It’s Time to Revolutionize Knowledge
2025 Summer Pilot Course
Race, Media and International Affairs 101
This course will examine the intersection between race, national identity,
and the mass media in today's global world order. Students will learn about
how people of color are beginning to challenge the journalism status quo,
and how media narratives can fight or perpetuate inequalities. By the end
of this course, students will gain a deeper media literacy around race and
and how it intersects with both national and global politics.
Gain insights from a nationally recognized instructor featured on CNN and other major media outlets.
Download engaging PDFs, guided lessons, and real-world content designed to challenge and inspire.
Experience powerful interviews, media appearances, and lecture segments you won’t find anywhere else.
Connect with fellow students in real-time for critical conversations and shared insights.
Learn how to question, analyze, and form your own voice through structured learning experiences.
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Live Discussions
Join weekly sessions with peers and instructors.
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Guest Speakers
Hear directly from journalists, academics, and activists.
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Video Learning Sessions
Pre-recorded lectures and interviews.
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Digital Community Access
Stay connected via our private student network.
Why Choose Resistance Summer School?
About The Program
What started as a straightforward graduate-level class has become a movement bringing scholars, activists, journalists, and thinkers of all ages and backgrounds together.
Summer 2025 Guest Speakers
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Peter Beinart, Writer, New York Times
Peter Beinart is Professor of Journalism and Political Science at the Newmark School of Journalism at the City University of New York. He is a contributing opinion writer at The New York Times, Editor-at-Large of Jewish Currents, an MSNBC political commentator and a Non-Resident Fellow at the Foundation for Middle East Peace. He writes the Beinart Notebooknewsletter on Substack.Com. His fourth book, Being Jewish After the Destruction of Gaza, was published by Knopf in 2025.
<br>His first book, The Good Fight, was published by HarperCollins in 2006. His second book, The Icarus Syndrome, was published by HarperCollins in 2010. His third, The Crisis of Zionism, was published by Times Books in 2012.
<br>Beinart has written for the Wall Street Journal, the Financial Times, the Boston Globe, the Atlantic, Newsweek, Slate, Reader’s Digest, Die Zeit, Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, and Polity: the Journal of the Northeastern Political Science Studies Association. The Week magazine named him columnist of the year for 2004. In 2005, he gave the Theodore H. White lecture at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government.
<br>He has appeared on “This Week with George Stephanopoulos,” “Charlie Rose,” “Meet the Press,” “The Colbert Report” and many other television programs.
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Beinart graduated from Yale University, winning a Rhodes scholarship for graduate study at Oxford University. After graduating from University College, Oxford, Beinart became The New Republic's managing editor in 1995. He became senior editor in 1997, and from 1999 to 2006 served as the magazine’s Editor.
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Michael Luo, Editor, The New Yorker
Michael Luo is an executive editor at The New Yorker and writes regularly for the magazine on politics, religion, and Asian American issues. He joined The New Yorker in 2016. Before that, he spent thirteen years at the New York Times, as a metro reporter, national correspondent, and investigative reporter and editor. He is a recipient of a George Polk Award and a Livingston Award for Young Journalists
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Yousef Manayyer, Senior Fellow, Arab Center
Yousef Munayyer is Head of Palestine/Israel Program and Senior Fellow at Arab Center Washington DC. He also serves as a member of the editorial committee of the Journal of Palestine Studies and was previously Executive Director of the US Campaign for Palestinian Rights. Some of his published articles can be found in The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Nation, Boston Globe, Foreign Policy, Journal of Palestine Studies, Middle East Policy, and others. Dr. Munayyer holds a PhD in International Relations and Comparative Politics from the University of Maryland.
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Sean Jacobs, Professor, The New School
Sean Jacobs is Professor and Chair of International Affairs at The New School. He was born and grew up in Cape Town, South Africa. He founded and edited (2009 - 2023) Africa Is a Country.
About Us
The Moment That Sparked a Movement
I created RSS because I believe we are living through a time that demands more than survival—it demands strategy, imagination, subversion, collective power, and dare I say – joy. This is a school for those who feel the weight of the world and not only refuse to be crushed by it, but who want the tools to create a new world. A school for those who want to fight back with knowledge, spirit, and community.
RSS is not a think tank. It’s a training ground for the curious, for the world builders, for the resisters, and for the joyful warriors among us. Here, we take seriously the intellectual and emotional labor of building a liberated future, which means interrogating the systems we currently live in.
My approach is rooted in internationalism, global resistance movements, with an emphasis on real-world application and skill-building. This is an approach that will center perspectives and frames that have been erased by media and academia.Whether you’re a journalist, organizer, artist, educator, or simply a curious soul hungry for deeper political clarity and community, RSS is a place to sharpen your analytical tools, and expand your personal network with like-minded people.
