Anthea Butler on Scholars and Activism at this Decisive Moment in America: #ScholarStrike

Scholars and Activism at this Decisive Moment in America:

The role that scholars can play in this time of racial upheaval and electoral upheaval and escalating fascism.

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An online discussion with Anthea Butler , Initiator of #ScholarStrike, a national teach-in which took place on September 8-9, 2020.

Inspired by the strikes and actions of the NBA, WNBA, Colin Kaepernick and other athletes, on August 26, 2020, Professor Anthea Butler called for a Scholar Strike this past September 8-9. Partnering with Professor Kevin Gannon, this call brought thousands of academics and students into action, canceling official classes and instead carrying out direct actions and teach-ins.

The message: “The academy needs to care about the racism and murders of African Americans by police in this country.” (Butler)

#ScholarStrike was also inspired by the anti-war teach-in movement of the 1960s. Within days of Butler’s initial call, a dedicated YouTube channel was created for Scholar Strike, with dozens of lectures and discussions on race-related issues.

Anthea Butler is Interim Chair of Religious Studies and Associate Professor of Religion and Africana Studies at the University of Pennsylvania. Her current projects include two books: White Evangelical Racism: The Politics of Morality in America, out in Spring 2021, and Reading Race: How Publishing Created a Lifeline for Black Baptists in Post Reconstruction America.

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