Social Justice Commons^™

Woman-To-Woman Marriage In West Africa: A Vanishing Tradition Of Power And Agency, Bright Alozie

Black Studies Faculty Publications and Presentations

In lieu of an abstract, here is an excerpt: Marriage in west Africa has played a central role in shaping aspects of society, and has evolved over time. While traditional heterosexual unions dominate discussions, a lesser-known but significant practice – woman-to-woman marriage – has existed for centuries. In my research, I examined this institution, which allows a woman to assume the role of a husband by marrying another woman. There’s evidence of woman-to-woman marriage in more than 40 societies across west Africa, including the Igbo of Nigeria, the Frafra of Ghana and the Dahomeans of present-day Benin.

Dismas Day Out -- Bridging The Social Gap For The Formerly Incarcerated, Adrienne Garey, Bryan Coreas-Pineda, Cianan Reed, Kaylee Camarda, Maya Burney, Lucy Spivey, Bethany Berry, David Maturo

SPARK Symposium Presentations

Formerly incarcerated individuals simply ask to be treated like the rest of society. This is what our Honors Project group has discovered in working with Dismas House. Dismas House is a Tennessee Department of Correction residential reentry program that supports men in successfully reintegrating into society after release from incarceration. Dismas House offers three free months of educational programs, job connections, housing, and more when staying in their building on the condition that the participant utilizes the resources available to them to build a new foundation.

In our time spent with these men, we discovered that regular interactions with diverse …

Rupert Raj’S Written Acts Of Activism And Care Throughout The 1980s And 1990s, Mia Jakobsen

Amplify: A Journal of Writing-as-Activism

In researching acts of activism and care in Canadian queer and trans racialized history, I examined how Rupert Raj advocated and cared for other trans individuals through his writing in the 1980s and 1990s. He noticed that there were few publications for trans individuals so he created easily accessible methods to share vital information regarding research and support that would have otherwise been difficult to acquire. Raj’s writings shared vital transgender research, literature, and expertise from across the globe. He provided critical support to and for other trans men through his easily accessible publications and letters, serving as an information …

A Message From The Editors, Vicki L. Reitenauer, Rhiannon M. Cates

Amplify: A Journal of Writing-as-Activism

An introduction from the founding co-editors to the third issue of Amplify: A Journal of Writing-as-Activism: Volume 3, Issue 1: Writing-as-Activism in a Time of Destruction.

Inciting Action By Analyzing Pachirat, Rhi N. Soto

Amplify: A Journal of Writing-as-Activism

The book Every Twelve Seconds: Industrialized Slaughter and the Politics of Sight by Timothy Pachirat explores “the politics of sight”, or the intentional invisibilizing or transparentizing of repugnant acts in order to encourage or limit them, through the case study of a beef slaughter house in Omaha, NE. While also utilizing the politics of sight, Pachirat hopes for great political and social change concerning the immoral acts that happen at meat plants through a radical act of transparency: a narrative ethnography. Writers with similar goals of great change in social and political issues can make use of Pachirat’s techniques, which …

How We Judge Victims In A Social Context, Olivia Slater

Bridges: An Undergraduate Journal of Contemporary Connections

This study examines the role of situational context and judgements of the victim on social reintegration of a victim based on their forgiveness decision after a transgression. In this 2x2 experimental study, participants read a fictitious scenario about a victim who either forgave or did not forgive a transgression, with additional contextual information either provided or withheld. A total of 162 participants completed a questionnaire including both quantitative and qualitative responses. The analysis showed significantly higher levels of agreement with forgiveness decisions when the victim did not forgive, and significantly higher levels of agreement for either forgiveness decision when context …

This Is Not History

The Civil Rights Movement (HIS/BLS 347) Zine Project

No abstract provided.

Resilience Against Neglect

The Civil Rights Movement (HIS/BLS 347) Zine Project

No abstract provided.

Violence And Artistic Resistance, Tucker Brown

The Civil Rights Movement (HIS/BLS 347) Zine Project

No abstract provided.

