Professors
PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas (July 22, 2020) – As the nation continues to wrestle with obtaining justice for Black lives, Prairie View A&M University (PVAMU) scholars are addressing the need to speak out against systemic racism. Several faculty members, administrators, and alumni are using opinionated editorials (op-eds), television and cable news programs, and online publications to share their research, knowledge, and resources to help change the world for the better.

Read, view, and listen to some of their contributions to the national discussion below.

Faculty and administrators

Ruth Simmons, president of Prairie View A&M University, announced plans to launch Center for Race and Justice in response to death of George Floyd in the Houston Chronicle, Houston Public Media, KPRC-TV, and Diverse Issues in Higher Education.

Melanye Price, professor of African American studies and political science in the Marvin D. and June Samuel Brailsford College of Arts and Sciences, weighed in on police officers versus protesters in Vox; op-ed “Please Stop Showing the Video of George Floyd’s Death” in The New York Times; the debate on protesters in America on CNN; “How ubiquitous camera phones are helping and hurting US protesters” in The Telegraph (UK); Reflections on the funeral of George Floyd and what’s next for Houston Public Media; “Racism Doesn’t Blink” in The Cut; Houston Public Media Special Edition on the significance of Juneteenth and the best ways to celebrate and pay tribute; “Understanding the significance of Juneteenth” on The Isaiah Factor; and the “Power Of Symbols, Statues And History” on Houston Matters.

Watch Simmons and Price discuss the proposed Center for Race and Justice on Houston Newsmakers.

William Hoston, professor of political science, director of the Mellon Center for Faculty Excellence, interim associate dean of the Marvin D. and June Samuel Brailsford College of Arts and Sciences: “We’re beyond George Floyd now. What you’re seeing now is a group of human beings tired of structural racism and discrimination,” was featured in the Houston Chronicle.

Michael Hurd, director of the Texas Institute for the Preservation of History and Culture, wrote an op-ed “Let Freedom Ring” in Texas Highways; “This is How We Juneteenth” in The New York Times; “How One Black Man Came to Understand Juneteenth Over Six Decades” in Texas Standard and Texas Public Radio.

Will Guzmán, professor of history in the Marvin D. and June Samuel Brailsford College of Arts and Sciences, weighed in on Confederate statues on KYTX-TV.

Ronald E. Goodwin, history program coordinator in the Marvin D. and June Samuel Brailsford College of Arts and Sciences: “‘Sad and Joyful’: N.Y.C. Marks Juneteenth After a Month of Protest” in The New York Times.

Marco Robinson, American history professor in the Marvin D. and June Samuel Brailsford College of Arts and Sciences, and Kayla Johnson, psychologist in Student Counseling Services, were featured in “Calls For Federal Investigations After 2 Men Found Hanged In Houston” in Houston Public Media.

Danny Harvey, professor of finance in the College of Business: “How does Black America heal?” on The Isaiah Factor.

Fred A. Bonner II, professor and endowed chair in Educational Leadership and Counseling in the Whitlowe R. Green College of Education and director of the Minority Achievement, Creativity and High-Ability (MACH-III) Center wrote an op-ed “How and Where We Exit: Seven Propositions on Black Positionalities in the Pandemics Era” and “What Role Should Higher Education Play in Combating Racism?” in Diverse Issues in Higher Education.

Myrna Cintrón, associate professor and interim department head of justice studies in the College of Juvenile Justice, talked about police reform on Houston Matters.

Alumni

Kameron Kindle, a spring 2020 alumnus of the College of Business, talked about the reasons behind his drive in “Widespread protests against racism sharpen focus of FPA’s virtual internship” by Financial Planning.

KhaDarel Hodge, a 2017 alumnus of the Whitlowe R. Green College of Education, discussed how he is using a “tour of Houston restaurants to inspire change” on ClevelandBrowns.com.

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