"Mar" "Sell" Us". Director, Center for Social Change, Associate Teaching Prof (Africana Studies/Philosophy), Adjunct Law Professor, ABD in Educ. Doctorate. Former Law School Dean of Students, K-12 DEI admin, and cultural center director. *Views are my own*https://bsky.app/profile/marceliusb.bsky.socialhttps://bsky.app/profile/marceliusb.bsky.social/post/3mtwu3wftos2pSomething I’ve always admired about Dolly Parton is that on many issues she didn’t just tell you where she stood. She showed you where she stood with her actions, money, and time. Honoring her legacy means recognizing her support of literacy, racial justice, inclusion, and queer and trans rights.25 Aug 2026 22:20 +0000at://did:plc:ls6aol47vecbt5ypslsjfe7n/app.bsky.feed.post/3mtwu3wftos2phttps://bsky.app/profile/marceliusb.bsky.social/post/3mtwgkbx2mk2lNot Dolly Parton! Nooooooo25 Aug 2026 18:18 +0000at://did:plc:ls6aol47vecbt5ypslsjfe7n/app.bsky.feed.post/3mtwgkbx2mk2lhttps://bsky.app/profile/marceliusb.bsky.social/post/3mtkiix52kc2hGot approval to defend! Defense date being scheduled in late September/early October. [contains quote post or other embedded content]21 Aug 2026 00:21 +0000at://did:plc:ls6aol47vecbt5ypslsjfe7n/app.bsky.feed.post/3mtkiix52kc2hhttps://bsky.app/profile/marceliusb.bsky.social/post/3mtac5ydw3c2aA position or view currently being “mainstream” or shared by the majority does not, in itself, make it a good, right, justified, or acceptable position or view. Look at all the things in history that were “mainstream” or shared by the majority, especially views/positions that are meant to oppress.16 Aug 2026 23:01 +0000at://did:plc:ls6aol47vecbt5ypslsjfe7n/app.bsky.feed.post/3mtac5ydw3c2ahttps://bsky.app/profile/marceliusb.bsky.social/post/3mt7p22iqm22uMany claim to value “merit” BECAUSE it is a subjective term with selective application. Many say things should be based on “merit” but intentionally leave it undefined/loosely defined with exceptions because they want the ability to exclude, selectively apply it, or weaponize it for/against others.16 Aug 2026 17:19 +0000at://did:plc:ls6aol47vecbt5ypslsjfe7n/app.bsky.feed.post/3mt7p22iqm22uhttps://bsky.app/profile/marceliusb.bsky.social/post/3msvnwj25fs2lMy advice for POC writers/academics/etc: Making it part of your personality/work to be the POC who bashes other POC to separate oneself or gain esteem will never work out for you. You will be used and thrown away because, at the end of the day, you are still you when you stop being useful to them.12 Aug 2026 17:32 +0000at://did:plc:ls6aol47vecbt5ypslsjfe7n/app.bsky.feed.post/3msvnwj25fs2lhttps://bsky.app/profile/marceliusb.bsky.social/post/3mssk64o4is2kI keep seeing “Woke 1”, “Woke 2”, and I come back to this ⬇️ [contains quote post or other embedded content]11 Aug 2026 11:47 +0000at://did:plc:ls6aol47vecbt5ypslsjfe7n/app.bsky.feed.post/3mssk64o4is2khttps://bsky.app/profile/marceliusb.bsky.social/post/3mssk64o4is2kI keep seeing “Woke 1”, “Woke 2”, and I come back to this ⬇️ [contains quote post or other embedded content]11 Aug 2026 11:47 +0000at://did:plc:ls6aol47vecbt5ypslsjfe7n/app.bsky.feed.post/3mssk64o4is2khttps://bsky.app/profile/marceliusb.bsky.social/post/3mpcwypamz22dJust a reminder that no one should listen to anything James Carville (or really anyone who markets themselves as a "moderate") says. [contains quote post or other embedded content]28 Jun 2026 02:38 +0000at://did:plc:ls6aol47vecbt5ypslsjfe7n/app.bsky.feed.post/3mpcwypamz22dhttps://bsky.app/profile/marceliusb.bsky.social/post/3msjcobquis26Enes Kantor thinks he's being witty/funny by "declaring himself an WNBA prospect". The reality is that if trans athletes are so prevalent/this was such a common issue, he wouldn't need to play this terrible joke. He's basically proving the point that they're manufacturing issues for false outrage.07 Aug 2026 19:39 +0000at://did:plc:ls6aol47vecbt5ypslsjfe7n/app.bsky.feed.post/3msjcobquis26https://bsky.app/profile/marceliusb.bsky.social/post/3msj3wpojkc26First draft of my dissertation complete! 