#5SmartReads - April 23, 2021

Today’s regular guest contributor is Kate Slater, Ph.D. (also known as Dr. Kate)! You can find the articles she has written here, and follow here for anti-racism conversations!

The Police Won't Fix The Police (Medium)

Trevor Noah commented on the spate of police brutality and state-sanctioned violence, "These are bad apples, we’ve got to root them out of the force. My question though, is: ‘where are the good apples?’” This article asks the fundamental question of whether the police system can be fixed, or whether it must be dismantled.

Derek Chauvin's Trial Is Not Justice For Black Americans (Washington Post)

In the wake of Derek Chauvin's guilty verdict, Dr. Joseph's article asks the question "Why doesn't it feel like justice?" This echoes the closing statements of the prosecution, who emphasized that the Chauvin verdict is not justice - it's the first step of accountability, and we have a long hill to climb.

Academe Should Value The Impact Factor Of Public Scholarship (Inside Higher Ed)

Dr. Jones talks about the balance she strikes in being a scholar, a public academic, and a social media influencer. She describes the strangeness of having her research and work reach millions of people on Instagram and Twitter and calls for greater recognition of the value of public scholarship.

'I Never Wanted To Be The First' - Weed Pioneer Vivianne Wilson On Canada's Cannabis Problem (Refinery29)

Wilson is the first Black cannabis company owner in Canada. She describes the challenges of her unique position, including combatting systemic racism in the industry and the decriminalization of marijuana. She says "If this industry was rolled out the way it should have been, with intentionality and a true commitment to reconciliation, then I would have never been the first. I shouldn’t have been the first."

Climate Justice With Colette Pinchon Battle (The Opt-In podcast)

Yes, this is a podcast episode, but it's a doozy. Thursday, April 22nd is Earth Day, and in this episode, Pinchon Battle describes the critical intersections between racial justice and climate justice.