Karen Attiah: 

I wanted to use that opportunity to build a course I never had when I was an international affairs student studying human rights and media at SIPA—one that examined how constructs of race and identity are formed, and how mass media has historically shaped our understanding of race and the global order. I knew that race and identity were rarely taught in international affairs schools—or many journalism schools, for that matter. And I rarely had the opportunity to learn from a professor who looked like me.[…]

A few months later, the course was canceled, and the department it was housed was dissolved. Despite the grief and lack of clarity, I’ve kept quiet….. until now.

Her solution is brilliant, and welcome:

So for starters, I’ve decided to liberate my teaching work.

This summer, I will be offering a version of my Columbia course on Race, Media, and International Affairs as an independent, public offering, for this moment.

Attiah offered a signup sheet to express interest, and I immediately tossed my hat into the ring. From what I understand, she’s already received several hundred submissions, so I suspect I won’t get in, but I’m committed to helping others participate.

I’d love to see more professors—and professionals—take this approach to sharing their knowledge. As Attiah notes:

This is not a time for media literacy or historical knowledge to be held hostage by institutions bending the knee to authoritarianism and fear.