Marcelius Braxton

Hey new followers, I direct a Center for Social Change and Belonging, and I'm an Associate Teaching Prof in Philosophy, African/African American Studies, etc. My work focuses on the intersections of race, law, education, and philosophy. I also focus on social justice, activism, and liberation.

I share "White Flight" with students when I want them to understand that people didn't reject public services (esp. education) because they were ineffective. They rejected them BECAUSE they were effective but benefitted all and not a select group. So, they formed private options to limit benefits.

These higher education concessions aren't even reasonable acts of self-preservation because the demands won't end, and their institutions will continue to be targets. Each concession will lead to more demands, and what they try to save will eventually meet the same fate of that which they conceded.

I appreciate this framing much more than other outlets. Others are framing it as if Justice Jackson is breaking some sort of important norm rather than rightly calling out her colleagues for their hypocrisy and making a mockery of the law and the norms/precedents the Court, itself, has established.

When many critique Bernie Sanders and how his politics ignore, minimize, or lack depth about race, I've seen so many respond with the same 1963 arrest photo, as if to counter that critique. This applies not just to him, but standing up for something is no solitary act. It's continuous and evolving.

Very telling in the debate is that much of focus isn’t arguing that University of Miss. (or state) isn’t racist but instead arguing that LSU/others are ALSO racist. They’re so close to getting it but lack self awareness or willingness to accept the point: Racism was/still is pervasive everywhere. /1

Re: The Ole Miss/LSU discussion of racism I offer that AFAM studies help explain/understand the past and present of the U.S. People’s ignorance (willful or unintentional) explains why the discourse is bad. This is intentional, and there is a reason why AFAM is being eliminated across the country.

Dems’ continued misunderstanding of moderation makes them lose. They see moderation as balancing extremes, which is bad in itself if the extremes are human rights/access and denying those. But people actually see it as diluting what they want. So being a “moderate” appeals to few and angers many.

Also, the concept of "value" is subjective, often driven by speculation, biased valuations, market hype, money raised, etc. Many companies and people rely on valuing their companies at ridiculous amounts to borrow money and claim wealth without profits, creating, or doing anything useful/valuable.

Roberts/other SCOTUS justices' claims that neither the Court nor they as justices are political despite many of them spending their lives doing very partisan, political work (that just so happens to align with their votes/ruling) are just ridiculous, disingenuous, and frankly insulting assertions.

Redrawing maps in other states is NOT a solution to the elimination of Black voter representation. But, it IS a chance to pass fed. legislation codifying Black voter representation into law. If not done with that intent, it's just "different" white people with power trying to speak for Black people.

Because police unions aren’t like most other unions, so they don’t care. While other unions get pushback from private and gov. entities wishing to stifle wages/conditions, police unions often get a blank check from gov. So police unions vote for the party willing to let them operate with impunity.

I WILL be teaching First Amendment next year, so if anyone has syllabi, material, or resources that I can reference, I would be very grateful!

Assigning papers as a final project is always a great idea until it's time to grade those papers. I tell myself this every semester, and I never seem to learn.