Monique W. Morris - Author, Scholar, Social Justice Advocate

Monique W. Morris Awarded a 2012 Soros Justice Fellowship

Administrator — Mon, 21 May 2012 19:32:25 +0000

Today, it was announced that I have been awarded a 2012 Soros Justice Fellowship. I am humbled and honored to be able to use this as an opportunity to focus on the education-system factors that contribute to the over-representation of black girls in confinement. More to come!

Diversity Counts!

Administrator — Mon, 21 May 2012 19:26:06 +0000

Diversity among public service leadership remains an important issue deserving of our attention. The MWM Consulting Group, LLC recently partnered with the National Urban Fellows to release a new report, Diversity Counts, in which there are data snapshots associated with racial/ethnic diversity among leadership in government, nonprofits and philanthropy. Visit National Urban Fellows for more information.

Is A New Vision for Black Freedom Possible?

Administrator — Thu, 17 May 2012 18:52:32 +0000

Reposted from an article published on Politic365.com

Last year, Kelley Williams-Bolar was convicted for “illegally registering” her daughters in a better, suburban school district outside of Akron, Ohio. In Connecticut, Tanya McDowell was also convicted, and sentenced to five years, for trying to send her son to a better school district.

What was the teachable moment from these incidents? For most, it was that a mother can be sentenced to five years in prison—egregious by almost any standard—for trying to get a better education for her children.

This week marks the 58th Anniversary of the landmark Supreme Court case, Brown v. Board of Education, which was a precursor to monumental changes that would enforce important civil rights law associated with protecting equal rights and eliminating de jure segregation. But, it was also an important extension of a growing public will to re-imagine the promise of American democracy.

However, while de jure segregation may have ended in many ways with the Brown decision, affecting aspects of public policy well beyond the issue of education, Brown did not address the ways in which lingering xenophobia, tribalism, and the intersections between race and poverty would sustain de facto segregation…

Select to read the complete article on Politic365.com.

Home to Harlem

Administrator — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 18:57:05 +0000

This weekend, it is my pleasure to return to my Alma Mater, Columbia University, to celebrate the intellectual legacy of Dr. Manning Marable, who was a stellar scholar, mentor, and friend. From April 26-29th, our extended community will celebrate Manning through the Institute for Research in African American Studies and a conference entitled, “A New Vision of Black Freedom.” The title actually reminds me of a conversation I had with Manning before he passed, in which he challenged me to think about ways to move beyond old paradigms of leadership and movement in the black freedom struggle. It was both a personal challenge and a call to action for all of us.

This coming Saturday, April 28th, I’ll be speaking on a panel comprised of the first cohorts to work with Manning at the Institute for Research in African American Studies, which was, indeed, and honor. But I have been inspired to do much more than just talk about what we should be doing. It’s time for some action!

So on that note, I have been busy doing some amazing foundation-building for an exciting new effort to elevate the status of black women and girls. After all, we cannot progress in the racial and social justice movements until we critically engage ourselves in some meaningful anti-sexism work. To highlight just some of the work that I–along with an outstanding team of scholar advocates and practitioners–will be building over the course of the next year, please read my article on Politic365.com, entitled, “Black Girls Get Arrested, Too.”

More to come!!

Update: Here is a piece that I wrote for Politic365.com addressing the new vision for black freedom.

“Poster Child: The Kemba Smith Story” Featured Among List of Top Books for Youth in Detention

Administrator — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 05:54:41 +0000

In the January 4th edition of the School Library Journal, Amy Cheney (Alameda County Library/Write to Read/Juvenile Hall Literacy program) shares her list of the top ten books that should be read by detained and incarcerated teens. Featured among her list is Poster Child: The Kemba Smith Story! The book is in good company, too. Michelle Alexander’s The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness and Pistols and Prayers by Ise Lyfe are also on the list.

Whether you’re a teen or not, these books are good reads. Check them out!