Alex Freidus
@alexfreidus.bsky.social
schools, race, & inequality | author of "Unequal Lessons: School Diversity and Educational Inequality in New York City" | momming & cooking & running & reading romance & mystery | she/her | personal account
www.alexandrafreidus.com
www.alexandrafreidus.com
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Alex Freidus
@alexfreidus.bsky.social
· May 28
![Screenshot of Publishers Weekly review of Unequal Lessons reading: "Classroom diversity, specifically the integration of more white students into predominantly Black schools, does not lead to better outcomes for Black students, according to this disquieting debut study. Education scholar Freidus focuses on New York schools that, due to gentrification, are experiencing an influx of white students. Drawing on interviews and her own immersive ethnographic observations conducted over nearly six years, she finds that diversity and integration—especially via an increase in the proportion of white students—are treated by teachers, administrators, and parents as a de facto solution for racial inequality, and yet this is emphatically not the end result. Instead, Freidus observes that Black students’ experience of diversity entails a “hidden curriculum” that “reinforces deeply rooted [racial and class] assumptions about [them] and their families.” For instance, she notes several instances in which Black and white students with similar behavioral problems received disproportionate treatment, resulting partly from educators’ assumptions that the white student was more likely to be from a good family. At the same time, diversity does offer benefits for students—mostly in terms of enrichment, or new experiences—but as Freidus persuasively demonstrates, solving inequality is not one of them. This urgent wake-up call is a must-read for educators. (Aug.)"](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:7js3r4xdyhiics6bsegplyvq/bafkreih2z6ytyvi2sqof2vbgwfu4sqf2hy6gsrpwzsv52gv5kpqzyd64ci@jpeg)
Y'all, I'm pretty excited that @publisherswkly.bsky.social called my book "an urgent wake-up call" and "a must-read for educators!"
www.publishersweekly.com/9781479827817
Pre-order here and get a 30% discount using NYUAU30:
nyupress.org/978147982781...
www.publishersweekly.com/9781479827817
Pre-order here and get a 30% discount using NYUAU30:
nyupress.org/978147982781...
Reposted by Alex Freidus
"save your anger for 2026" wait you think I'll run out in a year this is why I hate amateurs
November 10, 2025 at 1:56 PM
"save your anger for 2026" wait you think I'll run out in a year this is why I hate amateurs
Reposted by Alex Freidus
It took 10 minutes total, by the way.
I just stopped doomscrolling to (a) organize grocery gift card donations for families at my kid's school, (b) make plans to fold zines about ICE through @handsoffnyc.bsky.social and (c) call Chuck Schumer to tell him what I think of his leadership. Highly recommend, way less infuriating.
November 11, 2025 at 12:35 AM
It took 10 minutes total, by the way.
I just stopped doomscrolling to (a) organize grocery gift card donations for families at my kid's school, (b) make plans to fold zines about ICE through @handsoffnyc.bsky.social and (c) call Chuck Schumer to tell him what I think of his leadership. Highly recommend, way less infuriating.
November 10, 2025 at 11:33 PM
I just stopped doomscrolling to (a) organize grocery gift card donations for families at my kid's school, (b) make plans to fold zines about ICE through @handsoffnyc.bsky.social and (c) call Chuck Schumer to tell him what I think of his leadership. Highly recommend, way less infuriating.
Thanks so much for this excellent phrasing, which I really struggled with when I called his office all dismayed last night. Today I'll just leave a voicemail that reads this aloud.
The thing about the "I voted against this" position Schumer is taking is that either he is trying to mislead Dem voters by implying he didn't support reopening right now, or he has no control over his caucus.
November 10, 2025 at 10:08 PM
Thanks so much for this excellent phrasing, which I really struggled with when I called his office all dismayed last night. Today I'll just leave a voicemail that reads this aloud.
Reposted by Alex Freidus
Make the Goddamn meal and put it in your Free Fridge. Write the $100 check to the food bank. Ask your local school what they need for the kids and then go about trying to get that stuff.... Do these things regularly and you are making meaningful contributions to your communities.
November 9, 2025 at 3:50 AM
Make the Goddamn meal and put it in your Free Fridge. Write the $100 check to the food bank. Ask your local school what they need for the kids and then go about trying to get that stuff.... Do these things regularly and you are making meaningful contributions to your communities.
