Clint Smith

Living under the perpetual and pervasive threat of racism seems, for black men and black women, to quite literally reduce lifespans. ”

This idea of shared humanity and the connections that we make with one another - that's what, in fact, makes life worth living. ”

There is a solidarity that black people can find in celebrating the athletic success of our own, especially in sports where our existence is sparse. ”

Until affirmative action is described and understood as one mechanism by which to make amends for historical wrongdoing against members of marginalized communities, it will fail to meaningfully address the inequality that exists as a direct result of federal policy. ”

Advocating for affirmative action through the prism of diversity may be more politically palatable, but it will inevitably yield insufficient results. ”

To be clear, affirmative action is not, by itself, an adequate response to decades of systemic looting, but it has been an indispensible tool in inching us towards some semblance of a more equitable society. ”

In an effort to create a culture within my classroom where students feel safe sharing the intimacies of their own silences, I have four core principles posted on the board that sits in the front of my class, which every student signs at the beginning of the year: read critically, write consciously, speak clearly, tell your truth. ”

I kind of follow in the tradition of some folks - some thinkers and scholars I really look up - who reject the idea of intellectual compartmentalization. ”

Preparing oneself for the possibility of confronting racism triggers something that slowly chips away at physical and emotional well-being. ”

The beauty of the World Cup is that while thirty-two countries get to cheer for their respective teams, the event also affirms a global pluralism - it is as much a festival of cultural multiplicity as it is a competition featuring some of the best athletes in the world. ”