About Wiann Wilson
Hi everyone I'm Wiann a rising sophomore at Columbia College studying Economics and Race & Ethnicity and I'm excited to do research in the Sociology of gender this summer with Laidlaw!
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Black Masculinity Post-Empire
What happens to masculinity after empire? This project explores how colonial labor systems in Haiti and Ghana shaped post-independence Black masculinity, analyzing visual and textual materials to reveal how colonial legacies continue to influence gender and political identity.
Experts Like Wiann Wilson
Ariella Lang
Associate Dean of Academic Affairs, Director of Undergraduate Research and Fellowships, Columbia University
Recent Comments
I really appreciate how you are delving into understanding masculinity as I believe it is something that is not talked about enough, especially with boys and young men. By bringing to light the historical context of masculinity, perhaps you can better reveal all of the ways it operates in society today. I recommend you watch the film When We Free the World, directed by Kevin Powell -- it's about this very topic.
Thank you for the recommendation, I will check it out!
Hi Alex! I’m fascinated by how you’re thinking about community as a force that can reshape systems, especially ones as entrenched as the criminal justice system. It makes me think about the connections between institutions like schools and prisons.
How do you see community playing a role in disrupting or transforming the school to prison pipeline? Do you think the same principles that might work in prisons—like restorative justice or mutual aid—can be applied in educational spaces to prevent incarceration in the first place? And what role do you think educators or students themselves can play in that process?
Hey Sage! I found it so interesting how your awareness of the crystal’s cost changed the way you think about your work, not just in terms of being careful, but also in designing experiments more thoughtfully. It’s cool how a mistake turned into a learning moment!
I have a question: Do you think knowing the stakes now has changed how comfortable you feel taking risks or trying new methods in the lab?
Hi Aneesha! Your reflection really resonated with me, especially your point about moving beyond the binary of STEM vs. Humanities. I think it’s so powerful that you’re integrating mathematical modeling with linguistic and ethnographic research on ‘Ōlelo Hawai‘i. This kind of interdisciplinary synthesis not only adds depth to your work, but also challenges conventional academic boundaries.
I'm curious—how has incorporating a quantitative framework shaped or possibly even changed the way you interpret cultural or linguistic insights from your ethnographic research? Has it ever complicated or enhanced your understanding in unexpected ways?
I found it really interesting how you talked about looking forward to the new perspectives you’ll gain through your interviews. It’s cool how research can shift your thinking in unexpected ways. I’m also curious about how those conversations might shape your own viewpoint. Do you think there’s a particular interview or moment you’re hoping will challenge your current assumptions?