Episode 215 - Lies, Damned Lies, and Crime Data

This week, Roqayah and Kumars are joined by Tamara K. Nopper, who is a writer, editor, and professor of sociology whose research focuses on the intersection of economic, racial, and gender inequality, with emphasis on globalization, and urban development, among other areas. Tamara helps us understand the power of data literacy, especially when examining racialized violence, and why excessive dependence on crime data has reinforced racial inequality. Tamara also discusses the risk of deploying crime data in feeding into carceral frameworks, even when they appear to confirm abolitionist arguments. We also learn more about the history of data analysis, and the importance of examining the work of W.E.B Du Bois and Ida B. Wells, both of whom pioneered their own respective methods of sociological data analysis that we still benefit from today. Keep up with Tamara’s work by following her on Twitter @TamaraNopper. If you want to support the show and receive access to tons of bonus content, subscribe on our Patreon page for as little as $5 a month. Also, don't forget to subscribe, rate, and review the show on iTunes. We can't do this show without your support!!!