Blacktivism In the Academy 6.8 You're Published. Who Cares?
Nov 6, 2025
Felecia Commodore, an Associate Professor at the University of Illinois, sheds light on the importance of community-driven approaches in academia. She passionately discusses how scholarship can be viewed as art, advocating for diverse expressions of knowledge. Felecia highlights the challenges of accessibility in academia, urging for better communication of research to impact real-world change. Together with Takiyah Robinson, they explore the need for academic work to resonate with everyday stakeholders, envisioning a future rooted in community empowerment.
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Academia Must Translate Knowledge
- Academics often fail at knowledge translation, which makes their work inaccessible to the public.
- Felecia Commodore and Takiyah Nicole Robinson argue scholars must translate research into practical, accessible formats to show societal value.
Academia Builds Barriers To Publics
- The academy constructs barriers that push non-academics out of conversations about research.
- Podcasting and other accessible media can reconnect scholars with broader publics and stakeholders.
Embed Scholarship In Real Communities
- Build genuine community ties beyond academic circles to understand real community pulses.
- Felecia Commodore says those ties enable accurate knowledge translation and stronger, relevant scholarship.