Making Traditional Courses More Inclusive: Confessions of an African American Female Professor Who Attempted to Crash All the Barriers at Once

Authors

Angela Mae Kupenda, Mississippi College School of LawFollow

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

1997

Abstract

"WE MUST DISMANTLE all barriers at once!"' "No, go slow!" These were two of the opposing cries heard during, the civil rights movement. Some thought the only way to eliminate exclusiveness, based on race and gender, was to dismantle all the barriers all at once. Others thought the costs of such change too great and urged for caution and patience. Even in the 1990s, barriers of exclusiveness continue to exist, even in the law school classroom. Here I share my story of how, as a beginning law school professor, I tried to bring change to the law school classroom. I was motivated by one of my favorite poems where the poet tells of a black and brave, young male soul who also tried to crash all the barriers forcefully, quickly, and at once. The poem applauds the black man who tried to go for a swim on a southern white beach in the nude.

Recommended Citation

31 U.S.F. L. Rev. 975 (1997).