JACC Feature Writing Contest Honarable Mention: What Blackness Means to Dr. Ameer Hasan Loggins

When a young Dr. Ameer Hasan Loggins realized he wanted to start teaching, he helped a black student as a tutor at 19 years old. The student had a hard time on a poem so he decided to help her by starting the poem, which eventually led to her being accused of cheating. He fought for this student to keep her grade and because of that this instance, it sparked his interest in teaching.

Dr. Loggins, Professor of Civic, Liberal, and Global Education at Stanford University, began his career in African American studies at UC Berkley. As his career evolved, he began writing articles for The Guardian and The Washington Post. He has worked with numerous activists for African American campaigns including the “Know Your Rights” campaign with Colin Kaepernick.

The basis of his work revolves around teaching people the “quotidian” of blackness in everyday life. Dr. Loggins stated that his goal is too, “Get people to understand everyday blackness, and how it plays into how we function in society.”

The reason as to why he wanted to teach in this field according to Dr. Loggins is simply because he is black. “Being black and living everyday means that I’m often misunderstood,” Dr. Loggins said. “When I walk into a place the police see me as a threat, when I teach a course, people look at me and think ‘is he really a fucking professor?’” Dr. Loggins wants to educate people about his perspective as an oppressed black person in the United States. the masses to African American studies involves looking at media in a different perspective. Journalism is a form of being comrades to the community. “It’s not just news, it is in many ways a form of propaganda.”

Dr. Loggins said. “[Journalism] gives people the fuel to not just fight back with body, but fight back with knowledge. My words are my weapon.”

- Dr. Loggins Said “Blackness” is a keyword that Dr. Loggins uses to describe colorism against the African American community. He explains that colorism is an extension of white supremacism and that those who are closest to whiteness wins. Part of his work to educate

Dr. Loggins’ goal to bring the idea of equality to those he teaches is not possible without those who want to express it. “I don’t know how to get equality in country that’s never had it,” Dr. Loggins said. “I can fight way over my hand, but my words are much more effective and I can’t fight everybody but I can write one article and that shit goes everywhere.”

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