Karen Attiah, former lecturer at Columbia University and author of Say Your Word, Then Leave, is forging a new path for critical education after the university canceled her course on race, media, and international affairs.
In response, Attiah announced the independent launch of the Resistance Summer School, a hybrid online program open to the public.
Attiah shared the circumstances surrounding the cancellation on her Substack blog, The Golden Hour, attributing the decision to what she described as Columbia’s administration “pre-emptively caving to pressure,” including placing departments such as Middle Eastern, South Asian, and African Studies under special provost supervision.
“This is not a time for media literacy or historical knowledge to be held hostage by institutions bending the knee to authoritarianism and fear,” Attiah wrote.
Determined to continue the work, Attiah created the Resistance Summer School to offer a platform for conversations about race, journalism, and international affairs outside traditional academic institutions. Interest has been swift and strong: within days of her announcement, over 1,200 individuals signed up for the course.
“In a moment of crisis and repression, we do not have to wait for elite permission to share knowledge, create community, and help those in need,” Attiah said, reflecting a broader trend of educators seeking alternative ways to share knowledge in the face of institutional barriers.
Columbia University has not publicly commented on the specifics of Attiah’s course cancellation. However, the situation highlights ongoing national debates over academic freedom and the responsibilities of universities to foster critical discussions on race, media, and international relations.
Enrollment details for Resistance Summer School are available through Attiah’s Substack platform. The course is set to begin this summer, marking a new chapter in her mission to make education accessible and fearless.
