Mentor Background

What is your area of expertise?

Are you interested in mentoring high school or college students, or both?

How did you become interested in this area?

I made my first trip to Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 2005 as a student. Once I met with the Hibakusha, learned about what my country had done, attended ceremonies, the peace park, museums, I returned with a commitment to make sure this never happens again.

What was your career path to get here?

I earned a BA in Economics, an MA and PhD in History. My focus as an academic and activist had always revolved around the Black Freedom Movement and social justice. However, when I returned from Japan in 2005, I wanted to combine the two issues that meant the most to me: eliminating racism and nuclear weapons. I began by asking one question: what did African Americans think about dropping the atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. From that point on my research has focused on the intersection of race and nuclear weapons. 

Why should the public care?

There are only two things that can eliminate us a species: climate change and nuclear weapons. As Dr. King said, "what does it matter if we achieve social justice if we are all dead from nuclear war." Everything from the environment, how we spend our money, foreign policy, jobs in certain cities are all part of our nuclear weapons policy. 

What is a current issue or trend that concerns you?

I am concerned that as someone who has fought his whole life to eliminate racism and nuclear weapons we currently have a racist in the White House who has the sole authority to launch nuclear weapons. 

Would you be willing to speak to a classroom about your work?