 2015 9:41 PM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Some random thoughts
>
> Dear MACers:
> Hope all is well and that everyone is surviving the winter weather that seems without ending.
>
> I have wondered for a while how we as a group might have a conversation about the ways we can engage our students and the academy in social justice issues. We do this, I know in our lectures, our writings, our research. James has shared with us a wonderful example of he is working with students. I know there are others. But we may be so isolated in our work that we don't take the time to share and connect.
>
> I am as guilty as anyone of this. Since the tragic murder of Trayvon Martin, I have seen a new determination in our students of color and others to be a voice for change. On my campus I joined with other colleagues to host a forum on this and again after the Michael Brown incident.
>
> But it is one thing to be part of a national conversation and something else to have it hit close to home. On February 14, 2014, a family friend name Luis Rodriguez was killed in a senseless encounter with police in Moore OK. I won't take up your time with details--there is plenty of information out there on this case as we continue to press for justice. Last month, his wife (she refuses to claim the title widow) organized a rally to observe the one year anniversary of his death.
>
> I have intentionally been in somewhat of a hibernation. I'm thinking a lot about how the work we do can connect with the communities we serve, and how the academy can do better. This was a driving reason why I agreed to run for office with AEJMC this year.
>
> But I wonder if other MACers see any value in shaping a sustained conversation about social justice issues and the role of the media and mass communication in ways that might impact communities? Perhaps the work is already being done and we need to talk about what we are doing more.
>
> Thanks James, Lillie, Anita, Sharon,Federico and so many more of you than I can name right now for inspiring me with what you do. Let's continue to encourage each other.
>
> Thanks for letting me intrude with these thoughts.
> Chao,
> Meta
>
> Meta G. Carstarphen, Ph.D., APR
> Professor
> Gaylord College of Journalism & Mass Communication
> 2005-2012 Gaylord Endowed Professor
> University of Oklahoma ** 395 W. Lindsey Blvd-Room 3120B
> Norman, OK 73019--PH: (405) 325-5227 * FX: (405) 325-7565
> **FACEBOOK: DrMeta G Carstarphen **TWITTER: @DrMCar
> **LINKEDIN: Meta G. Carstarphen, Ph.D., APR
> Latest books: http://bit.ly/1vGlDmp // http://bit.ly/1y6NJgg
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