Commit To The Work with Dr. Yaba Blay
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Dr. Yaba Blay is a professor, author, ethnographer and producer who is committed to making scholarship about global Black identities and the politics of hair and skin accessible outside of the Ivory Tower. This episode is not only a treat for fans of Dr. Blay's work, but any creative who wants to build a career that honors their culture, creativity and scholarship at the same time. Named to The Root 100 (2014), an annual list of top Black influencers, Dr. Blay is one of today’s leading voices on colorism and global skin color politics.
LISTEN:
MAIN POINTS
- Working in the academy but not being "of" the academy.
- The importance of making research and scholarship accessible and relevant outside of academia.
- Social media, and the "Meme Culture" of the internet prevent us from having nuanced conversations about identity.
- The work you do is more important that the area and discipline in which you study.
- Having creative freedom while being faculty at a university may mean you have to make difficult choices, such as foregoing the tenure track.