The Power Of Poetry, Madison Haji

The Civil Rights Movement (HIS/BLS 347) Zine Project

No abstract provided.

Cointelpro's Assassination Of Fred Hampton

The Civil Rights Movement (HIS/BLS 347) Zine Project

No abstract provided.

What's Going On, Jesse Spadaccini

The Civil Rights Movement (HIS/BLS 347) Zine Project

No abstract provided.

Freedom Lyrics, Lily Allan

The Civil Rights Movement (HIS/BLS 347) Zine Project

No abstract provided.

Flourish, Chanel Perez

The Civil Rights Movement (HIS/BLS 347) Zine Project

No abstract provided.

Beyond The Game: Black Power In Sports

The Civil Rights Movement (HIS/BLS 347) Zine Project

No abstract provided.

Incarceration As New Jim Crow, Courtney Butts

The Civil Rights Movement (HIS/BLS 347) Zine Project

No abstract provided.

The Real History: A Freedom School Curriculum

The Civil Rights Movement (HIS/BLS 347) Zine Project

No abstract provided.

The Growth Of African American Nurses

The Civil Rights Movement (HIS/BLS 347) Zine Project

No abstract provided.

Black Symbols: From The Civil Rights Movement To Now

The Civil Rights Movement (HIS/BLS 347) Zine Project

No abstract provided.

Stereotypes & Assumptions: Unconscious Biases, Mitzi Morales

Goal 1: Social Responsibility Narrative

Students will explore the concepts of stereotypes and assumptions by participating in a sensory activity that challenges them to reconsider how quick judgments can lead to incorrect conclusions. Through discussion, students will reflect on how this applies to real-life experiences with people and social groups.

Protesting In The Streets And In The Tweets: Disability Activism From The 20th Century To The Digital Age, Molly E. Thompson

Publications and Research

This paper seeks to answer the following research question: “How does the modern-day disability rights movement compare to activist efforts in the 20th century?” I begin with an exploration of the discriminatory policies that the 20th century disability rights movement fought against, such as institutionalization, eugenics, and structural accessibility. I then discuss demonstrations such as the 1977 504 Sit-In and the ADA “Capitol Crawl,” paying particular attention to the movement’s popularity across intersections of identity. I then move on to the 21st century, starting with disability activists’ demonstrations against Bush-era policies on mental health and court cases that attempted to …

Painting Stories And Filming Change, Coralynn V. Davis

Faculty Contributions to Books

Mithila Art has helped illuminate various aspects of the relationship between gendered Maithil social roles and Maithil women’s narratives in connection with a feminist participatory action research project conducted primarily in 2016-2017 in and around the northern Bihari town of Madhubani. While participatory action research philosophically and methodologically attends to process as much as product, Mithila Art played a role in the process and product of making a documentary film and in our capacity to understand and communicate with varied audiences about shifting Maithil gender norms. The research and filmic project provided insight into the complex relationship among the stories …

Code^Shift Newsletter Spring 2025, Srividya Ramasubramanian, Manaswini Pillai

CODE^SHIFT Research

No abstract provided.

Workshop Series: Reflections On An Emerging Leadership Journey, Sanjay D. Paul

Doctor of Strategic Leadership (DSL) Capstone Abstracts

Defense Date

April 1, 2025

Candidate Name

Sanjay Paul

Personal Email Address

[email protected]

First Advisor

Dr. Emile Hawkins

Second Advisor

Dr. Debra Dean

DSL Final Project Abstract

Project Type

Global Conference Presentation

Project Overview

Reflections on an Emerging Leadership Journey is a PowerPoint presentation (of approximately 3 hours and 15 minutes) which designed to connect glo al interests in a way that can share best practices across an interdisciplinary front. Sanjay Paul shares ideas, observations, educational, volunteer, and professional experiences, along with his growth in the leadership journey. This journey can serve as a catalyst for others who are on …

Self-Defense Or Served Justice? Kirstin Lobato Case, April L. Wayne

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

Kirstin Lobato spent 16 years in prison for the crimes of voluntary manslaughter and sexual penetration of a dead body. The Innocence Project took on her case and helped to exonerate her in 2017. After critical evidence that was withheld during the original trial was brought forward, Lobato was retried and had her conviction reversed. She was awarded $34 million in retribution for her time in prison due to her mistrial.