Reposted by Alex Freidus
pre-writing a devastating obituary for your enemy is god-tier hating of a kind you don’t often see anymore. renaissance haterism. beautiful stuff.
A Sharon Begley byline, almost 5 years after her death.
Upon hearing the news James Watson had died, a STAT reporter said in our Slack, "I wish I could read what Sharon would have written."
Incredible news: Sharon in fact did pre-write a Watson obit. And it is masterful and excoriating.
🧪🧬🧫
Upon hearing the news James Watson had died, a STAT reporter said in our Slack, "I wish I could read what Sharon would have written."
Incredible news: Sharon in fact did pre-write a Watson obit. And it is masterful and excoriating.
🧪🧬🧫
James Watson, dead at 97, was a scientific legend and a pariah among his peers
James Watson, the co-discoverer of the structure of DNA who died Thursday at 97, was a scientific legend and a pariah among his peers.
www.statnews.com
November 9, 2025 at 12:55 AM
pre-writing a devastating obituary for your enemy is god-tier hating of a kind you don’t often see anymore. renaissance haterism. beautiful stuff.
Reposted by Alex Freidus
sometimes an Oxford comma can make all the difference
November 8, 2025 at 12:36 PM
sometimes an Oxford comma can make all the difference
Reposted by Alex Freidus
as a thought exercise for everyone reading ross douthat's latest missive in the NYT, i want you to think about sending an email to your entire company with the subject line "Did Women Ruin the Workplace?", then think about the over/under on the number of minutes/hours you would still be employed
November 6, 2025 at 1:31 PM
as a thought exercise for everyone reading ross douthat's latest missive in the NYT, i want you to think about sending an email to your entire company with the subject line "Did Women Ruin the Workplace?", then think about the over/under on the number of minutes/hours you would still be employed
Reposted by Alex Freidus
Our message to Andrew Cuomo was loud & clear in June.
It’s louder & clearer tonight.
It’s louder & clearer tonight.
November 5, 2025 at 5:10 AM
Our message to Andrew Cuomo was loud & clear in June.
It’s louder & clearer tonight.
It’s louder & clearer tonight.
Reposted by Alex Freidus
This, my friends, is the one.
why is this mayoral election different than all other mayoral elections?
in all other mayoral elections, we get to see andrew cuomo lose but once. but in this mayoral elections, we get to see him lose *twice*.
in all other mayoral elections, we get to see andrew cuomo lose but once. but in this mayoral elections, we get to see him lose *twice*.
November 5, 2025 at 3:48 PM
This, my friends, is the one.
Reposted by Alex Freidus
One reason why Jamelle Bouie is the best - and the greatest - is not only is he brilliant - he is an A+-level hater and I am always here for it.
i closed out my column this week with this preemptive jab at basically every commentator currently looking for ways to say that last night didn’t count
November 5, 2025 at 3:23 PM
One reason why Jamelle Bouie is the best - and the greatest - is not only is he brilliant - he is an A+-level hater and I am always here for it.
Reposted by Alex Freidus
i want to repeat this: mamdani and spanberger have run similar campaigns tailored to their respective electorates and it is maddening to watch political journalists attempt to create some broad contrast where none exist
the other thing about this is that there is no reason to pit these candidates against each other? each are good fits for their respective electorates and each shows the value of vigorous campaigns focused on the stated material problems of voters.
November 4, 2025 at 1:37 PM
i want to repeat this: mamdani and spanberger have run similar campaigns tailored to their respective electorates and it is maddening to watch political journalists attempt to create some broad contrast where none exist
Reposted by Alex Freidus
I'm happy that Mamdani won. But I won't let that get in the way of my celebrating Cuomo losing.
November 5, 2025 at 2:37 AM
I'm happy that Mamdani won. But I won't let that get in the way of my celebrating Cuomo losing.
Reposted by Alex Freidus
I am still thinking about a family costume I saw trick or treating on Friday. A dad in t-shirt covered in fake blood waving a fake knife. A mom with Shelley Duvall hair. And twin girls with braids in blood stained blue button down dresses. SO GOOD. But... how did they explain it to their kids?
