sharper1 (my DJ alias) will be on the 1’s and 2’s for this super-lit AERA presidential jam session at 2:15 today.

#AERA26 #AERA2026

A Pop Quiz for Students: When Is a War Not a War? A prize will be awarded to the first collegian who correctly answers this question.

It is a war, right? Insights in my newest article…

Effective Responses to Feedback About Culturally Irrelevant Out-of-Class Activities Disengagement and low attendance rates are two ways collegians furnish feedback to campus activities professionals and to their student leader peers who are responsible for programming.

Disengagement and low attendance rates are two ways collegians furnish feedback to campus activities professionals and to their student leader peers who are responsible for programming. More in my newest article…

‘Too Educated’: Unacceptable Disqualifier for Black Women Talented Black professionals too frequently encounter resistance from white people at the epicenter of power who look for a reason—really, any reason—to not hire someone Black.

Here, I describe some of the excuses I have heard and disrupted as it pertains to hiring and recognizing Black women. Any of them sound familiar?

Repeated Sexist Disregard for Women’s Championships None of the athletes who won medals for Team USA deserve to have sexism minimize their accomplishments.

Major congrats to everyone on Team USA who earned medals at the Winter Olympics — including women!

94% of pro athletes support the right to engage in activism. More survey results + 19 recommendations in our new research report: uscrec.info/activism

Keep Hope Alive: A Tribute to Jesse Jackson Jackson’s philosophy kept him fighting for and believing in justice, even when so much around him could have easily thrust him and others into apathy and hopelessness.

If we really want to honor this colossal civil rights icon, we will do exactly as he modeled and instructed: Keep hope alive! #JesseJackson

Kid Rock called Jay-Z a DEI hire. Say what?! My response: www.insidehighered.com/opinion/colu...

Bad Bunny Super Bowl Show: Useful Case Study on Culture Capture The wide-ranging tour through Puerto Rican culture could be a useful lesson in photography, journalism, filmmaking and other content-creation courses.

Seriously, it’s a masterclass!

We Must Teach Young Americans That Associating Black People With Apes Is Racist Racial illiteracy about this and a range of other topics is guaranteed to worsen as books are banned in our nation’s K–12 schools.

If we don’t teach them better, it’s on us.

Lessons to Prospective International Students About Policing of Black Men How many talented, Black prospective international students opt out of applying to U.S. universities?

I recap in my newest article what a young Black man said to me during my time in Africa last week…

Snatching Venezuelan Oil and Greenland: Lessons for Students on Imperialism We shouldn’t assume that students understand the consequences of imperialism.

Students in K-12 schools and on college campuses are receiving a powerful lesson on imperialism from the White House. More in my newest article...

Lessons on Renee Good’s Death and the Politization of Facts Lessons for students on Renee Good’s death and the politization of facts.

They insist that you didn’t see what you saw. My thoughts…
#ReneeGood

Harper Achieves Highest Scholar Influence Ranking, Top Again in Education Policy - USC Race and Equity Center The field’s 200 most influential scholars are ranked in Education Week each year. More than 20,000 education professors work at U.S. colleges and universities. [...]

Thanks to everyone who reads, cites, assigns, critiques, and most importantly uses my work. I will keep leveraging my influence on behalf of the people.

Taking a Break From 2025 Our columnist returns after a much-needed break to reflect and recharge.

Where have I been? I explain…

www.insidehighered.com/opinion/colu...

Many thanks to Indiana University Kelley School of Business Professor Robert Thomas. The book is available at uscrec.info/harper13

Many thanks to Cheryl Holcomb-McCoy. The book is available at uscrec.info/harper13

Many thanks to Dr. Jason Pina. The book is available at uscrec.info/harper13

Many thanks to Professor Khalil Gibran Muhammad. The book is available at uscrec.info/harper13

Many thanks to Dr. Alta Mauro. The book is available at uscrec.info/harper13

Many thanks to Dr. Cox. The book is available at uscrec.info/harper13

Many thanks to Wharton legend Ken Shropshire. The book is available at uscrec.info/harper13

I genuinely appreciate this beautiful blurb from student affairs icon Patty Perillo. The book is available at uscrec.info/harper13

I appreciate this wonderful blurb from Angel B. Pérez. The book is available at uscrec.info/harper13

@angelbperez.bsky.social

Kimberlé Crenshaw, the intellectual icon, gifted me this. I am grateful. The book is available at uscrec.info/harper13

I deeply appreciate this compelling blurb from Gloria Ladson-Billings. The book is available at uscrec.info/harper13

@akademic67.bsky.social

I am grateful to Arne Duncan for this generous blurb. The book is available at uscrec.info/harper13 @arneduncan.bsky.social

Many thanks to Arnold Schwarzenegger for this generous blurb. The book is available at uscrec.info/harper13 @schwarzenegger.bsky.social

Thanks to everyone who read, assigned, and cited the original (Harper & Hurtado, 2007). Oscar Patrón and I are thrilled to share our new 30-year update: uscrec.info/harperpatron

By far, this week’s launch of HBCU Takeoff here in L.A. is the highlight of my 2025! #HBCU #HBCUs #Takeoff #sharper1