Columbia Canceled Her Course on Race and Media. She’s Going to Teach It Anyway.

Karen Attiah was excited to start teaching at Columbia’s School Zof International and Public Affairs in 2023 and finally have her dreams come true. She recognized the platform she now had to teach about how media impacts the way we view and talk about identity, especially race. Attiah loved teaching, and her students similarly loved her class, making it one of the most popular. That’s why it was so frustrating to learn that the class was canceled as part of the department’s dissolution.

While the teacher initially remained quiet about what was transpiring, she says she can no longer do so as she witnesses Columbia continue to “cave to pressure, especially in placing Middle Eastern, South Asian and African Studies under special provost supervision or receivership.” In response, Attiah will now offer her class to the public instead of She plans to launch the pilot this summer.

Read Attiah’s own words about her decision. Enroll here before May 10th.

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