Social Justice
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ES300WWeek6LectureSlidesDrTran.pptxWeek 6: Praxis Application
UNIT II: INTERSECTIONAL RESEARCH AS RESISTANCE ES 300W
Dr. Jennifer Kim-Anh Tran
Before we begin, take a moment to consider…
Think about a social justice organization you admire (local or national).
What specific actions do they take to create change?
Do they just talk about problems, or do they actually DO something to fix them?
Where We've Been: Week 5 Recap
Last week: The Combahee River Collective showed us how Black feminists used their own lives as evidence/proof for the racialized and gendered disparities
We learned about the Intersectional Archive (collecting stories and documents from people who are usually ignored)
In your Advocacy Labs, you practiced analyzing the target audience for your social issue: figuring out who has the power to fix your issue
You picked a type of ‘evidence' (Primary Source) to use in your upcoming project (Unit II Deliverable)
Week 6 Roadmap
This Week's Big Question: How do we go from understanding a problem to actually solving it?
What is Praxis? (Academic word for 'Theory + Action')
Real-World Example: DRUM (Desis Rising Up and Moving)
The Task: How to write solutions that help more than one group at a time
Getting ready for your Evidence Brief and Advocacy Strategy Memo
(Due in 2 weeks!)
Who Are These People? (Remember the role of positionality and advocacy!)
Roksana Mun: Community organizer with Desis Rising Up and Moving (DRUM) in NYC (fights for South Asian workers' rights)
Dr. Sumi Cho: Law professor at Columbia & DePaul, holds PhD in Ethnic Studies and JD from UC Berkeley. Co-editor of the foundational 2013 Signs journal issue on intersectionality. Director of Strategic Initiatives at African American Policy Forum
Kimberlé Crenshaw: Law professor (UCLA & Columbia) who coined "intersectionality" (1989). Founder of African American Policy Forum and #SayHerName campaign
Dr. Leslie McCall: Presidential Professor of Sociology & Political Science (CUNY). Studies inequality and public opinion. Author of The Undeserving Rich (2013)
Why These Texts?
Roksana Mun / DRUM Video: Shows what organizing looks like in real life (South Asian immigrants fighting for workers' rights)
Cho, Crenshaw & McCall Reading: Explains how to turn intersectional thinking into actual change
Together: They show you how to move from 'Here's the problem' to 'Here's what we're going to do about it'
For Your Project: You'll practice writing a plan that someone in power can actually follow (and possibly implement!)
What is Praxis? (Required for Lab 6)
"Paulo Freire (1972) defined praxis as 'reflection and action upon the world in order to transform it' (Pedagogy of the Oppressed, p. 52)"
Praxis = Knowing the problem + Doing something about it
It's the difference between writing a research paper and writing a plan that actually changes a law or policy
Sometimes, a research paper is necessary for writing policy
Intersectional Praxis = Making sure your solution helps people who are dealing with MORE THAN ONE problem at the same time
Example: Fighting for higher wages (class) + protections for undocumented workers (immigration) + paid sick leave (gender/caregiving)
Cho, Crenshaw & McCall: Three Ways to Use Intersectionality
1. Application: Using intersectionality to study a specific problem (like health gaps or wage theft)
2. Theory: Building intersectionality as a way of thinking across different fields
3. Praxis: Using intersectionality to create real-world change (advocacy, organizing, policy, campaigns)
Going from #1 and #2 (theory) #3 (application) IS very challenging
Week 6 Advocacy Lab: Practice moving from analysis to action
We organize low-wage South Asian immigrant workers because our struggles are connected: labor exploitation, racial profiling, and gender-based violence are not separate issues.
—Roksana Mun, DRUM Organizer
DRUM doesn't treat 'work problems' and 'immigration problems' as separate—they’re engaged and connected
They focus on real (not abstract), everyday needs: wages, housing, safety
They organize WITH the community, not FOR the community
“
”
DRUM's Praxis in Action: A Case Study
The Problem/Social Issue: South Asian taxi drivers face stolen wages, racist attacks, and no workplace protections
A Critical Analysis: This isn't just about race OR money OR immigration—it's about how all three make drivers vulnerable
The Action: DRUM organized drivers to create the Taxi Workers Alliance and won debt relief + fare increases
Why It's Praxis: They didn't just describe the problem—they built power and changed the rules
Two Approaches to Solving Problems
The Band-Aid Approach
Fixes one problem at a time at a superficial/immediate level
Example: 'We need better wages for all workers'
What's Missing: This approach may Ignore how immigration status or gender affects who actually gets those protections
The Root Cause Approach
Fixes multiple connected problems at once
Example: 'We need living wages + protections for undocumented workers + enforcement against wage theft'
Why It Works: Helps the people who need it most and creates lasting change
Now you try it! (Week 6 Advocacy Lab)
Step 1: Look back at your Unit 1 Pitch. What unfair gap (disparity) did you find?