A Luta Continua – the struggle continues, but victory is certain. We will create better futures– together.
In solidarity,
Karen
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The course will begin on July 14th and will run for six weeks.
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Yes!
This will primarily be an online offering, likely on Zoom (stay tuned for the tech details). This will allow people from around the country and the world to join in. (No worries about having to deal with immigration or student visas)
For in-person students in the DC/Maryland/Virginia area, I am working on possibilities for live lectures with me. Stay tuned!
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Summer 2025 enrollment is closed with over 500 students from around the globe! We are waitlisting Fall 2025 enrollment right now and may begin confirming enrollment as early as August.
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There are five enrollment tiers to give as much flexibility and access as possible.
Supporter Tier ($100): Access to recordings only (no live participation).
Community Tier ($200): Full live participation, including live lectures, guest speakers, and discussion sessions.
Discourse Tier ($300): Full access plus eligibility for in-person Salon Lectures (for those located in the Washington, D.C. area).
Anchor Tier ($500): Includes everything in the Discourse Tier plus helps fund a scholarship for another student.
Mentorship Tier ($1,500): Includes everything in the Discourse Tier, plus weekly 1:1 check-ins and writing coaching sessions with Karen Attiah during the course.
If you would like to be considered for a full scholarship, please email assistant@resistancesummerschool.com with the subject line "Scholarship Request" .
Please note: Scholarship availability is limited and not guaranteed.
Is this course appropriate for all ages?
Yes! While I previously taught a similar course at the graduate level, this version is open to a broader audience.
We will explore: The history of mass media in America, Race relations, and the history of racial construct formation.
This course connects the dots between identity, history, and media narratives — no complicated theory required.
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Yes.
Recordings of the sessions will be made available throughout the course.
However, recordings will expire at the end of the course to keep materials current for future offerings and to maintain an intimate learning environment.
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Not at this time.
However, I am exploring that possibility for the future. Stay tuned!
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Live lectures by me, Karen: Mondays, 6:00 PM – 7:15 PM Eastern Time
Guest speakers and/or additional lectures: Wednesdays, 6:00 PM – 7:15 PM Eastern Time
Q&A / Discussion sections: Likely following guest speaker sessions on Wednesdays, or possibly Thursdays.
A finalized weekly schedule will be sent before the course begins.
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The full syllabus will be shared exclusively with enrolled students closer to the course start date.
It is currently being updated to reflect the most recent events and developments and adapt to a broader audience.
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Scholarships are funded by generous donors and are accepted on a rolling basis. Students are informed of their scholarships about 4-6 weeks before course launch.
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Scholarships are awarded solely based on available funds from higher-tier enrollments (Anchor Tier and Mentorship Tier) and the donation pool.
This is not intended to be a competitive or merit-based process.
We aim to distribute scholarships as fairly as possible based on available funding, and we deeply appreciate your understanding.
Please note:
Unfortunately, applying does not guarantee a scholarship due to limited resources.
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No.
Enrollment will close before the course begins to preserve the integrity of the learning experience for all participants.
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Yes!
If you decide you would like to upgrade your enrollment (for example, to access the Discourse Tier and in-person Salon Lectures if eligible, or for 1:1s with me at the Mentorship Tier), you will be able to do so.
Email support@resistancesummerschool.com with the subject line “Tier Upgrade Request”
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There will be optional readings and materials provided each week for those who wish to engage more deeply, but no formal assignments, grading, or required homework.
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This is a live-taught course.
Recordings will be available for review during the six-week course window, but real-time participation is strongly encouraged for the fullest experience.
Plus, I enjoy teaching live!
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No.
Each registration is for one individual. Sharing course materials or access links with others is not permitted.
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At this time, certificates are not being offered. However, this is something that may be considered!
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You will need:
A stable internet connection
Access to Zoom (free to download)
(And, an open mind, of course)
Full instructions and Zoom links will be provided before the first session.
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Recommended readings, articles, and media materials will be provided to enrich each week’s topics. These are optional but encouraged.
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All lectures, guest speaker sessions, and Q&A discussions (at the $300 level and up) are included with your course enrollment — no additional fees.
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Due to the nature of this course and the limited spaces available, all sales are final.
Please be certain you are ready to participate before enrolling. Thanks for understanding!
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Yes!
If you would like to contribute toward funding scholarships, guest lecturers, tech support, rental space for live sessions, and planting the seed for future offerings of this course, you can make a donation here.
Your support helps expand access, build the community, and sustain this important work for the future.
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Please email support@resistancesummerschool.com
Allow 24–48 hours for a response.
Frequently Asked Questions
FAQ
