Archive Posts
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Reflection: Solidarity
Racial Justice InitiativeDr. Yohuru Williams and President Rob Vischer co-teach a course on race, law, and U.S. history. They co-wrote the following reflection. The release of the video showing the fatal beating of Tyre Nichols has caused tremendous pain within our St. Thomas community, especially following so closely on the heels of events in the Twin Cities…
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In the News: Yohuru Williams on the Importance of Increasing Economic Opportunity Alongside Civil Rights
In the NewsDr. Yohuru Williams, founding director of the Racial Justice Initiative and history professor from the University of St. Thomas, recently spoke with WESH 2 at Rollins College, following a celebration for Martin Luther King Jr. 's life and contributions. From the story: "Dr. King spoke to this in his final book, Where Do We Go… -
Dr. Yohuru Williams: What Dr. King Said About Voting Rights
Racial Justice Initiative“Dr. King would have been the first to acknowledge that freedom is a constant struggle in which we all have an important part to play,” Dr. Yohuru Williams, founding director of the Racial Justice Initiative at the University of St. Thomas in Minnesota, said on the Sunday before MLK Day to a gathering at National… -
Where Are We 55 Years Since Dr. King's Death?
Racial Justice InitiativeDr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated 55 years ago, and many of his hopes and dreams for America in terms of racial equality are yet to make as much progress as he likely would have hoped. “Dr. King would be very concerned about where we are and would be pushing and advocating for us… -
First Friday: Intersection of Race and Sports Discussion With Minnesota Twins CEO
Racial Justice InitiativeDave St. Peter, president and CEO of the Minnesota Twins, and Yohuru Williams, PhD, director of the Racial Justice Initiative at the University of St. Thomas, sat down at Target Field to discuss the historical and contemporary lessons being learned at the intersection of race and sports. The conversation was aired in the middle of… -
In the News: Yohuru Williams on Realtors Apologizing for Discriminatory Practices
Racial Justice InitiativeYohuru Williams, PhD, recently spoke with WCCO Radio about the history of systemic racism in the Minneapolis real estate industry, following an apology from the Minneapolis Area Realtors group. Williams is distinguished university chair, professor of history and founding director of the Racial Justice Initiative at the University of St. Thomas. From the story: "What happened is… -
NY Times Reviews Yohuru Williams' New Jackie Robinson Book
Professional Notes“Impressively researched” are the words that The New York Times used to describe a book about Jackie Robinson that is co-written by Dr. Yohuru Williams, distinguished history professor and founding director of the Racial Justice Initiative at St. Thomas. The New York Times reviewed Williams' book Call Him Jack: The Story of Jackie Robinson, Black… -
In the News: People Magazine Selects Yohuru Williams' Book as a Must-Read for Fall
In the NewsPeople magazine recently selected the best books to read for fall 2022 and Call Him Jack, co-authored by Dr. Yohuru Williams, founding director of the Racial Justice Initiative, and Michael Long, made the list under the young adult category. Call Him Jack, a biography about baseball legend Jackie Robinson, is described by the publisher as… -
In the News: Yohuru Williams on 50% Increase in Bias-Motivated Crimes
In the NewsAccording to the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, incidents of bias-motivated crimes have increased by 50% since 2015. According to Dr. Yohuru Williams, founding director of the Racial Justice Initiative (RJI) at the University of St. Thomas, these crimes can range from graffiti to physical violence, as Minnesota's bias-motivated criminal statute is very broad. Since… -
In the News: Dr. Yohuru Williams on Future Minneapolis Police Reform
In the NewsDr. Yohuru Williams spoke with KSTP-TV on future reforms in the Minneapolis Police Department (MPD). Residents met at the Windom Recreation Center on July 10 to voice opinions on a legal consent decree involving the MPD and Minnesota Department of Human Rights. From the story: University of St. Thomas professor, Dr. Yohuru Williams, told the…