Activism, Race, and Online Informal Learning

Using TWITTER Spaces to Explore Reparations for Black American Descendents OF U.S. Freedmen

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.55370/dsj.v10i1.1571

Abstract

Lineage-based reparations for Black Americans who are the descendants of formerly enslaved people have been an emerging national debate on social justice in the United States.  Researchers collected and analyzed secondary source data.  Adults have been engaged in online non-formal learning using Twitter Spaces to discuss the emotionally and politically charged topic of national reparations.  This ethnographic study emerged from a class assignment where graduate students used weekly discussion boards to grapple with contemporary social issues philosophically and theoretically.  The national reparations movement was the topic selected for this article.  The students in the course observed and documented discussions occurring in the Twitter Spaces voice capture rooms and connected them to course content.  The experiences resulted in transformational learning moments for the Black American and Latino graduate students relative to their views about the merits of reparations for the descendants of U.S. Freedmen.

Author Biographies

Lisa R. Brown, Ph.D. , University of the Incarnate Word

Lisa R. Brown, Ph.D. is an Assistant Professor at the University of the Incarnate Word (San Antonio, TX) in the Adult Education, Social Innovation, and Entrepreneurship program in the Graduate Studies Department of the Dreeben School of Education. In 2016, she earned her Ph.D. in Adult Education, Learning, and Organization Development from the University of Georgia. Brown holds an MPA and Bachelor of Science in Biology with a minor in Chemistry from the University of Akron. She is a member of the American Association for Adult and Continuing Education (AAACE), the Commission for Professors of Adult Education (CPAE), World Futures Studies Federation (WFSF), and the International Association for Research on Service Learning and Community Engagement (IARSLCE).

Marissa Molina, MSN , University of the Incarnate Word

Marissa Illeana Molina has over 26 years of experience delivering high-quality, professional direct patient care and leadership in various healthcare settings. Marissa has completed 42 hours of Ph.D. courses in the Organizational Leadership program at the University of the Incarnate Word in San Antonio, Texas. She earned a Master of Science in Nursing from The University of Texas Health Science Center School of Nursing in December 2009.
            Marissa was named Chair of the Mentoring Committee at the University of the Incarnate Word Doctoral Student Association (DSA) from 2014 to 2016. Marissa spends time with her family and loves to travel. Marissa's research interests include student success, organizational leadership, and combating racism and discrimination.
 

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Published

2025-04-01

Issue

Vol. 10 No. 1 (2025): GENERAL ISSUE - SPRING 2025

Section

Articles

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