Black Perspectives from Theory to Praxis
This Praxis Lab explored a diverse range of Black perspectives on critical social, political, and environmental issues. Students examined how Black history, cultural narratives, and movements for social justice have influenced mainstream ideologies on topics such as policing, incarceration, education, climate change, reproductive rights, science and technology, healthcare, and governance.
Through interdisciplinary readings, discussions, and collaborative research, students analyzed how these perspectives have shaped broader societal debates while also evolving within Black communities themselves. The course challenged participants to think critically about the intersections of race, policy, and systemic change.
Instructors:
Darius Bost
Meligha Garfield
More Praxis Labs
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Margaret P. Battin, PhD
Wendy Hobson-Rohrer, MD
This Praxis Lab examined the history, science, and ethical implications of pandemics, from the Black Plague to COVID-19. Students analyzed how diseases spread, the social and political responses to outbreaks, and the ethical considerations of public health interventions.
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Margaret P. Battin, PhD
This Praxis Lab explored the evolving landscape of death and dying in the modern world, examining the shift from infectious disease mortality to prolonged battles with degenerative illnesses like cancer, heart failure, and dementia.
Education, Incarceration & Justice: Punishment and Opportunity in an Era of Mass Imprisonment
Erin Castro
Roberto Garcia
This Praxis Lab examined the deep connections between education, incarceration, and justice in the United States, a country with the highest incarceration rate in the world. Students explored the historical and systemic forces that have expanded the carceral state, disproportionately affecting low-income communities and communities of color.