Protecting Female Workers Amidst The Controversy Of Cheap Labor Market: A Comparative Advantage Analysis In Southeast Asia, Dita Nur Safitri

Jurnal Ilmu Kesejahteraan Sosial

In Southeast Asia, the cheap labor market is frequently mentioned as one of the comparative advantages that drive growth in the economy. However, this market frequently employs harmful labour practices against female workers. This study investigates the intersection of gender, labour practices, and economic advantages in the region, concentrating on the obstacles and protective measures for female workers. The key objective of this study is to examine how female workers are protected in Southeast Asia's low-wage labour markets, as well as to assess the effectiveness of these safeguards in preventing exploitation and improving working conditions. This study uses a comparative …

Investing In Maryland Safety: Engaging Public Resources And Community Partnerships To Prevent Crime And Violence, Jeffrey A. Butts, Rebecca Balletto, Patricia A. Cobar

Publications and Research

The Research and Evaluation Center at John Jay College of Criminal Justice conducted a review of two innovative initiatives developed by the Maryland Department of Juvenile Services: The Thrive Academy (TTA) and the Safer Stronger Together (SST) intervention strategy. The study involved document analysis, online resource review, and interviews with agency staff and leadership. These efforts aimed to understand the design, implementation, and alignment of TTA and SST within Maryland’s broader public safety and crime prevention strategy. Key themes included program effectiveness, operational progress, and community-level impact, providing valuable insights into the Department’s evolving approach to juvenile justice and public …

From Theory To Practice: A True-Crime Podcast, Lauren V. Peckham

Senior Honors Projects

The Criminal Element is an innovative, victim-centered podcast that bridges the gap between criminological theory and real-world criminal cases. The podcast is designed as an educational resource for undergraduate Criminology and Criminal Justice students, alongside general audience members interested in learning more about criminological theory. Through the lens of true crime, this podcast is an engaging exploration of foundational and advanced theories while avoiding sensationalism and exploitation, a prevalent problem among true crime media. Each episode connects criminological theoretical concepts – such as strain, social learning, and social disorganization – to contemporary and historical cases, providing listeners with accessible and …

Enhancing Quality Of Life Through Participant-Led Programming For Adults With Intellectual Disabilities, Hannah Bolton

Entry-Level Occupational Therapy Doctorate - Doctoral Capstone Symposium

There are currently over 6.5 million Americans living with an intellectual disability (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2019). Research shows that individuals with intellectual disabilities are more likely to experience a lower quality of life (QOL) compared to those without disabilities (Hughes-McCormack et al., 2017). Eight core domains have been identified as essential to quality of life: emotional well-being, interpersonal relationships, material well-being, personal development, physical well-being, self-determination, social inclusion, and rights (Lachapelle et al., 2005). In response to these needs, this capstone project aimed to implement customized, supported, participant-led programming at a day program for adults with …

Race Centers As Critical Curriculum Spaces In U.S. Law Schools, Katheryn Russell-Brown, Vanessa Miller

Mercer Law Review

This piece aims to amplify the role of law school race centers. In fact, these centers are central curriculum spaces for student teaching and learning about race. The discussion highlights the role of race centers in law schools, explores the scholarly potential of race centers, and proposes strategies for sustaining race centers. The piece examines the role of race centers in helping law schools meet American Bar Association Standard 303(c), which requires that law students are exposed to race‑related curriculum, such as bias, cross‑cultural competencies, or racism. Tracing the historical roots of modern‑day race centers to Black Culture Centers of …