Archive Posts
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In the News: Yohuru Williams on the History of Police Reform in Minneapolis
In the NewsFounding Director of the Racial Justice Initiative at the University of St. Thomas, Dr. Yohuru Williams, sat down with MPR News host Nina Moini to discuss the long and complex history of police reform in Minneapolis, a topic often framed around the events of 2020, but with roots stretching back more than a century. From the…
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In the News: Yohuru Williams on Jackie Robinson’s Quiet Strength
In the NewsDr. Yohuru Williams, founding director of the Racial Justice Initiative at the University of St. Thomas, sat down with Katy Milkman, host of the “Choiceology” podcast, to explain how Jackie Robinson’s restraint and strategic discipline helped dismantle racial barriers in Major League Baseball. From the podcast:Katy Milkman: But the kind of man that it took to do… -
Art as History: ‘This Is Water’ Brings Racial Justice Conversations to Life
Racial Justice InitiativeHistory is not confined to textbooks. It lives in stories and the ways people remember, reckon, and reimagine their shared past. That’s a message that is important to Dr. Yohuru Williams, founding director of the Racial Justice Initiative (RJI) at the University of St. Thomas. As a historian and educator, he often turns to various… -
Yohuru Williams Highlights Black Panther Party Impact on History Channel Special
Professional NotesDr. Yohuru Williams, founding director of the Racial Justice Initiative at the University of St. Thomas, recently appeared in a History Channel video that discusses the creation of the Black Panther Party. Williams highlights the timeline and the national impact of the Panthers. In the midst of poverty, racial discrimination, and police brutality, college students… -
In the News: Yohuru Williams Op-Ed on Pretext Stops in the Minnesota Star Tribune
Racial Justice InitiativeDr. Yohuru Williams, Distinguished University Chair and Professor of History and Founding Director of the Racial Justice Initiative, wrote an op-ed for the Minnesota Star Tribune on how Hennepin County’s new policy on pretext traffic stops can reduce racial profiling and signal a safer course for all drivers. From the story: Reports from both the… -
In the News: Yohuru Williams About Smithsonian and Museum Funding
In the NewsFounding Director of the Racial Justice Initiative Yohuru Williams tells CBC News a ‘great deal’ would be lost if what is currently featured in museums like the Smithsonian changed. From the interview: “...Museums like Smithsonian do a very good job of correcting the record … The reality is that we've had huge challenges in this… -
In the News: Dr. Yohuru Williams on Five Years After George Floyd's Death
Racial Justice InitiativeAs America reflects on the fifth anniversary from the date of George Floyd’s murder, Dr. Yohuru Williams, founding director of the Racial Justice Initiative at the University of St. Thomas, has appeared with multiple media outlets discussing the implications from the history of police brutality and racism in the U.S. to where we go from… -
Dr. Yohuru Williams Featured in New History Channel Docuseries by Kevin Costner
Racial Justice InitiativeDr. Yohuru Williams, founding director of the Racial Justice Initiative at the University of St. Thomas, is featured in Kevin Costner’s The West, an eight-part docuseries that premiered May 26 on the History Channel. Executive produced by actor Kevin Costner and Pulitzer Prize–winning historian Doris Kearns Goodwin, The West explores the contested and complex history… -
In the News: Yohuru Williams on Minnesota Five Years After George Floyd's Death
In the NewsYohuru Williams, founding director of the Racial Justice Initiative at the University of St. Thomas, spoke to MPR News on racial changes in Minnesota, looking at the last five years since the death of George Floyd. He was joined by Kiana Cox, a senior researcher at the Pew Research Center who authored a recent study… -
In the News: Yohuru Williams on MPD Consent Decrees
In the NewsDr. Yohuru Williams, the founding director of the Racial Justice Initiative at the University of St. Thomas, recently joined PBS’ “Almanac” to discuss the Minneapolis Police Department’s pending federal consent decree, which is on hold another 30 days after a federal judge granted the extension requested by the Trump administration. From the interview: Host: Is there…