Attending author talks/book readings (2 points)

Hearing from Kafia Haile speak on “Palestine and the Black Experience” was one of those moments that really stayed with me after it ended. What made the lecture so impactful was how she connected global issues to lived experiences in a way that felt both personal and political. Instead of treating foreign policy as something distant, she made it clear how struggles for justice, identity, and self-determination are interconnected across borders. One of the strongest aspects of the talk was that balance—she was able to ground complex international issues in narratives that felt accessible without oversimplifying them. If anything, the only limitation was time. The conversation could have easily gone deeper, especially with more room for student questions or dialogue.

What stood out to me most was how this lecture connected to themes I’ve been seeing across my academic and social justice experiences. There’s a pattern of interconnected struggles—how systems of oppression, resistance, and advocacy don’t exist in isolation. This talk pushed me to think more critically about solidarity, especially between Black communities and the Palestinian people. It also challenged me to expand how I think about justice beyond a U.S.-centered lens, which is something I’ve been gradually building through my coursework and programming.

I left the lecture thinking differently about the role I want to play in these conversations. It reinforced my interest in law, policy, and advocacy, but also pushed me to think more globally about those goals. Moving forward, I want to be more intentional about staying informed on international issues, engaging in conversations that connect domestic and global justice, and continuing to learn from voices that bridge those spaces. Experiences like this remind me that understanding the bigger picture is just as important as knowing how to act within it.

Tyler Dorsey