Step 2: Pick ONE thing your target audience/ (influence) could actually do (change a policy, fund a program, create a new rule, elevate an issue)
Step 3: Test it. Does your solution help people dealing with more than one problem, or just one?
Step 4: Think about barriers. What excuse might they (the influencer/decision maker) give you for not doing it?
Step 5: How will your 'proof' (Evidence Brief) help you respond to that excuse?
Education Example of Praxis
Step 1: My Target Audience = School District Superintendent
Step 2: My Specific Ask = Hire 3 bilingual counselors trained in LGBTQ+ affirming care
Step 3: Why It's Intersectional = Addresses race (language barriers) + sexuality/gender identity (LGBTQ+ affirming) + class (free school-based services)
Step 4: Barrier = "We don't have funding in the budget"
Step 5: My Evidence = Show data on suicide rates + cost of emergency interventions vs. prevention
GETTING READY FOR YOUR UNIT 2 DELIVERABLES
Due Sunday, March 15, 11:59 PM
What is an Evidence Brief?
Think of it as your ‘Evidence Folder'—a 2-page document that shows:
1. The problem is REAL (it's happening, not just a theory)
2. The problem is UNFAIR (some groups are hurt more than others)
3. The problem is INTERSECTIONAL (it's connected to race AND class AND gender, etc.)
You'll use 3-4 credible sources (research, reports, primary sources) to prove all three points
Goal: Give your target audience the evidence they need to take you seriously
Evidence Brief: What to Include
The Problem that belies your chosen social issue.
3-4 Credible Sources (mix of research articles, reports, and at least one primary source like an original/unfiltered photo, quote, or policy created at the initial event)
1 Clear Disparity (the unfair gap): Show with numbers or examples who is affected more
Why It Matters: 2-3 sentences explaining why your target audience should care
Proper Citations: Use APA, MLA, or Chicago style (pick one and stick with it)
Evidence Brief: Simple Structure (~2 pages)
Introduction: What's the issue and why does it matter? (2-3 sentences)
The Unfair Gap: Show the disparity with data (Who is hurt more? Use numbers or examples)
The Proof: Summarize your 3-4 sources and what they prove
Why Your Audience Should Care: Explain why this matters to the person who can fix it
Tip: Use your Primary Source Guide from Week 5 to pick the right kind of evidence
The Evidence Brief will prepare you for the Midterm Portfolio!
Midterm Portfolio: Advocacy Strategy Memo (3-4 pages)
Think of this as Advocacy Roadmap to convince someone in power to take action
What to Include:
Problem Definition: Use your Evidence Brief to explain the issue with data
Target Audience: Who has the power to fix this? (Be specific: a principal, a mayor, a CEO, etc.)
2-3 Realistic Goals: What do you want them to do? (Make it specific and doable)
Intersectional Strategy: Explain how your plan helps people dealing with multiple problems at once
WEEK 6 MAIN TAKEAWAYS
Praxis = Transition from theorizing about problems and start doing something about them
Effective advocacy fixes multiple connected problems at once (not just one at a time)
DRUM shows us what it looks like to organize around real needs using intersectional thinking
Your Evidence Brief is your ‘evidence folder' that shows the problem is real, unfair, and intersectional
Your Advocacy Strategy Memo is your 'roadmap' with specific actions someone in power should take (supported with research and diverse evidence)
Resources & Support
This work can be hard (both emotionally and intellectually). You don't have to do it alone! I will be creating a #Slack group for you all to ask questions and exchange ideas in real time
Office Hours: Come talk through your Evidence Brief, Strategy Memo, or any questions
Email CSUEB Librarian Daisy Muralles to get help finding credible sources for your research at [email protected]
Campus Resources: Counseling services and cultural centers are here for you
Remember: Praxis is a practice. We learn by doing, reflecting, and trying again.
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