In spring, three words burst through a news cycle otherwise laser-focused on COVID-19: “I can’t breathe.” George Floyd’s brutal death broke through the greater American consciousness, particularly that of white Americans, in a way the other questionable fatalities that have occurred over the years did not — and out of that horrific incident, deeper conversations about the lack of equity in modern society have risen to the surface. This episode of UNT Pod explores where we are, how we got here, and how we all can — and should — move forward together to build a stronger, more equitable world.

In this episode, we discuss:

● The modern Black Lives Matter movement and the classical period of civil rights

● How the transatlantic slave trade marked African Americans as existing outside of the social compact, and the effects of those biases on modern race relations

● How popular media shapes impressions of the African American community

● Equity and diversity in higher education

● How Americans from all backgrounds can help build a more equitable society

Featured in this episode are:

• Dr. J. Anthony Guillory, lecturer and advisor to the African American Studies minor in UNT’s Department of History
  
  


• Dr. Todd Moye, professor in UNT’s Department of History
  
  


• Dr. Christopher Todd, assistant professor in UNT’s Department of History

Helpful links:

· Read the UNT History Department’s anti-racism syllabus

· Check out UNT’s new diversity and inclusion initiatives

· Listen to more interviews from the Civil Rights in Black and Brown project

· Dr. J. Anthony Guillory discusses his favorite works of African American literature

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