ABSTRACT
Successful academic careers have solidly depended on publication in peer-reviewed journals and scholarly books and attendance at academic conferences. Despite a proliferation of new media outlets, many academics fear that they will be penalized for having a national voice and publishing in popular media outlets. College and university deans can work with faculty to expand definitions of scholarship. Although peer-reviewed, academic conferences are important to the field and learning, faculty members should also be rewarded in the tenure process for invited talks, keynotes, TED Talks and other public presentations of their work as these venues take scholarship to new levels. Academics are slow to change and when change might make them uncomfortable or have to learn new skills, they are often resistant. Faculties, universities, legislatures, foundations, and schools are all made up of individuals with deep feelings and perspectives about race and class changing their minds and moving them closer to justice can have an impact on larger, systemic issues.
