Colette Cann and Eric Demeulenaere, "The Activist Academic: Engaged Scholarship for Resistance, Hope and Social Change" (Myers Education Press, 2020)
Mar 24, 2024
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In this podcast, Colette Cann and Eric Demeulenaere discuss disrupting traditional academia for underrepresented voices, blending activism with scholarship, and redefining the role of academics as parents and community members. They explore the challenges of creating inclusive spaces, engaging in social change, and advocating for diverse forms of knowledge representation. The podcast also delves into the methodology of Black community activist research in the Bay Area and the importance of engaging students in activist research.
Activist scholarship challenges traditional academic spaces for social justice advocacy and inclusivity.
Embrace authenticity in academic work by blending personal experiences with theory to reshape dominant narratives.
Encourage a culture of love and accountability in academia to amplify diverse voices and challenge conventional norms.
Deep dives
The Impact of Activist Scholarship
Engaging in activist scholarship involves challenging traditional academic spaces to make room for voices that advocate for social change and justice. By blending personal experiences with academic pursuits, the authors emphasize the importance of authenticity and vulnerability in academic work. They highlight the significance of theory in reshaping dominant narratives and fostering understanding of social issues.
Navigating the Academic Journey
The authors share insights on navigating the academic journey, revealing the tensions between traditional academic expectations and the desire to pursue activist work. They stress the importance of trusting one's voice and taking risks to challenge existing norms, advocating for a culture of love that incorporates both accountability and forgiveness.
Creating Space for Diverse Voices
Through their work, the authors encourage listeners to make space for diverse voices and embrace authenticity in their academic endeavors. They underscore the value of finding a supportive community and bet on oneself to bring unique perspectives and experiences to scholarly work. The importance of emboldening others to challenge conventional academic norms and amplify marginalized voices is a key takeaway.
Future Endeavors in Activist Scholarship
The authors discuss ongoing projects focused on engaging undergraduate students in activist research and training Black community members to conduct research in their communities. They highlight the transformative potential of activist scholarship in empowering individuals to share their stories and drive social change through collective action and reflective practice.
Conclusion
The conversation concludes with reflections on the impact of activist academia, emphasizing the integration of personal experiences and theoretical frameworks in scholarly work. The authors emphasize the importance of creating inclusive academic spaces and nurturing a culture of love that values authenticity, accountability, and community support. Their commitment to amplifying diverse voices and challenging traditional academic norms serves as a call to action for listeners to engage in activist scholarship.
How can traditional academic scholarship be disrupted by activist academics? How can we make space for those who are underrepresented and historically oppressed to come to academia as their authentic selves? How can the platform of academia create space for change in the world? In The Activist Academic: Engaged Scholarship for Resistance, Hope and Social Change(Myers Education Press: 2020), Professor Colette N. Cann and Professor Eric J. DeMeulenarare answer these questions. Their work challenges dominant frameworks of what it is to be an academic. They challenge readers to think about their responsibility as academics, and their role not just as researchers and teachers, but as parents, friends and members of the community. This book should be compulsory reading for for all scholars, and those that aspire to enter academia. It provides the opportunity to rethink the ways that activism and scholarship can be combined, and the impact that academics have in the spaces that they work.
Professor Colette N. Cann is the Associate Dean for Academic and Faculty Advancement and Professor in the School of Education at the University of San Francisco.
Professor Eric DeMeulenaere is a Professor of Education, Director of Community, Youth, & Education Studies and Director of Comparative Race & Ethnic Studies at Clark University.