November 4, 2025 at 6:09 PM
I am still thinking about a family costume I saw trick or treating on Friday. A dad in t-shirt covered in fake blood waving a fake knife. A mom with Shelley Duvall hair. And twin girls with braids in blood stained blue button down dresses. SO GOOD. But... how did they explain it to their kids?
Reposted by Alex Freidus
In Chicago, a woman was driving to get coffee when a DHS vehicle fleeing an angry crowd crashed into her car. Armed agents jumped out of the vehicle, yanked her door open, pulled her by the legs out of her car at gunpoint, held her incommunicado for hours, then released her with no charges.
November 3, 2025 at 6:34 PM
In Chicago, a woman was driving to get coffee when a DHS vehicle fleeing an angry crowd crashed into her car. Armed agents jumped out of the vehicle, yanked her door open, pulled her by the legs out of her car at gunpoint, held her incommunicado for hours, then released her with no charges.
Reposted by Alex Freidus
I am so upset.
Last week Time Magazine solicited a piece from me on Zohran Mamdani & anti-Muslim hate. I pitched a framing re the dehumanization of Muslims & how Mamdani’s inclusive, socialist campaign in its content resists that. They agreed. I wrote the piece. 1/
Last week Time Magazine solicited a piece from me on Zohran Mamdani & anti-Muslim hate. I pitched a framing re the dehumanization of Muslims & how Mamdani’s inclusive, socialist campaign in its content resists that. They agreed. I wrote the piece. 1/
To be asked to write about racism only to be racially aggressed in the editing process is a new level unlocked I have to say.
November 3, 2025 at 9:35 PM
I am so upset.
Last week Time Magazine solicited a piece from me on Zohran Mamdani & anti-Muslim hate. I pitched a framing re the dehumanization of Muslims & how Mamdani’s inclusive, socialist campaign in its content resists that. They agreed. I wrote the piece. 1/
Last week Time Magazine solicited a piece from me on Zohran Mamdani & anti-Muslim hate. I pitched a framing re the dehumanization of Muslims & how Mamdani’s inclusive, socialist campaign in its content resists that. They agreed. I wrote the piece. 1/
There really are much bigger things to worry about in the world, but I just tried to sign in to Manuscript Central and...
November 3, 2025 at 10:46 PM
There really are much bigger things to worry about in the world, but I just tried to sign in to Manuscript Central and...
Reposted by Alex Freidus
Dolly Parton releases “9 to 5” 45 yrs ago today.
“I knew what it was like to be a working woman trying to make a decent living, trying to be taken seriously. .. I wanted a song that sounded playful on the surface but spoke to that frustration .. A song about women .. saying, ‘We deserve better.’”
“I knew what it was like to be a working woman trying to make a decent living, trying to be taken seriously. .. I wanted a song that sounded playful on the surface but spoke to that frustration .. A song about women .. saying, ‘We deserve better.’”
November 3, 2025 at 7:42 PM
Dolly Parton releases “9 to 5” 45 yrs ago today.
“I knew what it was like to be a working woman trying to make a decent living, trying to be taken seriously. .. I wanted a song that sounded playful on the surface but spoke to that frustration .. A song about women .. saying, ‘We deserve better.’”
“I knew what it was like to be a working woman trying to make a decent living, trying to be taken seriously. .. I wanted a song that sounded playful on the surface but spoke to that frustration .. A song about women .. saying, ‘We deserve better.’”
Reposted by Alex Freidus
It's like they didn't even want the jewels.
November 3, 2025 at 6:57 PM
It's like they didn't even want the jewels.
Awful in and of itself. And also, just to state the obvious...
Kids of color are much more likely to be treated as adults (and less likely to be considered "young") than White kids.
Kids of color are much more likely to be treated as adults (and less likely to be considered "young") than White kids.
October 31, 2025 at 7:43 PM
Awful in and of itself. And also, just to state the obvious...
Kids of color are much more likely to be treated as adults (and less likely to be considered "young") than White kids.
Kids of color are much more likely to be treated as adults (and less likely to be considered "young") than White kids.
Well, now I can't decide between Halloween voting and marathon voting. So many choices!
I have seen lots of hand wringing about the early voting turnout being older and have we considered that the younger people are all waiting for Friday because they want the Halloween sticker
October 31, 2025 at 1:29 PM
Well, now I can't decide between Halloween voting and marathon voting. So many choices!
Reposted by Alex Freidus