109 pages of text (not including references, appendices, etc.) [contains quote post or other embedded content]07 Aug 2026 17:38 +0000at://did:plc:ls6aol47vecbt5ypslsjfe7n/app.bsky.feed.post/3msj3wpojkc26https://bsky.app/profile/marceliusb.bsky.social/post/3msgdu4ngpc2cThe reason Ossoff is good at this is unlike many others, he uses his power to help constituents rather than only seeking power for power’s sake. He built a responsive infrastructure and knows delivering local/state results can garner support. It’s why split votes happen. https://www.ajc.com/politics/2026/08/why-two-republican-georgia-mayors-are-crossing-party-lines-for-jon-ossoff/06 Aug 2026 15:22 +0000at://did:plc:ls6aol47vecbt5ypslsjfe7n/app.bsky.feed.post/3msgdu4ngpc2chttps://bsky.app/profile/marceliusb.bsky.social/post/3msgdu4ngpc2cThe reason Ossoff is good at this is unlike many others, he uses his power to help constituents rather than only seeking power for power’s sake. He built a responsive infrastructure and knows delivering local/state results can garner support. It’s why split votes happen. https://www.ajc.com/politics/2026/08/why-two-republican-georgia-mayors-are-crossing-party-lines-for-jon-ossoff/06 Aug 2026 15:22 +0000at://did:plc:ls6aol47vecbt5ypslsjfe7n/app.bsky.feed.post/3msgdu4ngpc2chttps://bsky.app/profile/marceliusb.bsky.social/post/3msduo6o4pk2rDems in power will use polling to distract from the fact that Stevens lost as a current rep with party backing, almost unlimited money, and estsblishment endorsements. Whether she lost by 10% or .1% should be a wake up call that they’re very out of touch with voters. But many won’t care or listen.05 Aug 2026 15:45 +0000at://did:plc:ls6aol47vecbt5ypslsjfe7n/app.bsky.feed.post/3msduo6o4pk2rhttps://bsky.app/profile/marceliusb.bsky.social/post/3msdofttffk2cOutside the South but I gave a talk at an AI Ethics conference about how the PA constitution (and maybe others) can be used to push back against data centers, and I’ve heard from people in various states across political parties. The anti-data center movement might be the most bipartisan movement. [contains quote post or other embedded content]05 Aug 2026 13:53 +0000at://did:plc:ls6aol47vecbt5ypslsjfe7n/app.bsky.feed.post/3msdofttffk2chttps://bsky.app/profile/marceliusb.bsky.social/post/3msdfw6jfas2iWhile Rogers lost by a small margin, that was with Trump on the ballot. Repubs haven’t won a major statewide election in Michigan 10+ years. With straight ticket voting, a Dem leaning year, outreach to Black voters, and reconciliation, many Dems who voted against AES in the primary will support him. [contains quote post or other embedded content]05 Aug 2026 11:21 +0000at://did:plc:ls6aol47vecbt5ypslsjfe7n/app.bsky.feed.post/3msdfw6jfas2ihttps://bsky.app/profile/marceliusb.bsky.social/post/3msdfbrvmy22iThere will be lots of talk about whether Abdul El-Sayed will underperform compared to a moderate, but in 2024, Slotkin ran as a moderate in Michigan and didn’t even outperform Harris. Rogers just underperformed compared to Trump. The idea that centrists are necessary or solve all problems is false.05 Aug 2026 11:09 +0000at://did:plc:ls6aol47vecbt5ypslsjfe7n/app.bsky.feed.post/3msdfbrvmy22ihttps://bsky.app/profile/marceliusb.bsky.social/post/3ms7zpez4q22hAnd before anyone tries to make the claim that these reforms are about “ideological diversity”, there’s no indication that there are any efforts to hire more liberal faculty in area that are more conservative or libertarian, such as economics, business, or engineering. [contains quote post or other embedded content]04 Aug 2026 03:04 +0000at://did:plc:ls6aol47vecbt5ypslsjfe7n/app.bsky.feed.post/3ms7zpez4q22hhttps://bsky.app/profile/marceliusb.bsky.social/post/3ms7wc55st22oIt's disappointing that college presidents helped the Trump admin create a list of reforms that includes cracking down on protests and hiring faculty members based on conservative ideology. Any institution agreeing to these terms is admitting that they don't actually care about free speech or merit.04 Aug 2026 02:03 +0000at://did:plc:ls6aol47vecbt5ypslsjfe7n/app.bsky.feed.post/3ms7wc55st22ohttps://bsky.app/profile/marceliusb.bsky.social/post/3mrzucc2q622uTo be clear, freedom of speech rights and protection of such speech primarily relate to government intervention, censorship, retaliation, etc. Demonstrations outside of a WNBA game in public areas are protected. Demonstrations inside an