"Tulsa 1921 - Reporting a Massacre" Reading Group

The Institute for the Study of Human Flourishing will host 3 reading groups on the book Tulsa 1921: Reporting a Massacre, by Randy Krehbiel. The groups will be organized and led by Ms. Ajia Meux, a doctoral student from the Gaylord College of Journalism & Mass Communications, and Drs. Devin McCarthy and Michael Barnes, Institute postdoctoral fellows. Because of social-distancing concerns this fall, the group will meet every two weeks during the spring of 2021. Participants will receive complimentary copies of the book.  Spaces are limited. For more information or to register, please email flourish@ou.edu.   

These reading groups are part of The Self, Virtue, and Public Life  a $3.9 million research initiative led by Institute director Nancy Snow and funded by the Templeton Religion Trust.

Ajia Meux, MSW, Gaylord College of Journalism & Mass Communication Doctoral Student

Ajia Meux is a second year doctoral student at OU’s Gaylord College of Journalism and Mass Communication, where she studies how marginalized groups are represented in mediated texts. Ajia is also a graduate assistant fellow for the Women’s Philanthropy Network through the Office of Advancement. She is originally from Oakland, California and an alumnus of Howard University. 

To register for reading group I please click here.

Group I will meet on the following Tuesdays during spring 2021 from 11:30-1:00 PM CST.  This group will meet in person.  Location TBD

February 2, February 16, March 2, March 16, March 30, April 13, April 27

Devin McCarthy, PhD, ISHF Postdoctoral Fellow

Devin McCarthy is a postdoctoral fellow at the Institute for the Study of Human Flourishing at the University of Oklahoma. He completed his PhD in political science at Duke University. His research focuses on the intersection of public opinion, voting systems, and election administration, with a particular interest in how the public responds to democratic backsliding. His dissertation examines how American citizens make the tradeoff between partisan interest and democratic principle when forming their opinions on election reforms. 

To register for reading group II please click here.

Group II will meet on the following Wednesdays during spring 2021 from 11:30-1:00 PM CST.  This group will meet via Zoom conference meeting.  

February 3, February 17, March 3, March 17, March 31, April 14, April 28

Michael Barnes, PhD, ISHF Postdoctoral Fellow

Michael Barnes's main research is on philosophical accounts of subordinating speech—that is, speech acts that contribute to oppression, including hate speech, propaganda, slurs, microaggressions, and more. This topic sits at the intersection of social & political philosophy and philosophy of language. Michael received his PhD from Georgetown University, with a dissertation titled Subordinating Speech and the Construction of Social Hierarchies.

His work now focuses on online hate, including problems like online harassment, mis/disinformation, and radicalization into violent ideologies abetted by online platforms. His research uses the tools of philosophy of language, social epistemology, and applied ethics to address the pressing questions of online hate, with particular emphasis on issues of harm, responsibility, and potential solutions.

To register for reading group III, please click here.

Group III will meet on the following Thursdays during spring 2021 from 11:30-1:00 PM CST.  This group will meet via Zoom conference meeting.

February 4, February 18, March 4, March 18, April 1, April 15, April 29