arena are not protected. The two should not be conflated. [contains quote post or other embedded content]01 Aug 2026 16:11 +0000at://did:plc:ls6aol47vecbt5ypslsjfe7n/app.bsky.feed.post/3mrzucc2q622uhttps://bsky.app/profile/marceliusb.bsky.social/post/3mrcvucson22yPeople don’t need protection from trans kids. Trans kids need protection from a society that vilifies them, ostracizes them, and incites hate towards them for trying to find acceptance/community. Trans kid have such high rates of suicidal ideation/attempts, and they need all the love and protection.23 Jul 2026 13:08 +0000at://did:plc:ls6aol47vecbt5ypslsjfe7n/app.bsky.feed.post/3mrcvucson22yhttps://bsky.app/profile/marceliusb.bsky.social/post/3mrt3jy4nsc2gChapter 4 draft of dissertation complete! [contains quote post or other embedded content]29 Jul 2026 23:32 +0000at://did:plc:ls6aol47vecbt5ypslsjfe7n/app.bsky.feed.post/3mrt3jy4nsc2ghttps://bsky.app/profile/marceliusb.bsky.social/post/3mrs53v267c27I keep seeing pushback that there is a difference between standards and respectability politics. Agree. And that might apply in professional settings, but we’re talking about classrooms. Who cares what students wear in class as long as they are safe/healthy? What is the point of these “standards”? [contains quote post or other embedded content]29 Jul 2026 14:28 +0000at://did:plc:ls6aol47vecbt5ypslsjfe7n/app.bsky.feed.post/3mrs53v267c27https://bsky.app/profile/marceliusb.bsky.social/post/3mrppmyrmfk2kA dress code is not just a dress code. Black students and young adults are often scrutinized, criticized, and attacked by others. Rather than push back against anti-Black/anti-DEI attacks, those who should care and protect them are doubling down and creating additional reasons to scrutinize them.28 Jul 2026 15:21 +0000at://did:plc:ls6aol47vecbt5ypslsjfe7n/app.bsky.feed.post/3mrppmyrmfk2khttps://bsky.app/profile/marceliusb.bsky.social/post/3mrl4paperk2qIt is possible to respect elders, their past actions, and how they helped get us where we are while still critiquing the beliefs, stances, and political positions that they hold now. It honors their impact yet still holds them accountable for any current problematic/detrimental views or positions.26 Jul 2026 19:32 +0000at://did:plc:ls6aol47vecbt5ypslsjfe7n/app.bsky.feed.post/3mrl4paperk2qhttps://bsky.app/profile/marceliusb.bsky.social/post/3mrierhrhrs2tForcing respectability onto Black children/young adults has always been harmful. And it is often worse when forced upon them by Black people who should be but often aren’t safe. There is no level of respectability that will erase society’s disdain for Blackness or desire to uphold racial hierarchy.25 Jul 2026 17:18 +0000at://did:plc:ls6aol47vecbt5ypslsjfe7n/app.bsky.feed.post/3mrierhrhrs2thttps://bsky.app/profile/marceliusb.bsky.social/post/3mribnqqx722tI’ve taught college for 10+ years. I’ve never cared what they wore except if they were dressed or groomed in a way that made me concerned about physical or mental wellbeing or safety. A classroom isn’t the workplace. It is a place of learning, and I encourage students to come as they are/want to be. [contains quote post or other embedded content]25 Jul 2026 16:23 +0000at://did:plc:ls6aol47vecbt5ypslsjfe7n/app.bsky.feed.post/3mribnqqx722thttps://bsky.app/profile/marceliusb.bsky.social/post/3mrgqcvpvb227I’ve said it many times and will say it again. Stop using “DEI” pejoratively. Stop saying “DEI hire” even to mock someone/point out hypocrisy. Don’t give a platform or credibility to false ideas that DEI means lesser/not deserving. Like “woke”, it is damaging to allow others to redefine/reframe it.25 Jul 2026 01:40 +0000at://did:plc:ls6aol47vecbt5ypslsjfe7n/app.bsky.feed.post/3mrgqcvpvb227https://bsky.app/profile/marceliusb.bsky.social/post/3mrdulpoln22qThough some are often inauthentic and doing it to try to gain favor, many don’t recognize that the chameleon effect can happen quickly, even with strangers. Mimicking speech patterns can be very subconscious. Also, studies have shown a connection between empathy and adopting speech patterns/accents. [contains quote post or other embedded content]23 Jul 2026 22:18 +0000at://did:plc:ls6aol47vecbt5ypslsjfe7n/app.bsky.feed.post/3mrdulpoln22q